USA Adventure

Lake Champlain Schooner

Published May 25, 2015

Shower, change of clothes, quick turnaround from today’s marathon run. Booked a 3pm sailing excursion on Lake Champlain with Whistling Man Schooner – only a few blocks from my hotel, pier off College. Pretty cool idea, huh?

Boarded the “Friend Ship” on its maiden commercial weekend – new ship, opening weekend. Motored out of the harbor, popped the sails, kicked back & took in landscape – beautiful Burlington Bay/Lake Champlain (separates Vermont from New York state).

In 1823, the forty-six-mile-long Champlain Canal was completed, linking Lake Champlain to the Hudson River and the New York City market, and twenty years later, the twelve-mile-long Chambly Canal was constructed in Quebec, bypassing the Richelieu River rapids and allowing cheap Canadian lumber to flow from the St. Lawrence River to Lake Champlain. These two canals led to the growth of the port at Burlington, and by 1873, Burlington had become the third largest lumber port in the country.

Placid, rolling waves and GREEN – whole lotta green everywhere. Best post-marathon activity yet – laid on my back & soaked in the cool lake air. Docked three hours later & enjoyed post-marathon lasagna (it’s become tradition). FAAAANNNNTASTIC day!

Early morning flight on Memorial Day Monday. Arrived home in Colorado – plenty of time for an afternoon cook-out (unofficial kick-off to summer). Burgers, corn & grilled peaches & pineapple. YUM!

Happy Memorial Day 2015 🙂

: Burlington Boathouse

: Whistling Man Schooner’s “Friend Ship”

: post-marathon sailing adventure

: Burlington Breakwater North Light

: best post-marathon activity yet – laid on my back & soaked in landscape

: small airport, small plane — 6 hours later: Home, Sweet Home

: grilled peaches & pineapple — unofficial kick-off to summer, YUM!

sailing on Lake Champlain

Posted in Northeast | Tagged lighthouses, rivers-lakes, watercraft | Leave a comment

Vermont City Marathon

Published May 24, 2015

Early Saturday start, connection in Chicago, landed in Burlington VT just after 2pm. Bib pick-up, checked into the Hilton (fancy digs), then strolled pedestrian Church Street in search of lunch. Outside dining at Rí Rá, beautiful sunshiny day. Short walk down Battery aside scenic Lake Champlain, watched the sunset from my hotel room. Early to bed, early to rise – marathon #30 tomorrow a.m.

: early a.m. start: Denver ⇨ Chicago ⇨ Burlington

: Memorial Day run in scenic Vermont

: pedestrian Church Street, Burlington

: Lake Champlain sunset

Caught up with Wisconsin-marathoner Toni & husband Jeff for breakfast. First met this twosome in Jackson after Mississippi Blues in January. I’m not much for eating pre-race – but enjoy hanging with good people. Upbeat attitudes, good mojo.

8:03 start time, hats off for the Anthem, queued up under sunny skies.

Went out fast. Crossed the actual Start Line 3 times within the first 9 miles – course loops downtown, two separate out-n-backs. Drafted behind a runner trekking off road, followed along a 3 mile stretch resembling trail (good on the feet). We ran negative splits (miles 7, 8 & 9) & caught the 3:45 pace group. Stopped for water at mile 11 & they were gone.

Mile 15 – Battery Park. Drums beating, pre-warned this Hill was coming, kicked in & killed it – up & over mile 15, plus the surprise hill at mile 16. Drums set this marathon apart, a memory I’ll take home.

Course wound thru quiet neighborhoods & city parks. Residents turned on sprinklers & passed out popsicles as temps climbed. AWESOME crowd support! Toe on my right foot bled thru the shoe, slogged thru miles 21-24.

26 miles – seemingly nothing left in the tank – got into a foot race. 50 meters to go, I went full sprint against a guy fast on my left. Finish picture, a bit inconclusive – [in my version] undoubtedly pulled ahead & won the day 🙂 Relay runner. I go full-on sprint after 26 miles against a relay runner. If I could muster a little competitiveness throughout an entire race, forget sub-4, I’d sub-3. LOL >

Back in the hotel, lanced my toe to relieve pressure. Liquid sprayed like a fountain PLUS I lost the nail (Ashton says I gloss over the less glamorous aspects of the sport). Shower, quick turnaround – sailing on Lake Champlain at 3pm. Life is good.

Vermont City Marathon and Relay

#3348 K R Haga 4:35:19

: breakfast w/ the pride of La Crosse WI

: 8:03 official start – queued up, ready to run

: a bit inconclusive – [my version] undoubtedly pulled ahead & won the day 🙂 Went full-on sprint after 26 miles against a relay runner. Too competitive? This guy’s smiling – my eyes say KILL

: THIRTY!

: shower, quick turnaround – sailing on Lake Champlain at 3pm

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, Northeast | Tagged kyrkan, rivers-lakes | Leave a comment

Fargo Marathon

Published May 9, 2015

Barreled out of work half-day Friday – destination: Fargo ND.

Chose not to run all week, resting a strained calf muscle – tricky strategy. Feeling tired/looking haggard, arrived in North Dakota for my 7^th consecutive marathon weekend. Met my marathon room-share, Randy, for the first time. Gotta say, sharing space with another runner was HUGE – saved $$ but more importantly, talking marathons was super motivational.

Bib pick-up at the FargoDome, Fargo’s largest landmark – we’d start & finish tomorrow’s race from NDSU’s arena stadium. Randy inquired ‘bout pace groups – whether they’d have a 3-fifteen group. 3:15. Way faster pace than I can ever hope to generate.

Foot-long sub & quick trip to the grocery store where Randy introduced me to Pedialyte. Not tasty (not even a little) but chock full of electrolytes. AND this guy runs like the wind so I too purchased a liter bottle from the Baby section.

Up early Saturday, had already scoped a parking spot the night before. Thanks Buffalo Wild Wings – ideal location 🙂

Cool sub-30 temps & sunshine. More perfect? Today’s run started inside the heated FargoDome. FAAANNNNTASTIC!

Hats off for the National Anthem. Kinda confused, looked around, removed my hand from my heart – Oh Canada? In hind sight, it’s a pretty anthem – don’t know if I’d ever heard the words. Just came as a surprise, running in North Dakota. No worries; soon after ensued “The Star Spangled Banner” – Go USA!

Fargo Marathon Start! Gun start reverberated inside the arena.

Exited the heated Dome, greeted by wind – initially took one’s breathe, woke the soul 🙂 Marathoned thru neighborhoods, greeted by residents sitting in lawn chairs, warmed by fire pits.

Lotta crowd support throughout the entire race – Fargo or Grandma’s (Duluth MN) rank as #1 in this category on my Quest. Lotta Norwegian pride too – several homes flew native flags, immigrant farmers settled this area more than a hundred years ago.

Crossed into neighboring Minnesota near mile 9. Ran thru Moorhead, university home of the Dragons. Again, lotta music, lotta crowd support. Beautiful campus. Mile 15, passed back in North Dakota; fatigue hit 2 miles later. Generally don’t hit the Wall ‘til miles 20 or 21, but hadn’t run in 7 days so struggled early.

Local bands were now playing at each mile marker. Pulled out my buds & took in the day. Sure, crazy tired but no shooting pain like last Saturday in Wisconsin – I could do this, one mile at a time. Ran mile 25 thru North Dakota State (home of the Bison).

FargoDome finish. FAN-FRICKIN-TASTIC! 29^th state, end of my 7 week challenge – PLUS pizza & free showers 🙂

Race Directors: If you’re looking to increase participant numbers, look to Fargo. Well organized event – beginning to end, a runner’s race. Awesome crowd support. Only have good things to say ‘bout North Dakota.

Dear K R Haga,
Thanks for competing in the Fargo Marathon, you finished in a time of 4:33:31