USA Adventure

168 lives #RUNtoREMEMBER

Published April 29, 2017

Why We #RUNtoREMEMBER

Twenty two years ago on April 19, 1995, the unthinkable happened. 168 innocent people were killed by a truck bomb detonated by a fellow American. In the first hours after the Oklahoma City bombing, Oklahomans began to immediately respond by helping and creating small makeshift memorials around the perimeter of the bombsite – mounds of flowers, stuffed animals, personal notes, cards and prayers. Each person remembered and honored those killed in their own way. In 11 days, you and around 25,000 other runners will do the same. You run to keep their memory alive and by doing so, help to ensure people around the world know the impact of violence.

We hope at 9:02am today you will pause for 168 seconds of silence with us. During this time of reflection, honor those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever, and feel gratitude for being able to carry their legacy with you on April 30th.

The Gates of Time

Direct flight from Denver but arrived an hour late in Oklahoma City. Who knew it would be snowing two days before the start of May? Spring in Colorado – LOVE it! High wind & rain greeted in OKC. Trees down, traffic lights out (all weekend long) but…NO tornadoes, I call it a win 🙂

Marathon bib pickup, home to NBA’s Thunder. Walked 4 long blocks to the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum. This is the reason I chose tomorrow’s run – proceeds fund the Memorial…and we remember. We remember the victims of America’s first domestic terrorist attack. 168 lives.

The Museum was as moving as it was upsetting. Multimedia news feeds, recorded audio (blast occurred during a local ‘water rights’ court case), relics & interviews. I felt as if I were reliving the events of the day. Well done…just not my thing.

[despite the rain] found the Outdoor Memorial a better fit/more my style.

— Reflecting Pool

— Survivor Tree

— The Gates of Time

— Field of Empty Chairs

At each of these outdoor memorials, I reflected. Reflected on what I had seen in the Museum: on the lines of people giving blood, on the crowd of locals assisting firefighters digging thru rubble. One of the most moving experiences of my life. Proud American moment.

: 2 days ’til May

: marathon bib pickup & home to NBA’s Thunder

: multimedia news feeds of America’s first terrorist attack

: Reflecting Pool

: Field of Empty Chairs

: Pioneer Monument

: rain & downed trees, but no tornadoes — I call it a win 🙂

Posted in Heartland | Tagged museo, sport | Leave a comment

first clam roll [of 2017]

Published April 2, 2017

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.

: 100 day runniversary

: first clam roll of 2017

: downtown New Haven

: goodnite sun, goodbye CT

Posted in Northeast | Tagged beachcombing, kyrkan | Leave a comment

Savin Rock Marathon

Published April 1, 2017

An intense north Atlantic storm pushed an unusual surge of sea ice at St. John’s, Newfoundland, on Friday, a sight not seen by some locals in decades.

The powerful Atlantic low, centered about 400 miles southeast of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, produced strong northeast winds gusting up to 70 mph in parts of Newfoundland.

This was the second major north Atlantic storm in a week.

End-of-month at work, no chance of taking [off] the day…especially after a half-month away in New Zealand. Friday night East Coast flight, connection in Chicago – Saturday a.m. marathoning in West Haven, CT. Tomorrow’s forecast – rain.

Descending from the clouds, water poured off my window. Not just rain, sloppy sleet & ice. Airport hotel by 1am, up again at 5. Crazy quick turnaround. Hour-15 minute drive to today’s marathon start. April 1^st – ironically, my first official ‘Spring’ 26.2 of 2017.

Race day bib pickup, bitter cold porta-potty, then retreated to the car for a 20 minute nap. Aside from visiting friends & family this East Coast trip, would be marathoning today with my Indiana pal, Carolyn. Finishing 26.2 in CT, would up her 50-State tally to 41. Go Carolyn!

8am Start, 2 loop course, cold & windy, 100% chance of rain. Beanie-opted after a ball cap gusted off my head. Luckily, weather man got it all wrong this day. NO rain. Strong headwind first 2 miles before skirting into town. Closely knit Brownstones provided multiple wind breaks in this old New England town. Mile 5 or 6, local WWI Memorial (photo opp).

Hilly run, deceptive beach o’ hills. Reality: hills helped equalize pace. UP UP UP, I’d lead. Downhill or flats, Carolyn flew.

Lap 2: took almost a 10-minute break. Indoor restroom, change of socks, waited while Carolyn de-layered (we had prepared for heavy rain). Head down, pushed thru the wind. Lost our way 2-3 miles in. Flagged down a police car who called in our location & got us back on track – 15 minutes, eight-tenths long, my first ultra of 2017 🙁 Stayed uber-focused race remainder…running long is never fun.

Nothing left/outta fuel at mile 24. ‘Go on, see you at the Finish’ – instead, Carolyn urged me forward. Good egg, thanks friend.

Back along the Sound, pushed thru swirling wind, circled ’round Savin Rock, then brought it home. 15 minutes slower than expected but another marathon FINISH. #85, my 2^nd in Connecticut.

Savin Rock Marathon & Half Marathon – April 1, 2017

Marathon » Overall Results

192 K R Haga 4:39:26.97

Goodbyes to my running pal, [she] needed to log 5 hours under her belt before hotel-crashing for the night [long drive home to Indiana]. I, on the other hand, enjoyed an impromptu dinner party with friends. Lived 9 years in New Haven, LOVE LOVE these guys!