Early Saturday start, connection in Chicago, landed in Burlington VT just after 2pm. Bib pick-up, checked into the Hilton (fancy digs), then strolled pedestrian Church Street in search of lunch. Outside dining at Rí Rá, beautiful sunshiny day. Short walk down Battery aside scenic Lake Champlain, watched the sunset from my hotel room. Early to bed, early to rise – marathon #30 tomorrow a.m.
-
- early a.m. start: Denver ⇨ Chicago ⇨ Burlington
-
- Memorial Day run in scenic Vermont
-
- pedestrian Church Street, Burlington
-
- Lake Champlain sunset
Caught up with Wisconsin-marathoner Toni & husband Jeff for breakfast. First met this twosome in Jackson after Mississippi Blues in January. I’m not much for eating pre-race – but enjoy hanging with good people. Upbeat attitudes, good mojo.
8:03 start time, hats off for the Anthem, queued up under sunny skies.
Went out fast. Crossed the actual Start Line 3 times within the first 9 miles – course loops downtown, two separate out-n-backs. Drafted behind a runner trekking off road, followed along a 3 mile stretch resembling trail (good on the feet). We ran negative splits (miles 7, 8 & 9) & caught the 3:45 pace group. Stopped for water at mile 11 & they were gone.
Mile 15 – Battery Park. Drums beating, pre-warned this Hill was coming, kicked in & killed it – up & over mile 15, plus the surprise hill at mile 16. Drums set this marathon apart, a memory I’ll take home.
Course wound thru quiet neighborhoods & city parks. Residents turned on sprinklers & passed out popsicles as temps climbed. AWESOME crowd support! Toe on my right foot bled thru the shoe, slogged thru miles 21-24.
26 miles – seemingly nothing left in the tank – got into a foot race. 50 meters to go, I went full sprint against a guy fast on my left. Finish picture, a bit inconclusive – [in my version] undoubtedly pulled ahead & won the day 🙂 Relay runner. I go full-on sprint after 26 miles against a relay runner. If I could muster a little competitiveness throughout an entire race, forget sub-4, I’d sub-3. LOL >
Back in the hotel, lanced my toe to relieve pressure. Liquid sprayed like a fountain PLUS I lost the nail (Ashton says I gloss over the less glamorous aspects of the sport). Shower, quick turnaround – sailing on Lake Champlain at 3pm. Life is good.
Vermont City Marathon and Relay
#3348 K R Haga 4:35:19
-
- breakfast w/ the pride of La Crosse WI
-
- 8:03 official start – queued up, ready to run
-
- a bit inconclusive – [my version] undoubtedly pulled ahead & won the day 🙂 Went full-on sprint after 26 miles against a relay runner. Too competitive? This guy’s smiling – my eyes say KILL
-
- THIRTY!
-
- shower, quick turnaround – sailing on Lake Champlain at 3pm
Barreled out of work half-day Friday – destination: Fargo ND.
Chose not to run all week, resting a strained calf muscle – tricky strategy. Feeling tired/looking haggard, arrived in North Dakota for my 7th consecutive marathon weekend. Met my marathon room-share, Randy, for the first time. Gotta say, sharing space with another runner was HUGE – saved $$ but more importantly, talking marathons was super motivational.
Bib pick-up at the FargoDome, Fargo’s largest landmark – we’d start & finish tomorrow’s race from NDSU’s arena stadium. Randy inquired ‘bout pace groups – whether they’d have a 3-fifteen group. 3:15. Way faster pace than I can ever hope to generate.
Foot-long sub & quick trip to the grocery store where Randy introduced me to Pedialyte. Not tasty (not even a little) but chock full of electrolytes. AND this guy runs like the wind so I too purchased a liter bottle from the Baby section.
Up early Saturday, had already scoped a parking spot the night before. Thanks Buffalo Wild Wings – ideal location 🙂
Cool sub-30 temps & sunshine. More perfect? Today’s run started inside the heated FargoDome. FAAANNNNTASTIC!
Hats off for the National Anthem. Kinda confused, looked around, removed my hand from my heart – Oh Canada? In hind sight, it’s a pretty anthem – don’t know if I’d ever heard the words. Just came as a surprise, running in North Dakota. No worries; soon after ensued “The Star Spangled Banner” – Go USA!
Fargo Marathon Start! Gun start reverberated inside the arena.
Exited the heated Dome, greeted by wind – initially took one’s breathe, woke the soul 🙂 Marathoned thru neighborhoods, greeted by residents sitting in lawn chairs, warmed by fire pits.
Lotta crowd support throughout the entire race – Fargo or Grandma’s (Duluth MN) rank as #1 in this category on my Quest. Lotta Norwegian pride too – several homes flew native flags, immigrant farmers settled this area more than a hundred years ago.
Crossed into neighboring Minnesota near mile 9. Ran thru Moorhead, university home of the Dragons. Again, lotta music, lotta crowd support. Beautiful campus. Mile 15, passed back in North Dakota; fatigue hit 2 miles later. Generally don’t hit the Wall ‘til miles 20 or 21, but hadn’t run in 7 days so struggled early.
Local bands were now playing at each mile marker. Pulled out my buds & took in the day. Sure, crazy tired but no shooting pain like last Saturday in Wisconsin – I could do this, one mile at a time. Ran mile 25 thru North Dakota State (home of the Bison).
FargoDome finish. FAN-FRICKIN-TASTIC! 29th state, end of my 7 week challenge – PLUS pizza & free showers 🙂
Race Directors: If you’re looking to increase participant numbers, look to Fargo. Well organized event – beginning to end, a runner’s race. Awesome crowd support. Only have good things to say ‘bout North Dakota.
Dear K R Haga,
Thanks for competing in the Fargo Marathon, you finished in a time of 4:33:31
-
- 7th weekend marathoning; body’s tired but eyes focused on Fargo
-
- LIVE from the FargoDome!
-
- Finished state #29. Two weeks ’til Burlington VT – happy to have next weekend off 🙂
-
- 21 states to go – gonna be an East Coast autumn
Can’t expect to run 6 straight weekends without eventually having a work conflict. Threw a few bucks at the Race Director & had my race bib mailed (most marathons require bib pick-up in person day before the event). Worked Friday, boarded a late flight to Chicago, picked up my rental just before midnight (closing time). Hour drive to Wisconsin – then like a bum, slept at a rest area just outside of Kenosha. Wrapped in Mylar retained from a previous Finish, set an iPhone alarm, locked all doors, UP at 5am. Changed into race clothes, brushed my teeth – 2 hours later, my 28th marathon start. Yep, kinda ghetto – but I achieved work/life balance 🙂
Parked downtown & walked half mile to the Start. Caught the most AMAZING sunrise over Lake Michigan against a double lighthouse background. Just what I needed – helped remind me why I do this & how incredibly lucky I am.
Miss Kenosha struggled a bit with the Anthem (high notes) but still felt it in my heart. Go USA!
Shared the course with Halfers thru mile 12 in SUNSHINE. First race in weeks where I haven’t slogged thru rain. Coursed miles of road along Kenosha’s Lakefront. Crazy beautiful. The Wisconsin Marathon brands themselves as the Cheesiest Marathon – HOWEVER, BIG shout out to their lighthouses & scenic Lake Michigan. That’s what I’ll brain-log when I go.
First marathon in months without hills. Unfortunately, suffered a muscle pull in my left calf near mile 11 – first injury in 2 years. 7 weekends, 7 marathons, 7 different states – tough mental challenge (travel fatigued)…now also taking a physical beating.
One mile marker at a time. Just like tennis – gotta focus on the point being played, don’t look too far ahead/to the next game. Shifted weight to my right side, kept an even steady stride – didn’t speed up, didn’t slow down.
Stopped at mile 25, stretched. Teared up re-starting the machine. Mile 26, only two-tenths to go. Dropped my ear buds & let the crowd bring me home. I RAN & RAN hard. Could hear folks cheer as I sprinted – sprinted – thru the Finish Line.
Laid lazy in the grass, caught some sun & ate a post-race brat (better than any banana, hands-down).
Shower, lasagna (it’s tradition) – then off to Mars’ Cheese Castle for Wisconsin cheese curds. Purchased 2 bags, jalapeño & horseradish. [Ya’ll know I like my foods spicy.] Unfortunately, had to cancel all other stops, pop Advil & prop the leg.
Early to bed, early to rise – will be good to get home. Home, sweet Colorado home.
Place Bib Athlete Name Finish Time
423 290 K R HAGA LOUISVILLE CO 4:34:06
-
- Good Morning from Kenosha!
-
- sunrise start on beautiful Lake Michigan
-
- State #28 done, digging Wisconsin. Shower, lunch, then Mars’ Cheese Castle. Happy Saturday! — at Kenosha Lakefront.
-
- Wouldn’t be Wisconsin without cheese curds, right?
Greetings from Home!
