autumn

Clarence DeMar Marathon

Published September 24, 2017

Clarence Harrison DeMar (June 7, 1888 – June 11, 1958) was a U.S. marathoner, winner of seven Boston Marathons, and Bronze medalist at the 1924 Paris Olympics. He was known by the nickname “Mr. DeMarathon.”

DeMar won his last Boston in 1930 at the age of 41. His record of seven wins has never been broken, and he remains the oldest winner of the event ever.

In my quest for 100 marathons, have double/tripled & even 12x run my home state & neighboring others. Costs, time off from work – additionally not as tough to bounce back physically when travel is minimized.

This weekend my third marathon in New Hampshire – different story.

Hadn’t been to a 50 State Marathon Club reunion since receiving my award last August in Santa Rosa. Reunions rotate among the 50 States – hence, this weekend’s race in Keene, now my third 26.2 in NH. Enjoy the camaraderie, LOVE LOVE our tight-knit community.

Reunion attendance Con? Most active runner in your hometown (BIG FISH) sitting in a room with folks who have finished 200 & even 300+ marathons in their lifetime (now a LITTLE FISH). 300+ marathons, insane? Nope, addictive.

Left Saturday’s reunion MOTIVATED to complete a 2^nd rotation of the US by 2019 year-end. Heaven help me – LOL> That said, SUPER THANKFUL to be cancer-free. Can’t wait to see where/what towns my 50 State Déjà Vu tour will take me 🙂

Bib pickup, tried the Captain Crunch dog (skip it). Leaf peeping (2 weeks too early), early to bed.

You are all aware of the forecast for tomorrow and the impact on your run. Tomorrow is not your PR day or your BQ day. Those plans evaporated with the high temperatures you’ll run in tomorrow. We are taking all reasonable precautions to create the safest event we can for you, but it is now all up to you. Any decision to black flag the race before everyone finishes will be less about the temperatures or our wet bulb reading than it will be on how our runners react to those conditions. If too many of you require emergency medical attention, our medical resources will be at risk of being overwhelmed and will force us to make that decision. If that happens, we urge everyone left on the course to respect that decision, and cooperate with our protocols to bring you safely to the finish line.

Marathon morning. Received another email warning ‘bout the unseasonable heat. Low 90’s, late September. Ugh.

90+ marathons completed, first time I forgot my race Bib. Noticed it missing 10 minutes before the Start. Remember looking inside my swag bag (nite before), saw the long-sleeve race shirt (too hot to wear long sleeves) – totally forgot about the Bib. Double ugh.

Small town race, Race Director +++ Wrote down my name, provided a spare Bib, later (while I was actually running) fixed/updated my registration online to reflect the new Bib #. Very very much appreciated.

Started far from the back, jogged/chatted first 7 miles with my Maniac buddy Stacey. Comfortable early temps, leafy-canopied course. It’d get super warm on the back-half…but no regrets. Not a PR day. Goal was to enjoy the run – and FINISH.

First 15-16 miles, picturesque New England. Gilsum to Surrey Dam to Greenlawn Cemetery. Heat (& East Coast humidity) dialed waaaay up before the first Half. Salty & light-headed, puked throughout the Cemetery (mile 22). Hate heat. Residents water-sprayed runners & provided ice – most EVERY street ‘til the Finish. AWESOME acts of kindness. New Englanders, the BEST!

Ugly finish, just under 6 hours. 3 of my 50 State friends – Dan, Seth & Cade – greeted me at the Finish (& asked what happened). Some days you’re the windshield, some days you’re the bug. Can’t change the weather, all part of the journey.

Drama on every United flight home – been added to my (3^rd strike) Frontier/Spirit DO NOT FLY list. Kept a smile on my face, thankful not to walk in their shoes. Must be a crummy job to maintain that level of unhappiness on a daily basis.

Home sweet Colorado Home. 40-degree temperature drop, snow in the mountains ❤

iResultsLIVE! Alert!

Event: Clarence DeMar Marathon
Name: K R Haga
Bib #: 430
Time: 5:55:39 (Net Time)

: 40th anniversary

: New England colour

: 50 State reunion

: 3 more finishers, lotta great stories

: Keene, New Hampshire

: when in Keene, hafta try this

: salty FINISH in unseasonably warm New Hampshire

: 40-degree temperature drop, snow in the mountains ❤

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, Northeast | Tagged autumn | Leave a comment

Sasquatch & bluefish

Published October 29, 2016

Started the month with a marathon #DNF. However after 2 late race additions & tomorrow’s 26.2 mile trek in Rhode Island, October’s shaping up to be one of my strongest. On track for a third 200+ mile month.

Friday night flight to New England. Started Saturday admiring fall colour, spent the afternoon beachcombing.

As many times I’ve started my weekends in New Hampshire, you’d think I’d run out of new adventures. Breakfast at a local sugar house? FAAANNNTASTIC idea! (thanks Stephen) pancake of the month or stuffed French toast? cinnamon rolls or donut holes? So many choices. HUGE gift store – every imaginable use of maple sugar. Sasquatch – yep, he’s there too.

Parker’s Maple Barn in rural Mason NH. Add to your must-do list, well-worth the country drive.

Quick hour thru Massachusetts – cut right thru the middle, Worcester to Woonsocket. I-95 to Providence, Highway 4 past URI (state uni), hugged the coast to ‘Poor Man’s Newport’: Narragansett RI. One of my favourite NE haunts – LOVE LOVE this place.

Hotel check-in, marathon bib pick-up. Check, done. Spent remaining daylight walking the Bay.

Coast Guard House to Town Beach, North Beach Pavilion to Pettaquamscutt River (where the Narrows empties into the Atlantic). Cool overcast day. Neither I nor the gulls seemed to mind ‘jacket weather’. Watched a local ocean-cast for bluefish. New England LOVE.

Early to bed, early to rise…but little sleep this nite. TV trapped/Halloween [movie] marathon. Cut it off after Halloween 2…just not the same without Jamie Lee Curtis. PLUS got my own Halloween marathon scheduled in the a.m. 🙂

: all roads lead to New Hampshire

: YIKES!

: pancake or stuffed French toast?

: New England sugar houses — highly recommended 🙂

: covered country bridge

: first bib pick-up, then beach

: LOVE LOVE this place!

: bluefish ocean-cast

: gulls didn’t mind ‘jacket weather’

: early to bed, early to rise — marathoning tomorrow a.m.

bluefish ocean-cast (Narragansett RI)

Posted in Northeast | Tagged autumn, beachcombing, fishing | Leave a comment

before Colorado, there was Connecticut

Published October 10, 2015

Flying to Hartford for this weekend’s marathon was like flying home. Before Colorado, I lived in New Haven & worked NYC for 9 years – whole lotta memories. Family, friends, marathon, friends, more friends – that was the plan.

Once Upon a Fairytale CT

Started Friday with breakfast at the Cosmic Omelet, then shared the day with family – FAAANNNTASTIC! Bib pick-up 20 minutes away in Hartford, then watched Michaela doll it up for a neighborhood character lunch, promoting her entertainment company, Once Upon a Fairytale CT. After months of following her progress on social media & the web, was super fun to see the girl the action. Well done, so very proud!

What happens when you combine a professional makeup artist with a lifelong obsession with storybook characters? You get Once Upon a Fairytale CT.

Our story begins with a young autistic boy named David. Who has spent most of his life in love with his fairytale characters and visiting the world they live in.

The story continues with a woman trained in the art of makeup and transformation. A beauty and special effects makeup artist, Michaela was trained at Marinello School of Beauty and Chic Studios NYC. In 2012 Michaela launched her own freelance makeup artist company “Glam It Looks”. And in 2014 started Once Upon a Fairytale CT. Using her skills our characters leap off the pages with the most accurate looks in the business….

Late dinner, even later to bed, tough a.m. marathon start. No regrets – 50 State Quest is much more than a running journey.

Fast forward to Saturday nite – still tight from the day’s marathon finish, my 5^th consecutive weekend running – drove an hour south to Guilford, home of my Connecticut bestie, Dawn. Why do I love Dawn? Big heart, no soul more honest, loves life, loves to laugh, amazing chef & horse passionate. Her farmhouse in southern CT is something out of a magazine. You ever need to get away & recharge, spend a weekend with Dawn. Hot tub, dinner, laughs – movie, conversation, cards, more conversation.

Hate to waste hours sleeping. Up early; at the barn, watched Dawn feed Rudy & Spot. Special treat: Dawn harnessed Spot & showed off the new carriage (rode alongside Quonnipaug Lake). Whatta experience! Thanks my friend.

Late flight return to Colorado meant one more stop before the airport – 30 minutes shoreline-south to Branford, where we met up with Andrea, Betsey & friends for brunch & a walk along the beach. Ocean breeze, sea gulls, sunshine, peace.

Returning to work Monday morning, gonna be a struggle. New England vacation in 3 days – friends, family, food, horses, beach AND my 41^st marathon – lot more to Connecticut than folks give credit, not simply a halfway point between Boston & NYC.