Crazy cold in Toronto 2 weeks ago, today’s forecast in New Hampshire: low 80’s.
Main Street FINISH
7am marathon start. Mid-50’s, sunny skies, pretty much perfect. Would go out fast, try to log as many miles as possible before temps started heating up.
My first cloverleaf course. Little confusing initially – overall, HUGE fan. Generally NOT excited ‘bout running loops…but when 4 of those 5 loops are unique, hardly seemed like lap running. Loved the ole New England feel of Nashua’s historic Main Street, [ran] out-n-back 4 times.
Started UPHILL past Nashua City Hall, on the right: Church of the Good Shepherd (circa 1871), [ran] by the Telegraph (city’s newspaper home), over the Nashua River, long trek down Manchester/Hill’s Ferry/Concord streets, east ‘round Atherton Park, back over the River, THEN Main Street-returned via my favourite chunk of local architecture – St. Mary & Archangel Michael’s Coptic Orthodox Church, built in 1898 (previously Roman Catholic)…beautiful old building, Nashua’s tallest church.
17 miles in, sun blazed warm. Avoided the day’s strongest rays for another 3 miles. Ran those miles alongside water-gorged canals in Mine Falls Park. Dirt path, BEAUTIFUL treed property – LOVED.
21-mile aid station. Stopped/regrouped, slow jogged back to Main. Loop 5: shortest of the cloverleafs. Seemed like a looooong 4.3 miles. Walk/jogged, water-doused my head at both aid stations.
Finish line. Came in hot, unsteady. Main Street never looked so good.
Southern New Hampshire Medical Center provided support in the Finish area. Blood pressure 80 over 40, body temp just over 93. Disoriented, not my best. Hour later, good to go ❤
Beautiful course, well run event – with friend support at both Start & Finish. Not a great finish (20 minutes slower than my past 2 marathons) but…a finish is a finish. #90 in the books.
3rd Annual Gate City Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay – FULL
#1095 KR HAGA
Place: 138
Net Time: 4:39:30.5
3 week run break. Next Sunday surrounded by Colorado mountains, I’m walking the bride. Nothing better.
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- tried to log as many miles as possible before temps started heating up
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- my first cloverleaf course
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- 5th in 6 weeks, 12th of 2017
pic-perfect day
Promised months ago, would not marathon Memorial Day weekend. No race conflicts permitted during Ash & Tom’s Colorado wedding [or 2 weeks following – dog-sitting my grandpup during their Iceland honeymoon].
Week before? No such promise. Targeting run #90, 5th in 6 weeks, 12th of 2017.
Flight delay in Chicago, +2 hour time difference, arrived in Manchester 2:30am Saturday morning. Six hours sleep, short 2 mile pre-marathon run (‘cause every day’s a run day), hit the highway – destination: Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 2 cars: Stephen, Sheila, daughter-in-law Ashley & two toddlers. Beautiful sunshiny day.
Portsmouth’s right on the water – New Hampshire’s only port city. Public parking off Market, street-scanned for grub. Irish pub, outdoor seating. Check, done 🙂
Post-lunch walk in Prescott Park, along the Piscataqua River. Picture perfect New England. Alarm sounded. Watched Memorial Bridge lift, allowing a passing ship to clear its mast. History-trekk’d thru Portsmouth Navy Yard while Ashley’s kids climbed atop the Park’s whaling memorial. AND there was ice cream ❤
More of Stephen’s family – Patricia, Noreen & Maggie – joined before his concert start at Christ Episcopal Church. Second year singing, my first time attending. Gotta get back for Christmas — hear the conductor wears jingle bells & a tree. SUPER FUN day!
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- WWI Memorial Bridge: vertical-lift bridge linking Portsmouth & Kittery, Maine
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- celebrating New England’s whaling history
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- Prescott Park
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- intermission & a costume change
UPDATE: Friday Jun 9th – National Anthem at Red Sox’s Fenway Park
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- Boston’s Fenway Park
WWI Memorial Bridge (NH to Maine)
whole belly clams – YUM!
shoreline Sunday
Sunday, SUN day. Weather took a 180-degree turn from yesterday’s 26.2 mile trek.
Branford – Overnighted at a friend’s condo along the shoreline. WOW, whatta morning view! Ocean breeze & sunshine. Popped on a jacket & laced up my running shoes. Morning after marathoning is never my best run but today’s beachscape soaked into the soul. (Thanks Andrea & Bill!)
Westbrook – After visiting a friend’s B&B in Madison, the Scranton Seahorse Inn – enjoyed my first clam roll of the season. Light breeze, smell of salt, sea gulls scavenging for scraps – summer’s just around the corner 🙂
New Haven – Ended the weekend walking the Green, downtown New Haven & Yale campus. You can’t go back in time – no regrets, LOVE LOVE my Colorado life – but after living & loving 9 years in CT, whole lotta memories. BIG smile.
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- 100 day runniversary
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- first clam roll of 2017
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- downtown New Haven
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- goodnite sun, goodbye CT
