South

Remember the Alamo!

Published February 15, 2014

3^rd straight marathon month lined up – Welcome to Austin!

Arrived just before midnite, caught some quick shuteye, then off to the Palmer Events Center for bib pickup & the Runner’s Expo. Fast sweep of the room, back in my rental & south on I-35 – destination: San Antonio. And more specifically…the Alamo.

Sunshiny warm day with temps in the mid-70’s. Beeeeutiful day!

More than one person warned that I’d be bored at the Alamo – only good if you like history. Lucky for me – I LOVE history! 🙂

Started off by watching a 20-minute movie produced by the History Channel. The Texas Revolution was very similar to our own country’s beginnings & struggle against England. Texas was a northern province of Mexico – primarily settled by Americans & Europeans – fighting for autonomy. Yea I was hooked. LOL>

And while the Alamo was the final resting place for Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Travis & 200 others, it was also the birthplace/the catalyst for the Republic of Texas. Nope not bored, no way. I soaked this all in.

Ready for a Texas style dinner? Well that’d be BBQ – so in Austin, you head to the Iron Works. Frequently by governors, senators & George W himself, just couldn’t go wrong. Marathon in the morning – time for sleep? Heck no, night’s still early.

In Texas they love their Longhorns, so caught a basketball game at UT’s Frank Erwin Center. #19 Texas crushed the visiting West Virginia Mountaineers 88-71, and improved to 20-5 on the season. Hook ‘em Horns!

BBQ, basketball & the Alamo. Yep, now I’m Texas-ready for tomorrow’s 26.2 miles.

: Howdy Texas!

: Defenders of the Alamo (Alamo Cenotaph)

: Long Barrack

: Remember the Alamo!

: Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie…and palm trees? I don’t remember this in the movie.

: Goodbye Alamo – sunshine, warm weather, super fun day!

: San Antonio’s restaurant row — The River Walk

: pre-race dinner at Iron Works BBQ

: blessed by George W, the King of Texas

: pre-marathon fun at UT/West Virginia game — Hook ’em Horns!

Posted in South | Tagged nat'l-park, sport, us-presidents | Leave a comment

Louisiana Marathon

Published January 19, 2014

Woke early & jetted to Louisiana’s State Capitol – 7am start time for my 3^rd full marathon (only 47 states to go).

After enduring snow last month in Tucson, wore a blue running suit this go-around. Had a lotta competing colours going on this day (crazy look)…but gotta say, [the running suit] did the trick. Awesome Christmas gift – many thanks!

National Anthem, starting gun blast by Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor & off we went – my largest marathon to date (or at least it seemed that way – both marathon & half-marathon races started concurrently.)

Sunshine poked out early in the run. Still smiling at mile 10, enjoyed running lakeside through LSU campus.

Started dragging just past mile 15 – kept thinking how much I needed a potty break. Unfortunately all outdoor johns were lined with female participants. And no aim-n-shoot opportunities available on today’s course, race principally meandered throughout Baton Rouge suburbia. Argh – new thought.

Saw M at mile 17 & then again at mile 20. Re-energized. I can do this thing…only 6 more miles.

Hill at mile 24, not pretty but kept running whereas other marathoners chose to walk up the I-10 overpass.

LOVE LOVED the many residents cheering us on – helped boost my energy level. Thanks Baton Rouge!

Last mile – tired, but no excuses. And still felt fairly good — even picked up pace at the end. 7 minutes slower than last month’s run in Tucson but finished so much stronger. I-EEE!

Next month – Austin 🙂

9361 K R Haga 575 4:12:38

: Louisiana State Capitol – 7am start time

: daybreak – big smiles, ready to run

: just under 10 miles, still smiling

: MARATHON FINISHER!

: thumbs up, no medic needed

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, South | Tagged capitol-domes | Leave a comment

Cajun Swamp Tour

Published January 18, 2014

Left the Runner’s Expo in downtown Baton Rouge & hit I-10 West to Lafayette. An hour half until our scheduled swamp tour on Lake Martin. Travelled to Louisiana, so wanna see gators, right?

50-State Marathon prep:

Alaska – ice climbing
Arizona – Saguaro Nat’l Park cactus hike
Louisiana – bayou swamp tour 🙂

Quick turn in Breaux Bridge, six miles down a dirt road, a left, a right – then ‘you have arrived’ at the Meetin’ Place. Did a quick walk-about, met our guide, then loaded onto a small metal fishing boat.

Travelled slow through the swamps of Lake Martin — surrounded by bald cypress, trunk-swollen in murky water & covered in Spanish moss. Creepy, quiet bayou undergrowth filled with herons, egrets, cormorants & other fish-feeders.

Comfortable temps – sunshine & upper 50’s – but unfortunately too cool to coax any gators from their cozy mud burrows.

FAAANNNNTASTIC pre-race adventure! AND no bugs – awesome benefit to touring in January 🙂

What did I learn? Gators don’t eat from October to March. Their heartbeat slows & they remain fairly inactive during the cool Louisiana winter – feeding off fat stored in their tail. ALSO – unlike crocodiles, gators are skittish & fearsome of humans.

No gators, no pay (at least not yet). Could’ve been because our guide was a bit disorganized. He loaded his next group immediately after we disembarked & off he went.

Dinner? Noticed a small Cajun seafood shack earlier when entering Breaux Bridge. Check, done.

Didn’t see any gators so decided to eat gator instead 🙂 Couldn’t tempt M to try more than a bite – but gotta say, I stuffed myself on gator, seafood jambalaya, shrimp zydeco, fried potatoes & bread pudding. LOVIN’ me some spicy food. I-EEE!

Carb loading for tomorrow’s marathon run – Cajun style!