Happy July 4th – Happy Birthday USA!
Woke early to chilly temps – not the summer norm for July but today’s 26.2 adventure started at 8800ft 🙂
Less than 100 runners lined up for the inaugural Angel Fire Adventure (full & half #s combined).
National Anthem, 3 wheelchair participants upfront – then we started running. No gun, no announcement, just running. 9 miles flat or downhill, surrounded by high peaks, alpine flowers & sage. Hard to imagine a prettier marathon start – breathtaking.
Outkicked by a runner near mile 13. I continued up the highway, he turned & finished the Half.
The number of runners now thinned considerably. Constant climb, miles 14 thru 18. Ran with two runners thru 18 – one picked up pace, one slipped behind – then I was on my own. 18 then 19, still climbing – zapped all energy.
Heat kicked up, became aware of sun blazing my neck & arms. Felt like a soft white marshmallow toasting in raging campfire. Car traffic increased along the highway; not sure the town was aware of this year’s inaugural event. Kept on the shoulder, no worries, but felt more isolated than I have in any previous race. Walked/jogged most of mile 23, then IT happened.
Older lady (70’s 80’s) pulled her truck directly in front of me on the highway shoulder. Heat delirious, lifted my head, looked her way.
“Have you been in any accident? Can I drive you into town?” (super nice I agree but…)
“I’m in a race.” Pointed to my race bib. All the time thinking: maybe I could hitch a ride to mile 25 & limp in from there. I wasn’t gonna win so who cares, right? Thankfully oxygen returned to my brain & I waved her away. How bad did I look? LOL>
My most embarrassing marathon moment.
Eventually I would finish – under 5 hours, but just barely. (Only a handful of finishers — heat & altitude bested most.) Grabbed an ice compress from the volunteer nurse; DJ still randomly pumping club music into the sparse high-altitude sky. Weird but true.
OVERALL PLACE OFFICIAL TIME BIB # NAME CITY STATE
13 4:58:35 104 K R HAGA Louisville CO
34th marathon Finish – post race celebration?
8am zip lining reservation (next day) with my friend Cliff. Had never previously zip lined. First pass was a head trip but after that – no worries. Super fun. Heck less scarier than skydiving, that’s for sure. HA!
Love New Mexico, love 3-day holiday weekends. Next up? Sis & family’s first Colorado vacation. When? 12 hours ago. Yikes!
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- 34th state, first high-altitude marathon, 8,800ft
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- wrapped in the American flag, running on the 4th — super proud moment!
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- zip lining at 12,000ft — SPECTACULAR views! LOVED LOVED LOVED it!
Extra day off work, 5 hour drive south on I-25 = happy 3-day marathon weekend (no airport 🙂 )
Not being a hot weather runner, struggled with the idea of where to run New Mexico – only 2 organized marathons [in New Mexico], Shiprock in Four Corners (May) & Duke City in Albuquerque (September). Then – out of nowhere received notice of a brand-new event coming to Angel Fire, a small northern New Mexico ski town. SCORE!
Wait – New Mexico in July? Marathoning at 8800ft? Yikes!
Amazing arid landscape – love New Mexico – but not a lotta in Angel Fire during the summer (same as many Colorado ski towns). Bib pick-up, stopped by Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park, then 45 minutes west thru Carson Nat’l Forest to Taos.
Shopping, open air markets, outdoor dining, large local artist community – day trip recommend. Fun, laid-back atmosphere.
Closest 4th of July firework display? An hour east in Eagle Nest. Argh, would have to pass this year.
Early to bed, early to rise – tomorrow’s marathon day at 8800ft!
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- holiday road trip to the Land of Enchantment
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- Mexican Bush Sage
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- adobe architecture reflects the heritage of New Mexico
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- open air markets, art galleries, outdoor dining & whole lotta shopping
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- 4th of July holiday weekend
What is the proper way to pronounce the word “Mackinac”?
The French Pronounced it “aw” but spelled it “ac”. The British heard it pronounced “aw” so they spelled it that way. Whichever way it is spelled, it is always pronounced “aw”.
Lasagna, 45 minute drive north & a quick 20-minute power nap after finishing marathon #33 – and I’m boarding an early afternoon ferry to Michigan’s Mackinaw Island. Berthed downtown on Main Street, bought a carriage tour ticket & hopped aboard within 5 minutes of arriving on the island. BAM – awesome timing (next tour not for 2 hours).
Traffic on Mackinac Island is limited to bicycles & horse-drawn carriages – automobiles prohibited…pretty cool, huh?
Targeted a visit to Mackinaw & its Grand Hotel because of a sappy 80’s movie starring Jane Seymour & Christopher Reeve, “Somewhere in Time”. Re-watched the movie last week online before marathoning in Michigan.
Don’t think the love story itself drew me in – it was the ability to go back in time & live another era. What would life have been like if I were placed in the early to mid- 1800’s in the American West? Hmm.
Mackinaw’s Carriage Tour hit all island highlights. Started downtown, rode past residences built in the 1910s & ‘20s, the Governor’s ‘Summer Residence’, and – the Grand Hotel.
Built in 1887, the Grand Hotel still looks much like it did a century ago. There are newer hotels with modern facilities on the island – but give me history & creaky wood planks any day. Nothing rivals the Grand Hotel’s long wrap-around wood porch, overlooking the Straits of Mackinac (Lake Huron). Spectacular.
Tour resumed at the island’s working stable (Surrey Hills) where we switched carriages & travelled thru Mackinac Island State Park, stopping briefly at Arch Rock (rest break for the horses).
Tour concluded at Fort Mackinac, built by British troops during the Revolutionary War. I hopped off at Fort Mackinac & walked the trip remainder, down historic Market Street, past “Somewhere in Time” gift shop & multiple fudge stores.
Beautiful day.
Ferried returned, hotelled the night across from Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.
Early 230am start for the trip home – 4 hour ride to Grand Rapids, 8am Denver flight.
“Come back to me” – Elise McKenna, ‘Somewhere in Time’
I’ll come back to Mackinaw & the Grand Hotel.
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- early afternoon ferry to scenic Mackinaw Island
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- Mackinac Bridge, Lake Michigan
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- bicycle or horse-drawn carriage — automobiles prohibited
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- carriage tour down Main, thru historic Downtown, to the Grand Hotel
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- Arch Rock, Mackinac Island State Park
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- Straits of Mackinac (Lake Huron)
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- British outpost, Fort Mackinac
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- lighthouse sunset (moon visible)
“Somewhere in Time”
