5 days ago, ran/walked/crawled my worst marathon in Casper Wyoming.
Mentally re-grouped, today Seattle bound. Surprising long 3-hour flight, greeted by Washington state’s towering Mount Rainier. double WOW! [Someday I’ll bag this peak – on my bucket list 🙂 ]
Struggled initially with public transport (no rental car this trip), but eventually made my way to the NFL Seahawks’ CenturyLink Field (for bib pick-up). After the Broncos’ humiliating 2014 Super Bowl loss, couldn’t imagine souvenir shopping. HOWEVER, pleasantly surprised to see Seattle’s Sounders share store space with the Seahawks. One of MLS’ premier soccer teams – dropped 20 & scored a new beanie.
Hooked up with Ash & Tom (arrived a day earlier), toured the city via harbor cruise – SUPER fun – then ended the day at Seattle’s infamous fish-tossing Public Market.
Crazy hippie vibe in Seattle, sport a unique accent (Alaskan/Canadian tinge) – and is a city of hills. Folks warned ’bout San Francisco being hilly…no such disclaimer for the Emerald City. Yikes!
Woke early Saturday, 6am monorail to Seattle Center – caught my first close-up of the Space Needle. Would have to wait post-marathon for a ride UP 🙂 Hung out nearby in the Armory with a thousand new friends, awaiting an 8am start.
Corral start: lotta people, lotta corrals – BIG crowd, majority half-marathoners (combined start). Only my 2nd Rock n Roll event, Las Vegas RnR was HUGE — 44,000 participants.
Almost 10 minutes before I actually crossed the Start Line – but from there, a different attitude. Sunshine, cool temps – maybe Seattle’s hippie vibe – whatever the reason, this was not Casper.
Separated from the halfers early & worked our way south to Seward Park. GREEN. Biggest difference from Colorado, everything’s leafy, lush & GREEN here.
Crossed the mile-long expansion bridge to Mercer Island at mile 18; struggled with strong crosswinds [on the bridge] but reenergized to music blasting in the tunnel before mile 19 (& mile 22).
Paced sub-4 until the mile 23 bridge return to Seattle. Hills – bring ‘em on. I eat hills for breakfast.
Casper Marathon, I derailed/everything fell apart – mental, physical, top 10 worst. Today approaching Seattle’s Space Needle, I felt STRONG. Love this city. SUCCESS: state #32 marathon FINISH.
Next stop (WaMu Theatre), Jurassic World premier – my post-marathon movie treat in 3D.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon
June 13, 2015
Bib Name City, State Time
8057 K R Haga Louisville, CO 4:15:26
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- Mount Rainier greeting
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- marathon bib pick-up at Seahawk’s CenturyLink Field
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- downtown Seattle skyline
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- Seattle’s infamous fish-throwing marketplace
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- Haga family lookin’ fly as we tour the harbor — at Argosy Cruises
When you think of Vegas, one thinks bright lights & casinos. Nevada would be my 15th state marathon & my first race at night.
Struggled as how to prepare for a night run – when to stop eating (generally 14 hours before race time), what & how much pre-race activity is ok before running a full marathon. Lotta unknowns.
Since I was staying at the Luxor, pre-race pics with fellow Maniacs was super easy – took the elevator downstairs; check, done. Another first? Pre-race pic with Elvis. Yeah, everything tonite spelled Vegas.
And since this was a Rock n Roll marathon, watched Macklemore in concert an hour half before the start. Not sure if standing at a concert before running 26.2 miles was great prep but the experience was crazy fun 🙂
Vegas would also be my largest race to date – more than 44,000 participants. Starting 10 corrals back @ 1,000 runners per corral = no actual running until 20 minutes after the first firework blast. That’s a lotta bodies running at a lotta different paces.
First 4 miles down the Strip, soooo many runners but WOW — still kinda cool. Mandalay Bay, Luxor, MGM, the Mirage, Circus Circus — all colorful ginormous hotels. Unexpectedly however, found my favourite part of the Strip was Fremont Street in downtown Vegas – casino lights coupled with a flash of Vegas past.
From mile 4 to mile 21, not a whole lotta positive. Ran for miles on a highway in the dark, thru Vegas suburbs on dim roadways, past homeless under bridges. Vegas is a tough town – whether homeless by choice, self-inflicted circumstance or just plain bad luck, unfortunately there are many homeless in Vegas. Really puts life in perspective.
Mile marker signs dropped off after mile 21. Positive – the Vegas skyline is soooo BIG, I could see light by mile 23. Return pass thru Fremont — felt like I’d been running all night. A fellow Maniac called out at mile 25 & I tagged along. Many thanks Othman.
Nearing the Finish Line, Ash, Tom & Stephen screamed encouragement. FAAANNNNNTASTIC finish!
Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas – Marathon
OvrPl Bib Name City, State Time
1829 10078 K R Haga Louisville, CO 4:36:50
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- pre-race pic w/ the King
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- Macklemore
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- 44,000 strong
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- marathon magic
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- FINISHERS!
Late Friday night flight to Vegas with Ash & Tom, where we met up with Stephen (in from New Hampshire). Luxor Hotel check-in, sleep, breakfast, van pickup at 8am. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…
Heck NO — who takes a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon & keeps that a secret? LOL>
The most spectacular Grand Canyon helicopter floor landing experience with an exclusive landing on the canyon floor and extended canyon viewing time! Embark on an unforgettable narrated flight from fabulous Las Vegas area, see majestic views of Lake Mead, the magnificent Hoover Dam, Grapevine Mesa, Grand Wash Cliffs, Fortification Hill and Extinct Volcanoes. View rugged southwest desert wilderness en route to America’s most spectacular natural wonder, the Grand Canyon.
Safety talk (check), belted in (check), headset on (check) & we’re up fast – hovering over the Nevadan desert. I LOVE geology & rock formations so the volcanic landscape in route to Hoover Dam was right up my alley. Hoover Dam, which holds back the waters of Lake Mead, is crazy massive. Seeing this man-made structure by air is pretty spectacular. Just the sheer size — WOW!
Soon the landscape opened & we dipped over the Rim of the Grand Canyon — used my WOW early. Double WOW!
Nothing like seeing this Wonder of the World via ‘copter, maneuvering around massive rock walls — dropping down, landing 4,000ft below on the floor of the Grand Canyon. Shot 100 near identical pics & a short video — couldn’t capture the experience.
Just an hour earlier we were in Vegas — now surrounded by cacti, red rock cliffs & the iconic Colorado River.
If you wanna create magic, treat family & friends to a heli trip – an experience you’ll never forget. SPECTACULAR!
Back in Vegas, took in a show (Olivia Newton John – ok I admitted it), casinos, roulette & some sports betting.
Ash & Tom treated with tickets Sunday morning to Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. Sharks, rays, lizards, snakes, piranha — well done, Vegas. Living B-I-G, crazy FULL 36 hours – friendly warning: Vegas can be hard on the wallet 🙂
Lunch, an hour down time, then BAM — marathoning down the Las Vegas Strip.
Grand Canyon Heli Adventure
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- thumbs up, let’s roll
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- volcanic landscape
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- Hoover Dam
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- first pass over the Rim – WOW!
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- Canyon floor landing – 4,000ft below the Rim
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- today’s WOW pic – Canyon, cacti & the iconic Colorado River
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- goodbye Grand Canyon – whatta adventure!
Viva Las Vegas
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- bib pickup chaos – HUGE race!
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- our 3-night Vegas home
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- Shark Reef Aquarium/Mandalay Bay
