Heartland

Bismarck Marathon

Published September 15, 2018

3-hour flight delay Friday after-work. Only one chance to arrive before Saturday’s marathon Start. Yikes! Post-midnite touchdown in North Dakota’s capitol city. Rental car, hotel check-in, 4 hour sleeps.

Early 5:30am meet-up in Bismarck’s Cottonwood Park (thanks Marathon folks for allowing my last-minute, same-day bib pick-up). DIG places with human faces. I’ll remember ya.

USA Heartland, America’s friendliest people – both Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota & Nebraska. I’ve marathon’d all 50 States; I know. All-out outdoor beauty: Oregon, Washington, Colorado & Alaska. But if you wanna meet Americans with the kindest/truest hearts, stop & stay in our ‘fly-over’ states. Work ethic & Prairie.

Napped an hour in the rental, shed a layer, lined up for North Dakota x2. Ran Fargo my first 50 tour.

Cool overcast skies, perfect for Fall running. Combined FULL & Half Start – lotta company first 5 miles. Flat easy course, mix of suburbia & bike path. 2:04 first Half split. Pace faded after (my habit since Spring).

Riverwood Drive, Riverside Park, Riverfront Trail. Crossed the mighty Missouri at markers 5 & 16.

In-between miles spent travelling to/from neighboring Mandan. Surprise ‘Catch of the Day’? Run-miles 16 thru 24: riverside bike trail & a tree-lined golf course. Nice on the eyes.

Walk/jogged last 2 miles, sub-5 FINISH. No drama, just nothing in the tank. Medal Monday #128.

The Bismarck Marathon

K R Haga Residence: Louisville, CO

Thanks for competing in The Bismarck Marathon. You finished in a time of 4:54:56.

This message is provided as a service by Pickle Events, the timing company for the The Bismarck Marathon.

Lemons into lemonade. Unexpectedly snagged a lazy day – in Bismarck North Dakota (United cancelled my return flight home).

Long hotel shower. Local barbeque. Slow stroll around ND’s Capitol, a history-nerd’s playground. Historic buildings, flags, statues, monuments. (hotel TV) Community-access channel flooded with POLKA. 4-stars North Dakota, you had me at Sacajawea ❤️

: late midnite arrival

: North Dakota x2

: the Pioneer Family

: guided expedition, baby on her back

: TATANKA!

: North Dakota’s capitol city

: post-marathon GORGE ❤️

North Dakota LOVES Polka

Posted in Heartland, Marathons/Ultras | Tagged buffalo, capitol-domes, museo | Leave a comment

Riverboat Series, Vienna IL

Published April 21, 2018

Last week Athens, this week Vienna – continuation of marathoning faux European capitals in the American Midwest.

THIS Saturday’s signup super last minute. Bought a crazy cheap flight on Southwest then found a marathon. Rental car, 2 hours+ drive, checked into ‘Hotel 7’ – the only motel in Vienna, quarter-mile from tomorrow’s Tunnel Hill trailhead start. BEST location!

Running Day 7 of Mainly Marathons’s Riverboat Series. Seven days folks been crisscrossing the Mississippi River, marathoning a different U.S. state every single day. Walk/jog social event. GREAT way for marathoners to tag a lotta US states on a travel Budget.

Ran back-to-back events 2 years ago – Saturday/Lamar CO, Sunday/Clayton NM: Mainly’s Dust Bowl Series. First marathon double, my first running injury (IT band). Older, wiser, train more consistently. I see doubles in my future [maybe 2019] as I add ultra distance.

Saturday morning bib pick-up, 6:30am start.

Who knew? More than 50% of the field took the early Start option. Live & learn. I’m a FAN of cool early morning temps. That said, MIGHTY lucky with the day’s weather. Saturday’s forecasted rainfest shifted to Sunday. Sweet!

14 laps today (plus a short loop to the Bridge). One of 4 who paid the extra $10 to complete a 50K 🙂 Haven’t run a multi-lap race since Runs with Scissors last April. While I dislike double-loop marathons, strangely don’t mind multi-lap events. LOVED being able to self-support with my own food & electrolytes. Run a lot lighter/carry a lot less knowing everything I need is a short 2-mile lap away.

Do’s & Don’ts speech, then followed Mainly’s lead runner ‘round the visitor center/parking lot to the trailhead Bridge. From there a straight out-n-back on crushed rock/dirt path. Not necessarily a ‘trail’ but not a road race either. Easy on the feet. FAAAANNNTASTIC! Settled into pace early. One of the flattest courses I’ve ever run. 4^th at the turnaround, 2^nd place end of Lap One.

Perfect weather, perfect conditions. Woke this day feeling: PERFECT.

Group of walkers blocked the path before the turnaround 2^nd lap . Right side thru the grass & didn’t look behind. I LED today’s run from that moment ‘til mile 18.9 (Garmin distance). Me, leading? 100% serious. Perspective: super small race, middle of nowhere America where most runners had previously marathon’d several days in a row. I show up Day 7, fresh as a daisy – but dang, LOVED running first. Runners yelling positives my way, felt good. I was the LEAD runner. Finished another lap, grabbed another rubber band.

7 bands on one wrist, 2:12 14 miles in. No drinking, no eating – I’m leading! Groups of social walkers again & again, GREAT people. Today’s eventual winner in my rear view. PLEASE PLEASE pass me – MUCH needed break – I was not built to win races. LOL>

Start of Lap 10 stopped, finally. Fueled up, lotta liquids – then hit it hard again. No intention of catching day’s race leader, just didn’t wanna get lapped. Guy seemed a bit jerky…first place taken far too serious, went to his head.

Eventually passed by 3 others. Chick’d by the ultimate lady runner – wasn’t even breathing hard, running alongside a Brit completing his 100^th marathon. Stayed close for another lap, marathoners finished after 12. Lady stopped, Brit kept running. 50K!

Back-n-forth traded places, could not overtake him. Nearing the Bridge end of lap 14, still in 2^nd. 200 meters back, needed a plan. Came into the trailhead, grabbed my band, didn’t stop. No water, no aid. 30 miles in, that was my plan. AND I kept running, short lap to the Bridge – now a half-mile ahead. FINISHED FIRST, new 50K PR. Whatta unexpected surprise!

Tunnel Hill in November, next 2 years – not sure if/when I’ll be able to run 100 miles but I’ll be back. Everyone needs a dream ❤

Full Marathon/50K

2018 Riverboat Series Day 7 Marathon – April 21, 2018 – Vienna, Illinois

27 Keenan Haga 4:24:44 (Mara) / 5:33:14 (50K) CO

: goal race next couple years

: big BIKE

: new 50K PR — power of the mighty Loon 🙂

: led 18.9 miles

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

Athens Ohio Marathon

Published April 15, 2018

Athens this weekend, Vienna the next. After marathoning Brazil, seemingly all posh now.

‘course that’s Athens OHIO & VI-enna Illinois. No worries folks, this hillbilly’s still grounded. Saturday flight to Columbus, 3pm touchdown, hour-half drive to Athens. Bib check-in ’til 6, PLENTY of time. Booked a room at THE place in Athens, the OU Inn. Athens, home of Ohio University – nope, not THAT university. No Buckeyes here, Bobcats. Dining Hall dinner, early to bed.

Starting in 1968 the Athens Marathon hasn’t taken a break since giving it the title of “Ohio’s Longest Running Marathon.” With that rich history participants will start in beautiful Uptown Athens right next to the College Green of Ohio University. The course soon connects with the Hockhocking-Adena Bikeway for a fast and flat remainder of the race before finishing on the Ohio University track. You’ll experience the rich views Athens has to offer in spring time while you meander along the Hocking River valley. Though Athens is known for its foothills, you’ll stay safely in the valley for the marathon course making this an ideal fast race course to get your Boston Marathon qualifier.

Sunday morning drizzle. Precip supposed to pickup at 10, heavy all afternoon. Wet weekend was forecasted long ago – windbreaker, trucker cap & a pair of shorts – ready ready to run. On-campus Start ’bout a mile walk from my hotel. Richland Ave Bridge over the Hocking River onto OU campus. Banners of fallen veterans decorated each Bridge light post. Well done, classy.

Day’s start: corner of South College & East Union on the College Green. National Anthem, LOUD cannon Start. Literally SHOOK the ground. 2 lap course – notta huge fan of laps. Hard to stay motivated at mile 13, when 80% of the field finishes.

Steady drizzle kept day-temps comfortable. Couple miles of university town, then pushed onto a well-maintained bike path.

First 10 miles? Easy sub-4 marathon pace. Whatta difference a week makes! Struggled in São Paulo then KILLED IT this past week. Logged over 40 miles Tue-Thurs. Didn’t let setback hold me captive today. Today – legs felt strong.

2:08 Half. Rain fell hard next 4 miles. Goal: keep running ‘til mile 20.

Didn’t stop ‘til marker 21…walk/jogged the remainder. PROGRESS. An hour+ faster than last Sunday. No stomach issues, no puking, just lacking stamina. 52 miles – that’s the distance goal in June, Bighorn 60 days away.

Not a great finish time, but physically & mentally FAAAANNNTASTIC! big Smile, PROGRESS ❤

2 hours to Columbus, drove back in a downpour. Hindsight, mighty lucky with my race weather. Airport Hilton Sunday, early Monday return flight, back at my work desk 9:30 a.m. (Mountain time). Rinse repeat, Illinois in 6 days.