today’s WOW shot at 12,000ft
Change of the seasons is a constant tease – summer for a span of days, quick afternoon storm, snow & winter temps in the evening. Spring is a tough time of year. Don’t get me wrong…I love the snow – just hard to make weekend mountain plans more than 2 days out. Either it’s snowing or I’m marathoning. Good life 🙂
Back on a marathon hiatus after my 50 State finish, this weekend begged ‘thin air’ adventure. [Registered for Sunday’s Colfax Marathon – but still on the fence whether I’m gonna compete…determined to train hard & run injury-free rest of the year.]
2012: my first 14er attempt was Mt Evans, 45 minutes west of Denver. Not expecting to summit today (most likely still a lotta snow) — but convinced mountain air would reset my internal balance. Good to feel small amongst lodgepole pine & snow-capped peaks.
Crazy early start for a Saturday. Ro saw the backpack & started pacing: WE’RE GOING HIKING. Dog stays at my heel, no chance he’s getting left behind. LOL>
Light rain at home, fog past Denver, flurries in Idaho Springs. Trailhead condition: sunshine. FAAANNNTASTIC!
Peeled off the parka, pulled off my cap, fast paced UP the first 4 miles. Temps were crisp, air was thin, the snow patchy – easy footing, hiking boots no crampons.
Lost tree line at 12,000ft & the wind blew. 50 mph headwind, little progress forward. Gusts shifted & I’d push ahead. Bare rock, 15-20ft snow drifts, bare rock again. Crampons on, crampons off, crampons on again.
HUGE smile.
Called it at 7 ½ miles – mile-half from Summit Lake, another 5 to the summit. Beautiful mountain day. Medicine for the soul.
Sunday 4am UPDATE: heck no, I’m not marathoning. Yesterday’s 14er thin-air snow hike kicked my butt. #noregretlife
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- 14er magic
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- just above treeline — FAAAANNNTASTIC!
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- lunch break’d behind a 20ft snow drift
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- alpine lakes remain frozen, still winter in the mountains
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- #noregretlife
Run the Year Motto: Run, Crawl, Walk, Conquer, Dominate 2,016 miles in 2016
April 2016 update: Overall, mighty tough month – as much mental as physical. Suffered my first major running injury – IT band (left knee) overuse (fairly common) which resulted in my first DNF (St. Louis) & sidelined me the 2nd half of the month.
Positives? Not being able to run (doctor restricted) was probably the kick in the butt I needed. Taking for granted I could just show up & post 26.2s each weekend without putting in consistent training hours – was a much needed wake up call.
2016 I’ve added ultras, trail marathons & doubles (Saturday/Sunday marathons). Filled up my marathon calendar from January to December (no exaggeration, already registered for the Death Valley Trail Marathon Sat Dec 3rd). But if you look at my ‘Run the Year’ mileage tracker, I’ve been anything but consistent. Lotta blank spaces Mon-Fri, tens of miles posted each weekend.
2 month focus (May & June): CONSISTENCY
What’s the plan?
Short-term: Working with a physical therapist to get healthy. Finished my 50 States, April 30th & May 1st (2 marathons, 2 states, 2 days). However, running another double only 2 ½ weeks into therapy, kinda reset the recovery clock back 🙁
Long-term: Added an accountability partner: Carolyn, an Indiana-based runner I met during an ultra run in New Mexico. I’ll PR this Fall (sub-4 again), she’ll BQ (Boston qualify). Can’t fail if you don’t set goals.
Race ReCap: trail marathon in Kansas (multiple water crossings, fave trail race to date), first marathon fail (at mile 21) in St. Louis, finished state 49 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois on the 30th.
Mileage ReCap: Epic fail; ended April at 601 miles (71 miles short of goal).
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- ended April at 601 miles
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- Milestone 600
Finishing the 50 States was a HUGE personal achievement.
35 months from the time I ran my 1st marathon in Alaska, I completed 26.2 miles in every U.S. state plus DC. Not remotely on my ‘goal radar’ after I finished that first run in Anchorage – honestly, first thought was…one & done, never gonna do this again.
Received congratulations at work today – in the form of cupcakes PLUS a swanky gift certificate at Boulder Therapeutics (sports injury specialist). WOW – what a surprise, super appreciative.
Accolades also came from the 50 States Marathon Club – plus confirmation that I officially finished (all results verified). Planning my trophy presentation at our next reunion, being held in late August in Santa Rosa CA.
Newspaper coverage kinda fell through. My fault. Nothing, nothing – then 4 days before the Colorado Marathon, emails & phone calls. Solely focused on completing my final 50 State weekend (3 weeks after injury), I failed to follow-up. Didn’t meet the reporter at the Expo (because I was running state #49 in Illinois). Didn’t remember to look for him at the Finish – so caught up in the moment, I completely forgot/blanked entirely. In the big scheme of things, public recognition was never my run motivation.
Folks been asking, what’s next? Another round of 50? Heck no. I’ll continue to marathon – I’d like to see all the Canadian provinces & finish a marathon on each continent…but I miss climbing & the big peaks, miss backpacking, my dog, laughs with friends, rafting & kayaking, x-country skiing. So…I’ll get there, but no rush. Living a no regret life – but on my own time schedule 🙂
Keenan Haga in Boulder, Colorado.
May 4 at 11:35am ·
Look what happened at work today. Red velvet cupcakes – super nice!
Noel Amazing….Congratulations.
Preston Now they have to fatten you back up lol
Keenan HAHAHA — putting on pounds, that’s the easy part.
Laura Awesome!!!
Jill Virginia Did Ashton make those?
Keenan Yep — can’t beat homemade. Complete surprise!
Beth Ashton made them??? Wow that is phenomenal!! 🙂
Tammy Those don’t look gluten free so they were probably moist and delicious. Sigh.
Toni Congratulations!
Arun Superb. You deserve it Keenan. I am really happy!
Gwendolyn That’s great!
Joyce Congratulations!! 🙂
Hi Keenan,
I have kept track of your progress towards your 50 State finish, and I see that you just finished this weekend in Fort Collins, CO at the Colorado Marathon. I have printed up your results from that race. Congratulations on having finished the states!
What will happen now is I will let Paula know that you are a certified finisher. She will list you as such on the club website and will place you on the list for the next order of trophies. You can then bring it to any reunion to have it presented to you in front of the group.
Beth
