Hypnotically watched buffalo run in waves over the open prairie, toured the world’s 6th longest cavern at Wind Cave National Park – so what next?  Marathon #11 – in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Arrived in Scottsbluff late – just enough time to pick up my race bib & head over to the pre-race pasta dinner in Gering.  Listened to high school football over the radio – Scottsbluff on one station, neighboring Gering on another.  LOVE small town America.

Actually slept in.  8 a.m. marathon start on a unseasonably hot 90-degree day on the Great American Plains (i.e. no trees).  Not ideal K* conditions…but it is what it is – can’t change the weather.

Would love to blame hot temps for my worst-ever marathon performance, but if I wanna stay honest to the process – gotta call myself out.  Reality is, I’ve dropped both intensity & dedication since Ironman.

you’ve run 10 marathons, why do you still train so much? 

truth is: since evening temps dipped last month, I’ve skipped a lotta early morning runs – opting to sleep late.

you can eat whatever you want, you’re gonna run it all off anyway

Up 11 lbs since July, this boy can put away a meal – and then some.  ALSO haven’t made the best food choices…pizza, spaghetti, mac n cheese & bread have all crept back into the diet.  Comfort food – a sign something’s gone awry.

Soooo…no negativity directed toward this well-run Western Nebraska marathon – I sabotaged today’s results all on my own.

 

Positive – scenic run thru Scotts Bluff National Park & miles of Nebraska corn fields

Negative – roadside rattlesnake at mile 2

Negative – crazy HOT temps; 2^nd to Montana but tough to acclimate after the prior week’s snow

Negative – hit rock bottom as a runner; surprised/shocked how my body shut down

Positive – race volunteer Ali who kept me iced & coherent from mile 15 to the Finish

Negative – walked for miles; it’s a marathon – not a walk-a-thon

Positive – NEVER considered quitting:  8 miles to go; only 5 miles then you can stop; come on, anyone can walk 3 miles!

Positive – short stretch of trees by the cemetery at mile 25, possibly the only trees in all of Western Nebraska

Positive – military lady who screamed lotta positive comments ¾ mile from the Finish

Positive – ugly ending but I did not quit, I FINISHED my 11^th state marathon

Positive – Zofran (shot in the rump, wait 15 minutes, then BAM…ready for fluids)

Positive – met 3 Marathon Maniacs, first time I’ve connected with athletes outside of hiking/14er community

 

Chin up cowboy – positives far outweigh the Negative.

Strength does not come from physical capacity.  It comes from an indomitable will — Mahatma Gandhi

After brushing off my bruised ego, gonna remember what a charmed life I lead.  Truly blessed.  Running oceanside in scenic Newport, Rhode Island in 15 days 🙂

 

1048 K R Haga 77/106  5:36:29