Heartland

Post Oak Challenge, Tulsa

Published February 28, 2016

I get by with a little help from my friends” — the Beatles

2 weeks ago my first ultra, last Saturday marathon #53 – this weekend, BOTH. Before Moab, had never run trail nor finished an ultra distance (even in training). Big disconnect [in my head] between trying one & signing up for 5 this year, huh?

Maniac running buddy, Stacy hooked us up with a few of her running friends, Andrew & Elizabeth…and BAM, new friends for life. Easy hour-half flight to Tulsa, 6 hours of zzz’s, morning alarm confirmed wake-time for Saturday’s 50K.

Double-shirted early, cool start – however expecting day temps to top out near 80; gonna be a warm one. Tulsa-native Andrew forewarned today’s 4-loop course would be a tough one…finish estimate, 8 hours.

Day Highlights: ‘the Hill from Hell’ and Holmes Peak – climbing these two giants not once but FOUR times. Yikes!

circle of friends: awesome weekend of run & sun

Elected to take the early start – award ineligible, but outta day temps an hour early. No regrets, good decision. Started quick, held that pace for 14 miles. Well marked course, green-ribbons every 20-30 feet. Expended lotta energy; lapped by elites beginning of lap 3. Dropped to a single shirt & flushed fluids. Paced slower, started walking hills.

FAVE Aid Station – Oklahoma Oktoberfest (costumes, music, upbeat volunteers) – both sweet & salty snack-equipped. Sounds disgusting but…pickle juice, day’s best mate.

Haven’t ever been a marathon eater, so struggling running even longer distances with little/no fuel. Generally bonk after 5-5 ½ hours. Colder temps help extend the window — but 6 hours in, mental succumbs to physical & all falls apart. Pace, breathing, posture fail. Yeah, I become a hot mess.

3^rd go at ‘the Hill from Hell’, 1.7 kilometers further: lap 4 start. More pickle juice.

Snapped shots of an armadillo (don’t see THAT everyday) & pushed down a handful of salty Fritos at the Oktoberfest station. 15-year old elite runner, Brandon Plate, lagged just behind – struggling, just wasn’t his day (remember, he’s running a 50K [31+ miles] at just age 15). Asked if he wanted to jog the next hill…he wasn’t talking. Told him I was running up, expected he would pass me on the downhill – that’s just the way it happened. Kid came alive with conversation. Walked lotta the last 4 miles – at a good clip, but still walking. Only goal this weekend was to complete my first Double – 50K Saturday, marathon Sunday. Energy level UP, paced strong from Heaven’s Gate to the Finish.

2^nd ultra FINISH in 3 weeks!

Half-bowl of chili & a banana. Sink-washed salt caked ‘round my eyes, sides of my face. Met up with Stacy, Andrew & Elizabeth – shared the Tulsa skyline in our host’s rooftop hot tub. FAAANNNTASTIC! Fun sharing war stories & later, pasta (thanks Elizabeth).

Groundhog Day — all starts again Sunday morn.

No breakfast. Tired, wonky from prior day’s run in noon day sun, can’t eat. Today – 26.2 miles of trail. Again, 4 laps…flattened from yesterday, no Holmes Peak – but ‘Hill from Hell’ four times more.

Didn’t lead the pack this go-around but paced faster than expected, settled into fourth. In-n-out the tree-trail maze, stopped for Oktoberfest. Smell of pickle juice & Fritos turned my stomach (too much of a good thing I suppose). Sip of water, kept plugging along.

Long downhill stretch. Bounced, trail jarred – stopped, puked. Ugh. Gotta take in fluids, hold something down. Small cup of Powerade before ‘the Hill from Hell’, spewed blue near Heaven’s Gate. New plan: Run faster. Not hydrating, need to Finish sooner. Wooded oak section, stop: orange Powerade – puke. Ran steady with a group of Halfers – held pace uphill, briefly gapped on the downs.

2^nd time up ‘the Hill from Hell’. Dry heaving, struggling mentally (no food, no liquid, no fuel).

Started Lap 3.

First Aid Station, stopped. Legs ok but dizzy, spinning, oddly emotional. What to do? Radioed the Race Director, asked ’bout my options. I could downgrade to the Half, still complete the Double Challenge – not take a DNF. Ok, done.

Dehydrated, received an IV of fluids: virtual insta-fix. Nausea near gone, met up with Andrew & Elizabeth (who also ran downgraded distances) & finished a half-bowl of chili. Much better now.

Messaged an Oklahoma-based friend I hoped to see at the Finish. There she is – hadn’t seen Lory in 25 years. WOW! Same face, same laugh, same great sense of humour. Worked together a lifetime ago. She a 22-year-old bartender; I an underage waiter. Soooo instead of slogging 13 miles more trail, got to share time with a gal I hadn’t seen in light years. Everything happens for a reason 🙂

AND 3 of us picked up Post Oak plaques – DOUBLE SUCCESS!

Celebrated with Mexican [food] at a neighborhood restaurant, then airport returned to Denver. Awesome weekend of friends – both old & new! Wouldn’t have been the same without any of them.

2016 POSTOAK CHALLENGE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, 2016

TULSA, OK

DOUBLE RESULTS – 50K & HALF MARATHON – MALE/FEMALE

Place Name City/State 50k Time Ha Time Net time Bib#

===== ========== ============= ======== ========

5 K R Haga Louisville CO 8:05:45 2:59:30 11:05:15 97

: 50K start (far right, white cap)

: 31 miles of deciduous woodland, Osage hills & Sooner prairie

: ARMADILLO!

: Oklahoma Oktoberfest [fave Aid Station]

: today’s Tulsa skyline WOW shot

: Holmes Peak 1030ft: quite the haul

: not one, not 2…but 4 monster climbs UP

: 2nd ultra in 3 weeks

: Day One Challenge SUCCESS!

: 25 years later, these faces never change 🙂

: faces maybe never, but fashion trends do (white pants/high collar, circa 1988)

: double Challenge plaque: 50K Saturday, half-marathon Sunday

Posted in Heartland, Marathons/Ultras | Tagged trail-running, wildlife | Leave a comment

‘Run with the Amish’ Marathon

Published September 26, 2015

Woke to overcast skies & an hour commute to Ohio – my 39^th marathon, Adams County ‘Run with the Amish’.

Today’s course would be my first 2-loop race. Had avoided these in the past, assuming I’d struggle mentally with a 2^nd lap after completing 13 miles – would mean I’d see “Hell Hill” twice today. Noticed several Amish teenagers in the crowd. Boys ran in long pants & suspenders, girls in long skirts – none wore running shoes, all 5K competitors. Amish teens, Stutzman & Yoder, finished 3^rd & 4^th.

Musket start – 4 miles of rolling hills to Unity township, right at the cemetery, steep downhill into the Amish community.

Paced up mile 6 by the lumber yard (first hill), sprinted down – generally I hold back. Go me 🙂 Amish call the hill past Rabers “Hell Hill” – no more than a mile, but at least 30% grade. Positive? Trek canopied by large, leafy deciduous trees – shady & scenic.

No more than 300 runners ran the full 26.2.

Found I enjoyed miles 13 thru 17 the most. Folks finishing the Half cheered us taking a 2^ndlap; I shouted encouragement to fellow runners mucking in the cold steady rain. Camaraderie between strangers – favourite part of today’s run. Awesome experience.

Turning the cemetery again, was caught by a runner at mile 18. Moved past chugging up the first Amish hill, briefly lapped again on the straight before Hell Hill. Dug in and pushed UP. Kept a tenth-mile lead out of Unity, pacing strong knowing the last 4 miles would be tough to hold any lead – hills are my equalizer, I’d get caught on the flats.

Runner made his move. Pretty impressive kick after running 25 miles, inspired to mimic one day.

Official results: won my age group & finished 16^th overall. Small race but WOW!

Place Name Gun Time Pace

1 K R Haga 4:27:19.2 10:13

9 more fulls this year, taking it one at a time – next Saturday: Bristol, New Hampshire.

: 2-loop course: triangle of hills x 2

: musket start; Andre the Giant (guy on the right) won today’s race

: Amish made ‘medal’, pretty unique experience. Won my age group, finished 16th overall!

Posted in Heartland, Marathons/Ultras | Leave a comment

Yutzy, Yoder or Miller — it’s all Amish to me

Published September 25, 2015

Planned my Ohio marathon in Amish country – yes, on purpose – like stepping back in time. Remember Kelly McGillis & Harrison Ford in “Witness”? I do. Intrigued – had no previous exposure to the Amish.

Flew red-eye to Cincinnati, hour nap (across airport seats) ‘til stores opened, rental car pick-up, then another 2 hours sleep in nearby Brown County [rest area]. 9am, splash of cold water – awake, ready to get my Amish on.

Early autumn in southern Ohio: leaves starting to yellow, corn already harvested. Crossed a covered bridge, entered Adams County – sighted my first Amish road sign 🙂

BUGGY!

Kept my distance in the car, not wanting to frighten the horse. Clip, clop, clip, clop, clip, clop – down the paved road.

In only its 3^rd year, tomorrow’s race would draw more than 1,000 runners – 300+ would run the full 26.2. Followed the race director to bib pick-up after my GPS left me 4 miles rural at a local farm. No frills race expo with big frills swag.

Left my car at the wood ‘Expo’ building raised by the Amish; took a short walk to Millers Bulk Foods, followed by a trip to the Bakery. Turkey sandwich on homemade pretzel bread – soft & salty, garnished with local tomatoes, onions & lettuce…food LOVE!

Filled the afternoon driving tomorrow’s race route – my first 2-loop marathon – one long grind, 2 big hills…one the Amish call “Hell Hill”. Course not as hilly as West Virginia but bigger elevation gain (higher grade hills).

fave moments:

horse envy – both carriage & plow horses: well-groomed, beautiful animals
steaming blackberry pie pulled from a wood oven at Millers Bakery
Amish bicycles/scooters – big front wheel, smaller back wheel, no pedals (pedals considered a technology, forbidden by the Amish); kids were crazy fast, flying down hills, racing home after school
buggy parking at the evening’s Amish auction

Unique culture – living much as they have since the 1800’s, an agrarian society with strong religious leanings & no electricity.

Ate with the community at a school fund raiser – smoked chicken, potato salad, homemade ice cream & pie (whole lotta pies). Stayed for the Amish auction – not that I needed a horse halter, but digged the life experience 🙂 Pretty amazing day.

No hotels in Amish land. Stayed 45 minutes away in Maysville, Kentucky (just over the mighty Ohio river).

Early to bed, early to rise – tomorrow I run with the Amish!