Can’t expect to run 6 straight weekends without eventually having a work conflict. Threw a few bucks at the Race Director & had my race bib mailed (most marathons require bib pick-up in person day before the event). Worked Friday, boarded a late flight to Chicago, picked up my rental just before midnight (closing time). Hour drive to Wisconsin – then like a bum, slept at a rest area just outside of Kenosha. Wrapped in Mylar retained from a previous Finish, set an iPhone alarm, locked all doors, UP at 5am. Changed into race clothes, brushed my teeth – 2 hours later, my 28th marathon start. Yep, kinda ghetto – but I achieved work/life balance 🙂
Parked downtown & walked half mile to the Start. Caught the most AMAZING sunrise over Lake Michigan against a double lighthouse background. Just what I needed – helped remind me why I do this & how incredibly lucky I am.
Miss Kenosha struggled a bit with the Anthem (high notes) but still felt it in my heart. Go USA!
Shared the course with Halfers thru mile 12 in SUNSHINE. First race in weeks where I haven’t slogged thru rain. Coursed miles of road along Kenosha’s Lakefront. Crazy beautiful. The Wisconsin Marathon brands themselves as the Cheesiest Marathon – HOWEVER, BIG shout out to their lighthouses & scenic Lake Michigan. That’s what I’ll brain-log when I go.
First marathon in months without hills. Unfortunately, suffered a muscle pull in my left calf near mile 11 – first injury in 2 years. 7 weekends, 7 marathons, 7 different states – tough mental challenge (travel fatigued)…now also taking a physical beating.
One mile marker at a time. Just like tennis – gotta focus on the point being played, don’t look too far ahead/to the next game. Shifted weight to my right side, kept an even steady stride – didn’t speed up, didn’t slow down.
Stopped at mile 25, stretched. Teared up re-starting the machine. Mile 26, only two-tenths to go. Dropped my ear buds & let the crowd bring me home. I RAN & RAN hard. Could hear folks cheer as I sprinted – sprinted – thru the Finish Line.
Laid lazy in the grass, caught some sun & ate a post-race brat (better than any banana, hands-down).
Shower, lasagna (it’s tradition) – then off to Mars’ Cheese Castle for Wisconsin cheese curds. Purchased 2 bags, jalapeño & horseradish. [Ya’ll know I like my foods spicy.] Unfortunately, had to cancel all other stops, pop Advil & prop the leg.
Early to bed, early to rise – will be good to get home. Home, sweet Colorado home.
Place Bib Athlete Name Finish Time
423 290 K R HAGA LOUISVILLE CO 4:34:06
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- Good Morning from Kenosha!
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- sunrise start on beautiful Lake Michigan
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- State #28 done, digging Wisconsin. Shower, lunch, then Mars’ Cheese Castle. Happy Saturday! — at Kenosha Lakefront.
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- Wouldn’t be Wisconsin without cheese curds, right?
Greetings from Home!
Having completed 27 races, now follow a fairly consistent post-marathon pattern – shower, lasagna, rest.
Threw ‘tradition’ out the window after finishing this morning’s Kentucky Derby Marathon. Sure I showered. Yes, devoured a plate of “go-to” lasagna. But kick around slowly & lick my wounds? No way; no time today.
Invited Connecticut BFF Dawn to Kentucky – #1 she’s my BFF; #2 this gal eats/breathes/sleeps equine. Not only owns & shows quarter horses but versed in a multitude of horse disciplines & events – I tell ya, she’s a HUGE fan of the mighty equine. No one else I’d rather share space in Kentucky Horse Country – I’m better for knowing Dawn.
Hour half drive to Lexington; tonite’s destination: the Kentucky Reining Cup Freestyle World Championship.
…the Kentucky Reining Cup Freestyle World Championship is the largest, most prestigious and most important Freestyle competition in the sport of Reining and crowns the annual World Champion in this, the more artistic side of an otherwise technical sport.
Free from the restraints of a prescribed pattern, Reining competitors must only achieve required maneuvers in their own freely choreographed program, complete with special effect lighting and costumes.
Think the redneck in me still prefers rodeo, but whatta show. SPECTACULAR!
Woke Sunday & picked up where I left off – with the ponies. Arrived early at Churchill Downs (home to the Kentucky Derby) & watched horses exercising on the traditional dirt track. Yeah, pretty much perfect. Derby Museum, Walking tour, Barn & Backside tour – & only 6 days before the next Derby running. A true WOW day!
Lunch at the Cardinal Café, 2 hours at the Muhammad Ali Museum (boxing icon & native of Louisville), then finished at Sunergos (met FB marathoner Heidi), before trekking north to Indianapolis for my flight HOME to Colorado.
Sooo much to see & do in Louisville. That said, if you wanna see Kentucky, you gotta see the ponies. FAAAANNNTASTIC!
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- largest, most prestigious Freestyle competition in the sport of Reining
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- my Connecticut BFF Dawn, fan of everything equine
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- home to the Kentucky Derby
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- exercising horses a week before Derby
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- today’s WOW pic – when in Kentucky, must see the ponies!
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- historic Churchill Downs
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- first Saturday in May, three-year-old Thoroughbreds run a mile & a quarter on this famed dirt track
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- “The Greatest” — Ali was bold, fought for race equality & stood strong as boxing’s Heavyweight Champion
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- “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”
Kentucky Reining Cup
Marathon morning in Kentucky. Overcast & humid – 90% chance of rain, just a matter of time.
“My Old Kentucky Home” played pre-race. Felt like Derby day. FAANNNTASTIC!
Halfers & full marathoners shared today’s Start. Assigned Corral D, minute between each starting corral. Expecting heavy rain, overdressed for the a.m. humid temps. Began stripping layers after mile 2; holding on to discarded clothing, still sensing precip.
Mile 8 – Churchill Downs.
My step-father gambled on the horses for years. First Derby winner I remember was filly Genuine Risk in 1980; officially Derby-hooked after Gato del Sol’s victory two years later – a gray horse running 21-1 odds, 10th highest payout in Derby history. Skip was killed in a car accident in 2008. Every time I watch horse racing, I remember Skip. Always.
Fast forward to 2015 – passed mile marker 8, now running in front of horse racing’s most iconic track, Churchill Downs. Tunneled down, then UP thru the Entrance where next weekend’s Derby horses will meet the track. WOW! Experience I’ll soon not forget.
Entered Iroquois Park, canopying trees shielded me from streaming mist/light rain. Up & down rolling hills.
Mile 11 – downpour. Gave in to the rain, all part of the experience. Cold, yes – but I’m gonna survive, just gonna get really really wet 🙂
Hill at mile 21, saw a military guy slow to a crawl – “hit the wall“. “Come on, man”, waved him up & he climbed that hill. Short “thanks, man” & we kept running. Mile 22. Mile 23: JT, a college kid in a bright pink singlet, charity-running for breast cancer. Military Guy called out “Come on” – & now we were 3. Mile 25, I slowed. “Just one more mile” – now it was Murray State providing encouragement.
Tightest camaraderie to date between 3 strangers. I thanked JT as we received our medals. Military Guy caught up as I was collecting my post-race bagel. Introduced his wife. I congratulated him on his 1st marathon finish.
Will long remember finishing today’s marathon – my 27th – & the camaraderie shared between three strangers endurance running in Louisville, Kentucky. Thanks guys, appreciate the journey.
Kentucky Derby Marathon: K R Haga – FINISH in 4:31:13. Time of Arrival: 12:02 PM.
LOVED mile 8 – running thru Churchill Downs. Experience I’ll soon not forget.
#27 in the books, next weekend – Wisconsin
