Delmarva weekend started after yesterday’s run in Rehoboth Beach, my last marathon of 20-14.
Delmarva is a large peninsula occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia.
After my post-race shower at Quality Inn, headed south on Coastal Highway (Delaware 1). Spent Saturday night in a no-frills Ocean City MD hotel located in town harbor. Like many beach towns, most store fronts & hotels were closed during winter.
Grabbed an early diner breakfast, then south 30 minutes further to Assateague Island. Windy winter day but saw sunshine – not the norm for Nov-March on the East Coast…so counted myself lucky 🙂
Assateague Island?
Wild ponies have inhabited Assateague Island for hundreds of years. While some have suggested that the wild ponies on Assateague Island trace their origin to horses released to forage on the Island by early settlers, the circumstantial evidence suggests that they are indeed the descendants of the survivors of a Spanish galleon which wrecked off the coast of Assateague. A fence along the Virginia/Maryland State line separates Assateague Island’s ponies into two herds. The Maryland herd is owned by the National Park Service. The Virginia herd is owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. The US Fish & Wildlife Service allows the Fire Company to maintain a herd of approximately 150 adult ponies on Assateague Island.
Called ahead to secure a pony tour – closed. Kayaks – closed. Nothing open & available ‘til next April. UGH!
Oh well…still great to see the ocean – even in winter. Would start off on Assateague, then an extra hour to Chincoteague to visit the lighthouse & NASA Visitors Center. (NASA Visitors Center: closed on Sunday – bad luck, huh?)
Crossed the bridge to Assateague & near swerved off road in excitement – PONY!
Took a tens of pics of the lone pony, thinking this my one opportunity. Nope. Not only had the park to ourselves (not a lotta December beachcombers – HA!), but saw several wild ponies grazing near the tree line. WOW, what luck!
Not sure how wild the ponies are – one came to the car window. I did not feed but guessing tourists past have broken this rule. Beautiful animals. Took rural roads to Chincoteague, short hike to the Lighthouse, more ponies & a beach walk.
Whatta year – grizzly bears in Montana & the wild ponies of Assateague Island. Crazy blessed life; life is good.
Autobahn’d back to BWI in under 3 hours, crossing the [Chesapeake] Bay Bridge into Baltimore. Thought I had overcome my fear of high bridges – NOT – spanning almost 5 miles over water, felt white-knuckled near the end.
5 weeks off ‘til marathon season picks up next year in Mississippi. Fingers crossed — snow on Christmas 🙂
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- wild ponies of Assateague
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- sizing up the situation
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- getting curious
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- up close & personal
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- salt & snow
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- winter beach day
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- had the beach to myself – surprise, surprise 🙂
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- last pass at the ponies before Chincoteague
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- big fan of lighthouses
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- 10 degrees warmer on Chincoteague
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- held pose — seemingly still in the gusting wind
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- sea foam sudsing, rolling on the surf
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- love the ocean – even in December!
Last marathon of 2014 – in America’s 1st state, Delaware.
Denver to Baltimore, rental [car] pick-up, White Marsh MD where I picked up Stephen travelling for work (awesome timing, huh). Lunch, an hour to Delaware, another hour half to Rehoboth, bib pickup, (must have) crab cakes, then early to bed.
Race in the a.m. – BAM that’s how I roll 🙂
Chilly Saturday start, arrived early on the boardwalk. Watched the pink surf sunrise – STUNNING.
Woke sluggish – time change related, me thinks. Have reined in most race variables – diet, when/what/how much…shows you can’t control everything. Sometimes it is, what it is…just gotta roll with the punches.
Another jumbled race beginning – halfers split off near mile 3 so synched into a rhythm early on. Beautiful scenic course, fairly flat too. Wish I had woke more rested, this course had all elements for a PR. Twice we broke thru state forests for long stretches on trail & wood planked pathways, built above the marshy wetlands below. Saw ocean waves break hard – the Atlantic seems more violent in December, possibly protesting the end of summer season.
Overcast day but forecasted rain held off for 5 hours.
Notta a huge fan of courses which loop (show us 26 unique miles please) – that said, Delaware’s marshy coastal habitat was eye catching & without a lotta wind. Can’t control the weather…but appreciative when it rolls my way.
Tomorrow’s adventure, Assateague Island & Marguerite Henry‘s must-see ponies of Chincoteague.
K R HAGA crossed the Finish
Course time: 04:30:42
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- crab cakes – a Delaware must
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- pre-race smiles
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- Atlantic surf sunrise
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- finish in sight
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- 2014 year-end — 17 states COMPLETED!
Early rise, caught a ride to my 16th Marathon start & located Maniac village.
Route 66 would be my 2nd in our trademark yellow-n-black racing shirts. Enjoyed a pre-race toast with a runner celebrating his 50th state marathon – fast forward 2 years, this will be me 🙂
Full & half marathon combined start meant a jammed race for 12 miles – but not as bad as Vegas. I now have a barometer to gauge against. Lotta runners in Tulsa…but not 44,000.
Went out a bit fast on a hilly course. Mentally, got to remember to run my own race. Matching fleet footed half-marathoners is not helping the back half of my race. 1:48 half is quick. Until I finish sub-4 consistently gotta keep folks outta my head.
Memorable – campus run thru University of Tulsa. Love marathons routed thru universities – crowd supported & visually easy on the eyes…beautifully landscaped, virtual botanical gardens. Seen a lotta road this year so I appreciate flora & fauna.
Hills.
Not the Colorado variety where you dig in, blast BIG, let it burn & soon you’re flying downside. Deceptive hills in Oklahoma – gradual inclines which can last for 3 miles. ‘Mess with your head’ hills – “I’m on flat ground, what’s wrong with my legs” hills.
Heading into mile 26, looked forward to seeing family. Not sure if they’d be waiting near the Finish but just the possibility was motivating. Nearing the end I heard them – WOW.
Received my medal, Finisher’s photo, grabbed a chocolate milk. I could hear Mom, my family behind the gates.
I reached up, she touched my finger tips, I heard her voice, I heard all of their voices now – one gets crazy emotional after pushing the body to extreme. Amazing, unerasable experience.
Shower, food, airport – time goes by so fast. Ash texted a pic of geese wintering on Waneka Lake. Home.
Bib Chip Time
1958 K R Haga Louisville CO 4:32:41
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- SUCCESS!
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- 50-state Finisher celebration
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- marathon medallions
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- wintering geese, my Colorado home
