beachcombing

Spring Hill Marathon, FL

Published January 1, 2017

Any other year, no way I could take off the 31^st from work…end-of-month in Finance, gotta/hafta work requirement. That’s of course unless New Year’s weekend is a rare Saturday/Sunday combo 🙂 Google-searched (then promptly registered) for a New Year’s Day marathon in Spring Hill FL. Direct flight to Tampa – couldn’t imagine a better way to kick off 2017. FAAAANNNNTASTIC!

Lazy pre-race day, 2-mile run ‘cross the Causeway [bridge] to Clearwater…breezy, humid conditions. 82° forecasted for tomorrow’s 26.2. Early to bed, early to rise – except for, a powerful midnight firework display celebrating the start of 2017.

: last flight of 2016

: ocean digs next 3 days

: Clearwater Memorial Causeway

: last run of 2016 — whatta view!

marathon #79, first of 2017

Hour-15 north from Clearwater – not a soul on the road at 6am…most folks snoozing late this Sunday holiday. Same day bib pick-up at Anderson Snow Park, a local ball field. Small group of local runners gathered – 10K, half marathon, 26.2 mile options. No more than 50 registered for the Full.

Comfortable temps gave way once the morning sun broke. Today’s course – the Suncoast trail – an out-n-back bike path built parallel to a northbound toll road. Flat paved path, not super scenic, no trees.

Ran strong for 12, walked/ran at 15, called my Sis at 21, death-marched or slogged the final 5. No good excuse, complete mental fade – let the day’s heavy humidity exaggerate today’s marathon collapse. I’ve run in hotter…most affected by the January temp swing, been snowscape training in Colorado.

Not the way I envisioned my 2017 start – 5 hour finish, not a great run…but I finished. Marathon #79, first of the new year, 9^th consecutive run day. No chemo, weaning myself off meds & running EVERY SINGLE day.

High hopes for 2017 – New Year, New You. Gonna live HUGE.

Spring Hill Marathon Mania – Jan 1, 2017

Haga, K R LOUISVILLE CO 1664 5:14:14

Post marathon plans? beach, Frida Kahlo, dinner at Guppy’s. Lovin’ me some fresh seafood. Watch out New England – Gulf Coast oysters, they’ve got game. YUM!

: 5 hour finish — not the way I envisioned my 2017 start…but I finished

: Gulf Coast oysters — YUM!

: January beach day 🙂

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, South | Tagged beachcombing | Leave a comment

Ocean State Marathon, RI

Published October 30, 2016

Marathon morning. Slept later than norm – stayed at the event’s host hotel, short walk to Narragansett Pier. Dark red ball burned over the Atlantic, smell of salt, sunrise. Beautiful marathon start.

The Ocean State Marathon has a long history in Narragansett as the site of the ORIGINAL Rhode Island Marathon. It has been our goal to honor this tradition and bring back a GENUINE Rhode Island Marathon. Not only does the race start under the shadow of the iconic Coast Guard house at beautiful Narragansett Town Beach but the course itself boasts sweeping vistas of Narragansett Bay, beautiful windy roads, historic homes and awe-inspiring bridges.

20 degrees warmer than Saturday – not crazy hot, but should finish before the sun cooks. Biggest concern today? Left my meds at last night’s dinner spot. No anti-nausea, no pain pills, nada. Suck it up buttercup – cancer or not, gonna/hafta hit it hard like everyone else. Steady hydration, stay mentally strong. 26.2 miles. I’ve run 70+ of these, one foot in front of the other. Ready ready to go.

Cool morning air, nice flat couple of miles. Oceanside run, miles 5 & 6 – big seasonal waves pouring over the surf, shared road with locals walking their dogs. Pretty sizeable hills at miles 7 & 10. North Kingston [Amtrak] station at marker 14.

[#DNF’d three weeks ago at 15 – yep, that’s still crowding my head. Breathe, move on.]

Stomach cramping, dropped pace. Eyed a 50 State cap ahead – caught the ‘flower lady’ & stayed with this early-start veteran thru mile 21. Run buddy Carolyn often thinks she’s a talker. Nope…’flower lady’ now she was a talker. Turned off my tunes & appreciated her candor.

No emergency vehicles, no aides to flag down, no options, no excuses. Hurled at mile 22. If I wanna stop, gotta find a way to the Finish. Jogged/walked/slogged the course remainder. No bobble-head trophy, no top 10 Finish – yet worthy of a medal & marathon finish #74 🙂

Ocean State Rhode Races

SUN OCTOBER 30 2016

NARRAGANSETT, RI US 02882

79 K R HAGA M Louisville CO 5:15:09

Hotel shower, late check-out, return flight outta Providence – but not before a quick 20 minute trek to Point Judith. Over time, have seen more ornate/unique lighthouses on both US coasts but Point Judith was my first. Will always hold a special place in my heart.

Next weekend: Huntington, West Virginia

: smell of salt, ocean sunrise, beautiful Start

: marathon #74, second in Rhody

: Point Judith strike-a-pose

Posted in Marathons/Ultras, Northeast | Tagged beachcombing | 2 Comments

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. 🙂