…ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country — John F. Kennedy
$98 roundtrip — airfare WOW price — so late-registered for a third February marathon…the Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth. 930am Saturday morning, touchdown: Dallas. My first landing at Love Field, same airport President Kennedy used in November 1963.
Ya’ll know I’m a HUGE history fan – first stop: the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Housed in the former Texas School Book Depository, museum retells the events surrounding JFK’s assassination. Waited 40 minutes for ticket admittance – who knew so many people [on a Saturday morning] would be museum trekking?
Self-guided tour lasts ’bout an hour half – I finished in under 30. Placard-to-placard trail, ’til each tourist receives their moment at ‘the Corner Window’ – spot where Lee Harvey Oswald fatally head-shot the President as his motorcade turned onto Elm Street. Honestly, found the entire experience creepy, sad, voyeuristic. Upon leaving the building, walked thru Dealey Plaza & past ‘the Grassy Knoll’ where it’s believed another conspirator fired but missed the President. Again, not my thing. Live & learn.
50 minutes away, arrived in Fort Worth for marathon bib pick-up/hotel check-in.
Sunshine, breezy & 60 — BEAUTIFUL — lucky me, half day remaining. Short 2 mile run along the Clear Fork Trinity River (‘cause every day’s a run day), pre-race dinner at Hoffbrau Steaks (ate RED MEAT like a native) PLUS time for haircut (clipper close-shave).
Early to bed, early to rise – ’cause tomorrow I’m running Cowtown 🙂
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- America’s Camelot
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- the Corner Window
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- fatal motorcade turn on Elm
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- sixth floor ‘Corner Window’
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- JFK Memorial
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- Welcome to Cowtown
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- Midnight (1910-1936), “World’s Greatest Bucking Horse”
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- Saturday FUN run/Crystelle Waggoner Trailhead
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- pre-marathon TEXAS dinner
November 22, 1963
Georgia or Vegas – either location keeps me on my 100 marathon path.
Two/three marathons a month (Jan-June, Sept-Oct), only one in July & August (attitude climbing both months). Running consistent, training hard, on track for Dublin/October 29th. Set a goal, visualize/see yourself there, make it happen.
Friday morning flight to Atlanta – chose Georgia, same day bib pick-up, AFB run location. LOVE our country & any experience which supports our Armed Forces. PLUS travelled to Hoover Dam just last month (Vegas run option).
Flight delay in Charlotte, didn’t ATL jet-bridge ‘til almost 7pm. 2 hour drive to Macon, quick shuteye, early a.m. start.
Much of the South was coated in ice just a week ago. Many marathon friends were disappointed when Mississippi Blues cancelled their annual event. 6 days later – what a difference! Gonna be a warm one today, high would top 80 degrees.
2 laps, 13.1 mile course = marathon medal #80. Unexpected marathon delay…didn’t actually start running ‘til almost 9. Sun already high. Yep, gonna cook today. Both of my 2017 winter runs have been crazy warm & balmy.
2 miles thru housing & base training facilities, short wooded trek, then 3 miles of open-space…ran parallel to the Base air strip. Hefty hill at mile 10, popped up into a manicured golf course, easy rolling hills – one lap complete.
Second lap: started slow, stayed slow. Walked in Florida 2 weeks ago, a steady jog would be momentum-building from last race. ALSO, no meds – neither pain nor nausea pills (purposely didn’t pack either). Ground heating up, air strip rotation ahead: no trees.
Watched participants shed their shirts. Always been too self conscious to race shirtless. NO more.
Pushed up the course’s one sizeable hill (now mile 23) & slogged to the Finish. Zapped, always struggle in heat, breathing’s all over the place. Not a great finish, but improved 20 minutes on 2017’s first marathon.
3 week break ‘til my next 26.2 mile trek…legs getting stronger, no more gutting thru 26.2.
Museum of Aviation Marathon
Warner Robins, GA
1/14/17
MOA Marathon Results
38 K R Haga 4:54:47
Hotel shower & a swanky nite in Hotlanta. Dinner at the Livingston, Marriott upper-floor stay (glass elevator ride UP). Lazy Sunday morning start, pricey a.m. breakfast, afternoon flight home.
Next weekend: snow hiking in Staunton State Park 🙂
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- pre-race, pre-dawn museum tour
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- barbershopp’d ‘Star Spangled Banner’
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- warm day in Dixie
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- Robins AFB
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- marathon #80, 2nd of 2017 — not your typical JANUARY finish pic
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- swanky digs in Hotlanta
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- ATL skyline: ’til next time, Georgia
Marathoning, raw oysters, Frida Kahlo – and college football. Agreed, all seemingly unrelated…but what a FUN start to 2017!
Lazy morning, 2 ½ mile bridge run (‘cause every day’s a run day), beach & breakfast. That was my day before noon, quick shower & a change of clothes kicked off Jan 2nd Part 2.
Been to a few college football games – but never a Bowl game. New Year, new adventure. Purchased tickets late last Fall – while prices were reasonable, but still only Big Ten vs SEC…no idea which teams would finish strong & represent post-season.
Hotel check-out, hour drive to Tampa: today’s Outback Bowl played at Raymond James Stadium, NFL home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Haven’t been to a pro game YET, but this already my 6th stadium (Denver, Indianapolis, Seattle, Baltimore & Carolina)…lotta sightseeing marathoning the USA.
Mid-80’s, high beams & humidity…winter in “the Sunshine State”. LOL> Slathered on sun block, borrowed a pair of shades & settled into an already in-progress game (slow to leave the beach this morning 🙂 ). Iowa vs Florida: Tough day for the Hawkeyes, playing the local University team. Chomp, chomp, chomp – fans with outstretched arms made the gator gesture…often.
Iowa trailed from the Start, double-digit hole by half-time, lost the game by 30. My first Bowl game – not a close one. Colorado home by 10pm, returned to bitter wind & snow. New Year, new adventures…but always good to be home. LOVE LOVE my Colorado life.
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- Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ NFL home
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- Herky the Hawk & Alberta Gator
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- Bowl Game blimp
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- January football: H-O-T
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- the local Gators crushed Iowa’s Hawkeyes
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- CHOMP-CHOMP-CHOMP
the Outback Bowl
Florida smashes Iowa in Outback Bowl, 30-3
AP Published 5:04 p.m. ET Jan. 2, 2017 | Updated 8:16 p.m. ET Jan. 2, 2017
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Austin Appleby threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns, helping Florida end a two-game losing streak with a 30-3 rout of Iowa in the Outback Bowl on Monday.
Mark Thompson scored on an 85-yard pass play in the first half and Appleby, a graduate transfer who spent the past four seasons at Purdue, tossed a 6-yard TD pass to DeAndre Goolsby to break the game open late in the third quarter. Chauncey Gardner, Jr., returned the first of his two fourth-quarter interceptions 58 yards for a 24-3 lead.
Florida (9-4) rebounded from lopsided losses to archrival Florida State and No. 1 Alabama, scoring more points on Iowa (8-5) than the Hawkeyes allowed to Michigan, Illinois and Nebraska combined while ending the regular season on a three-game winning streak.
