Last marathon of 2014 – in America’s 1st state, Delaware.
Denver to Baltimore, rental [car] pick-up, White Marsh MD where I picked up Stephen travelling for work (awesome timing, huh). Lunch, an hour to Delaware, another hour half to Rehoboth, bib pickup, (must have) crab cakes, then early to bed.
Race in the a.m. – BAM that’s how I roll 🙂
Chilly Saturday start, arrived early on the boardwalk. Watched the pink surf sunrise – STUNNING.
Woke sluggish – time change related, me thinks. Have reined in most race variables – diet, when/what/how much…shows you can’t control everything. Sometimes it is, what it is…just gotta roll with the punches.
Another jumbled race beginning – halfers split off near mile 3 so synched into a rhythm early on. Beautiful scenic course, fairly flat too. Wish I had woke more rested, this course had all elements for a PR. Twice we broke thru state forests for long stretches on trail & wood planked pathways, built above the marshy wetlands below. Saw ocean waves break hard – the Atlantic seems more violent in December, possibly protesting the end of summer season.
Overcast day but forecasted rain held off for 5 hours.
Notta a huge fan of courses which loop (show us 26 unique miles please) – that said, Delaware’s marshy coastal habitat was eye catching & without a lotta wind. Can’t control the weather…but appreciative when it rolls my way.
Tomorrow’s adventure, Assateague Island & Marguerite Henry‘s must-see ponies of Chincoteague.
K R HAGA crossed the Finish
Course time: 04:30:42
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- crab cakes – a Delaware must
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- pre-race smiles
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- Atlantic surf sunrise
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- finish in sight
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- 2014 year-end — 17 states COMPLETED!
Marathon Morning!
Left my Narragansett B&B before 6am, crossed RI’s scenic Jamestown-Verrazano bridge into Newport, then 20 minutes to Second Beach in Middletown to catch the marathon Start Line bus.
Wilted 2 weeks ago in 90 degree Nebraska heat. This day I shivered in short sleeves – morning temp, a chilly 39°. Gonna start packing a variety of clothes during the season change – lesson learned. That said, LOVE running in cool weather – not a hot weather person, don’t think that’s ever gonna change.
Waved at the race drone hovering overhead, then ran alongside ocean the first few miles. Whatta view! Felt really good early on – kept pace with the 3:45 race pack thru mile 15. There I grabbed water & my race pack posse was gone.
Kept pace to mile 17 where I saw my CT bestie Dawn at the Sachuest Nat’l Wildlife Refuge. Haven’t seen Dawn since last September in Iceland. Bestest mile 17 pick-me-up ever!
Hills started at mile 18 and didn’t let up ‘til mile 24. Yep, even oceanside marathons have hills – LOL>
Shuffle-ran to the Finish – ugly form but whatta 180 turnaround from Nebraska.
383 K R Haga 4:17:22 LOUISVILLE CO
He’s baaaaack – 12 marathons in the bag, 38 states (& 6 continents) to go!
[Slipped in my continent stat – a man can dream, right? 🙂 ]
Spent an hour at Point Judith soaking in sun & ocean breezes at my favourite lighthouse.
Ended Rhode Island, dining waterside at MatuNuck Oyster Bar in Wakefield. Seared scallops & risotto – YUM! Last fine dined with Stephen & Dawn in Akureyri, Iceland. Warning World: these 2 set the bar high!
Completely-over-the-top race weekend – good food & even better friends. 2014 top 5 memory.
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- marathon with an ocean view 🙂
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- double fist pump – Newport Marathon finisher!
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- favorite lighthouse – 10 minutes south of Narragansett
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- oysters in bourbon chipotle butter
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- seared scallops & risotto – YUM!
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- Hello Ro – LOVE this guy!
A week of solid prep & excitement to be East Coast-bound, proved good mojo for my Sunday marathon in Newport RI.
Landed just after midnight Friday in Hartford CT & spent half the next day visiting family – starting with breakfast at the Cosmic Omelet. Living 2 time zones away, always good to see family.
Hit the highway at 1pm, driving thru rain but not dampening my spirit. Caught the tail end of fall foliage on the Mass Pike – BEAUTIFUL. LOVE our Colorado Aspens but nothing like autumn in New England – blazing reds, orange & yellows.
Had scheduled a sailing trip as my pre-marathon Rhode Island activity but unfortunately was cancelled due to stormy seas. Picked up my [marathon] race packet in Middletown RI – and the rain clouds parted. Sweet!
What to do? Briefly walked along Second Beach (expecting more tomorrow on my marathon run), then a 10 minute drive to Newport. Big sailing ships & Newport’s infamous Cliff Walk. Have-to, highly recommended; Check, done 🙂
Snapped a few pics in the harbor. SPECTACULAR sunset — light peeped thru the dissipating storm clouds. Today’s WOW shot.
Capped off the evening with a clam roll at Flo’s Clam Shack – carbo loading New England style 🙂
When making the decision to reboot my life 5 years ago, I was torn between Boulder & Narragansett RI – mountains vs. ocean. Both locales still tug hard at my soul. No regrets – I love my Colorado life – but Rhode Island will always hold a special place in my heart. Expect I’ll always come back.
Thanks Stephen for playing chauffeur – most awesome day!
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- Newport harbour
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- Rhode Island sunset – WOW!
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- mansion hike w/ an oceanview
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- Cliff Walk caution
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- Flo’s Clam Shack – highly recommended!
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- clam roll carb loading — no stopping me tomorrow
