the Blue Lagoon

Published August 21, 2019

top-of-world BIRTHDAY

August is BIRTHDAY MONTH – and the 21^st, my far-away top-of-the-world CELEBRATION day.

Bigger, better? Holidaying with Michaela. Life always BEST when shared 😊

Direct flights on Iceland Air. Denver to Reykjavik; M a short 5 hours from Boston. Keflavik meetup – convenient 45 minutes between touchdowns. Luggage, Monopoly money. Sleep another day.

Today – it’s my BIRTHDAY! Go, go, go!

Airport transfer to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon (lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula). M bought the deluxe package (bathrobes, shoes, double the mud). Geothermal heated, water sweating volcanic minerals/silica. OUTDOOR SPA day. Would leave 10 years younger. Scandinavian fountain of youth. LOL>

Long soak followed by birthday DINNER. 3 courses, foreign palate – FAAANNNTASTIC eats!

Late afternoon commute into the capital. Bus Stop #3. Our new home away from home. Me, the Hotel Borg. M & Eli, an Airbnb apartment short 10-minute walk. Iceland, dig this place!

Hike day tomorrow: Thórsmörk Volcano 🌋

: Denver ✈ Reykjavik

: Boston travellers

: Happy Birthday 2019

: outdoor silica soak

: fountain of youth 🇮🇸

: my thinking spot

: MUD!

: day drinkin’

: home away from home

Posted in Europe, Family | Tagged birthdays, mineral-springs | Leave a comment

Overlander Sports Marathon

Published August 18, 2019

8am marathon, 3pm flight. Today this back-of-pack finisher [would be] running against the clock. Only ONE Air Canada flight daily, Yellowknife to Vancouver. Work day Monday. Tight timing. Yikes!

Short walk to Somba Ke Civic Plaza. Sleeves, jacket & running shorts – fall season attire. Drip, drop rain. Better than summer HEAT. Tent-greeted by the folks @ Overlander Sports. Perfect running weather 🙂

Clover-leaf course; 2 separate out-n-backs, twice. I’d stay close first loop & alert. Signage but – if there’s a turn to miss, I generally do. After the Halfers finish, it’s often you & you alone for long spans of distance.

50 of us grouped & ready. Last minute RD announcements. Into the rain.

First loop, near repeat of yesterday’s Yellowknife self-tour. City Hall, Parliament Bldg, Northern Heritage Centre, Old Town. Missed my first turn there. Local runner gave a shout. Turnabout & tagged along first Half remainder. Igloo Building Supply, Frame Lake, Airbnb, Somba Ke return. 7 miles.

Shorter clover along the highway. Not as scenic, less tree cover & sideways rain – but great conversation with my Old Town lead. Not a myth, Canadians ARE super friendly. And Yellowknife? My new #2 – just behind Newfoundland. Hard to beat the Newfy accent & unique menu (cod tongue & scrunchions).

Loop 2 complete. Guide runner gone. Ear buds readied. Focus. Repeat.

Tune stream struggled much of the course (close 250 miles outside the Arctic Circle) so old-schooled a saved playlist from the past. My first Canadian territory. Dropped pace & enjoyed the ride. #luckyinlife

Mile 20 (Garmin buzz). Last loop, more of…the highway shuffle. More rain too – but my last lap & I’m Colorado home. Another Yellowknife runner kept company 3 miles. Trail angel. Paced up, appreciated the conversation. I HEART Canadians ❤️

Somba Ke finish, FIRST AMERICAN — ok, only American. LOL>

HOT post-race food, quick pic & territory gone. 7th medal in the Great White North.

Next month: Saskatchewan 🇨🇦

Yellowknife Overlander Sports Marathon

Keenan Haga, Racer: 56

1:06:57.5 0:56:50.2 1:21:25.9 1:10:25.7 4:35:39.4

: sole American

: Great White North

: my first TERRITORY

: next up: Saskatchewan 🇨🇦

: marathon travel season

Overlander Sports Marathon

Posted in Canada, Marathons/Ultras | Leave a comment

Yellowknife, NWT

Published August 17, 2019

Saturday, play day.

And exploration day. Movie day, pizza day. Museum day too.

Whole lotta, whole lotta going on in NWT’s capital city.

Woke to sunshine. 5-mile run on McMahon Frame Trail. Quick shower. 2-mile trek to Old Town. Watched sea planes take off/land on Great Slave Lake after securing my first territorial meal.

Short summer season ‘north of 60’, no arguments here – digged Yellowknife’s cool August temps. Marathon bib pick-up at Overlander Sports – all to dos, ta done – finally, MUSEUM day.

History of the land, its native peoples & NWT’s Arctic mammals – musk ox, moose & polar bear!

Easy place to get lost 2-3 hours. Taiga vs tundra. Tree-line a factor of North Pole wind vs our high peak elevation in Colorado. Walked the row of township flags. Greek pizza & a late movie finish.

Yellowknife. Hip little town, lots to see & do.

Sunday forecast: 42 kilometers & RAIN. It’s only water, eh? 🇨🇦