Run the Year 2016 (mid-Dec edition)

Published December 19, 2016

Run the Year Motto: Run, Crawl, Walk, Conquer, Dominate 2,016 miles in 2016

December 2016 update: Banged out my last 2 marathons of 2016 but struggled with daily consistency – that said, 101.5 miles (more than all of November) with still another half-month to go. Biggest excuses: Sub-zero weather (yep, that time of year) & two more chemo treatments (last scheduled on December 22^nd 🙂 ). Finding it harder & harder to bounce back, true energy zapper.

December focus: FINISH STRONG

Race ReCap: Death Valley Trail Marathon in Furnace Creek CA & 3 Bridges Marathon in Little Rock AR. Ran 29 marathons this year (including 3 ultras) PLUS kept my monthly streak alive. 37 consecutive months marathoning!

Mileage ReCap: mid-month tag at 1,873.2 miles; 143 miles short with only 13 days to go. Yikes!

: mid-month tag at 1,873.2 miles

: December motivation

: SUPER Moon nite run

: 13 days away from 2017!

: Milestone 1800

baby Bro, it’s your Birthday!

Published December 18, 2016

Haven’t been home since being cancer diagnosed last July. AND because I’m not the best with sharing personal information (this comes from a guy who weblogs 10x/month), best response – show up in person. Alleviates some worry: sharing dinner, sharing laughs, worshipping together…and completing another marathon (of course).

December 18^th – celebrated baby Bro’s birthday LIVE & in PERSON.

Game night, [Hallmark] Christmas movies – and birthdays too! FAAAANNNTASTIC!

Unexpectedly my 3-day weekend trip became a 4-day adventure — weather delayed my return flight home. Bright side? Extra half-day with Mom & a crack-of-dawn work-out at my brother’s new gym (not yet open to the public). Sweet!

Mark your calendar, FAMILY. Marathoning OKC next April – short (3 hour) road trip away…hint, hint 🙂

[Colorado fun fact: Dec 18^th/my 7^th year as a Colorado homeowner]

: long, long time ago

: flanked by wife & daughter, even James looks good 🙂

: brother’s new gym

: celebrating baby Bro’s BIG day

: mountain of chocolate

: ‘Grandma’ gift (now 20+ years old)

: more grandkid art

: who can’t resist Granny’s homemade chocolate-covered peanut butter bonbons?

Williamsburg ‘Clown Room’, Bro’s new gym & Family Game Night

Posted in Family, South | Tagged birthdays | Leave a comment

3 Bridges Marathon

Published December 17, 2016

last marathon of 2016

Thursday night flight thru Dallas – Friday marathon? Heck no, Saturday 🙂

Week before Christmas, no better time of year to mix ‘love of running’ with ‘love of family’. No direct flights to Fort Smith, Arkansas – but can always count on family to pick me up at the airport. If you can’t count on family, who can you count on?

Friday noon hitched a ride with my niece to the best lunchette in the world – my Mom’s lil’ sole proprietorship, Williamsburg Kitchen. When did my nieces & nephew all learn to drive? And why again was my niece not in school…on a Friday? HA!

Post-work day, family loaded in my brother’s SUV — destination: Little Rock. Mom sprung for a set of hotel rooms, night before my final marathon of 2016. Over-the-top nice, huh? Thanks Ma.

Crack of dawn wake-up (345am alarm). Last trolley to the Start: 5am. Shed layers before I left my brother’s truck, already 64 degrees…gonna be cooking by noon.

‘3 Bridges’ Marathon so…should I assume three actual Bridges? Yep, pretty straight forward.

The course crosses the Big Dam Bridge at Miles 1 and 18, the Clinton Presidential Bridge at Mile 9, and the Two Rivers Bridge at Miles 19 and 26. The course is mostly flat, except for the three bridges.

Tagged 2 runners early, consistently pacing 8:40/miles. Would coast off these dudes to the Clinton Presidential Library. 9 miles, totally doable. Heavy humidity early on, like breathing in water (yep, it’s the South)…luckily, skies above stayed overcast so I didn’t bake.

the course? Urban trail. the view? Miles & miles of river. my attitude? FAAANNNTASTIC.

Lost my pacers a mile past the Library. Slowed waaaaaay down but didn’t stop, didn’t walk…and most importantly, no pills. Sub-2 first Half. Crazy muggy but didn’t really struggle until marker 20-21; puked at 22. Finished the day with ‘Boston’ Jim – guy wore a Tough Mudder tee & spoke fluent Yankee. Great attitude; made the last 4 miles completely bearable.

And my Finish? Sprinted it out with Boston Jim. Check out the pic – mighty close, you be the judge 🙂

K R Haga, Congratulations on Finishing the 3 Bridges Marathon!

Time: 4:35:41

13.1: 1:59:39

Post-marathon? Shower & fancy food with the Fam; insta-weather change. Outdoor temps dropped from 78 to 34 degrees during our 2 hour drive to Fort Smith. Guess I brought a little Colorado with me 🙂 Evening plans: Game night. Mighty good to be home.