Up early & in the hotel lobby at 530am. Met-up with my sis & walked a few blocks over to today’s marathon start. Crazy cold morning, 20° & windy. I’ve run in winter before; it’s the dramatic temp dive that made acclimating difficult.
Today’s start near Indiana’s state capitol dome marked my 5th state capitol start (preceded by Baton Rouge, Austin, Atlanta & Des Moines). ALSO first time running with my sister – & Tammy travels with a pack so there were 10+ of us. Awesome day!
Super crowded start – full and half marathoners lined up together. Five minutes back from the Start Line, I spent 6 miles weaving in & between runners. Thankfully half marathoners peeled off after mile 7, where I picked up pace.
3rd straight marathon [purposely] going out fast. Slow n steady hadn’t been working – found I’m just as tired at mile 19-21 whether pacing steady or racing hard.
Goal was to locate a pace group. Quickened my clip to 7-minute miles & caught the 3:55 group at mile 8. Too many bunched together so picked up speed again & caught the 3:45 pace group at mile 12.
Running thru Butler University 17 miles in & still felt strong. Pleasantly surprised hills at miles 11 & 17 were only slight inclines – Indy was a fairly flat course. Nice! Fatigue finally set in at mile 22 – but dang, only 4 miles to go.
SUB-4 started running thru my mind. Didn’t think this possible ‘til 2015.
Never saw the 3:45 guy but was lapped by 3:55 pacers just after mile 25. Passed Sailors & Soldiers Monument & kicked hard.
Ice in my veins: SUB-4 AND a PR!
K R HAGA – finish at 3:55:21
— at Downtown Indianapolis #BeMonumental
Finishers’ medal, Mylar wrap & chocolate milk, then secured a spot near the Finish – not just me marathoning this day. Watched my sister cross 30 minutes later – SPECTACULAR!
Folks, I come from strong stock. Better than running a marathon? Marathoning with family – nothing like it.
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- Good Mornin’ from crazy cold Indy!
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- booyah – new PR & 2nd sub-4 finish
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- we come from strong stock – Go Sis!
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- 13 marathons in 13 different states within 365 days
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- Indiana State Capitol
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- Soldiers & Sailors Monument
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- sharing cocoa w/ my sis: post-marathon celebration
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- haggard, early morning start — good to be home 🙂
Woke Tuesday & thought: BONUS marathon (doesn’t everyone? 🙂 )
Deadline to enter the Des Moines Marathon was Wednesday. Next thought: What to do in Iowa?
Slept on it & woke with a plan. Iowa would be all about the journey – an all-Midwest adventure! I’d travel to Des Moines via bus (to Denver), overnight train (to Omaha, Nebraska), then rental car 2 hours across Western Iowa. Perfect!
2 short runs on Wednesday & Thursday would be the only prep I could fit in – always lose a few days after marathoning (letting muscles & joints heal). Have learned to listen to my body after a full year of 26.2 race days.
Had never been to Denver’s Union Station previously – what a surprise! Unbeknownst to me, a major renovation occurred over the past 2 years – what a beautiful station! Additionally, Denver’s night life was a-happening. Lotta laughter & hand holding as I passed couples walking to some of Denver’s finest restaurants. Super impressed – go Denver!
Train conductors, comfortable seating, polite conversation, leg room, no baggage fees, no security scanners, a dining car. Riding Amtrak is like going back in time – when humans were kinder. LOVE LOVE train travel. Wish the U.S. would greatly expand our railways. I’m telling ya – if you haven’t travelled by train, you’re missing out.
Plugged in my phone (yep, that’s also possible on train) & woke 7 hours later in Lincoln – an hour from my train destination.
Taxi to the airport (to pick up a rental car), breakfast, 5 minutes later…I’m in Iowa.
An hour into the drive, detoured down a rural highway to take in the scenery. Early morning grass was still wet with heavy dew. Cornfields, farmhouses, brightly colored silos – reminiscent of Waller’s Bridges of Madison County. Truly blessed.
Discovering there’s unique beauty in each of my 50 state marathon destinations.
Race packet pick-up at the Iowa Events Center, then spent a couple hours exploring the State Historical Museum & State Capitol Building. Iowans are proud of their John Deere tractors – ‘nuf said ‘bout the museum. The Capitol Dome however was fascinating. Saturday was probably the ideal day to explore – no bureaucrats 🙂
2 hour nap, quick shower, then off to Carlisle Iowa where I had VIP tickets to a local production of Dracula – performed at historic Randleman House, a “found space” production.
A found space is a nontheatrical space — the rotunda of the state capitol, a church, warehouse, courtroom, carpenters shop – which is used for production. Typically the space is chosen because of its context to the play: Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at the capitol, The Passion Play in a church, Inherit the Wind in a courtroom.
2 hour original production (currently unpublished), poetry reading during intermission and dinner – all proceeds supporting Des Moines’ local arts scene. FUN night! Conversed with many – including Carlisle’s mayor, the play’s director, playwright & cast members. Thanks Mary Sue for creating such a special night before my 13th marathon!
What to do in Iowa? Think I found my answer. YIKES – only 6 hours sleep before race time!
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- Iowa weekend adventure – bus, overnight train, then car – and a BONUS marathon!
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- discovering unique beauty in all 50 states
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- IOWA!
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- downtown Des Moines
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- State Historical Museum of Iowa (yep, tractors)
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- State Capitol
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- Iowa’s Il Duomo
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- Capitol dollhouse
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- LOVED this painting – American West, crossing the prairie
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- Soldiers and Sailors Monument
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- historic Randleman House
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- holiday decked in Edgar Allan Poe
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- pre-race drama in Carlisle IA
Race day. Up at 5am, already 65 degrees & crazy humid – in February!
Spent 30+ minutes locating parking in the designated state capitol parking garage(s) – Austin’s gotta resolve I-35 traffic congestion & downtown parking (friendly suggestion) – then jockeyed my way near the 4 hour pace group.
- Whole lotta runners. More than 18,000 participating in either the half or full marathon events.
- Marathon was rolling hills from mile 9 thru mile 19. Yep, 10 miles of gradual UP.
- Austin only provides marathon ‘Finisher’ tees, so picked up a local Longhorns tee for race day. By mile 9, my new cotton tee was soaked. Let the chaffing begin – that’s all I’m gonna say here but ouch, live & learn. Cotton never again plus wearing strategically placed Band-Aids in every marathon going forward.
Assume it was the humidity but whatever the excuse, today just wasn’t my best. Felt tired, struggled for motivation & was passed by my pace team a few miles past Lady Bird Lake. And because of super tight security, had no one encouraging me at mile 19, 20 or 21 (aka – Runner’s Wall). Just me this day. Tough one.
As the race day drug on, felt more & more like a fraud in that Longhorns tee. Whatever, I’ll take it 🙂
- “The eyes of Texas are upon you, son”
- “Hook ‘em Horns”
- “Run Forrest Run” (not sure he was from Texas)
Race ended up a hill. Ugly day but I collected my official Finisher tee.
Only 46 states to go. Next month – Atlanta!
Place Name City State Time
1686 K R Haga Louisville CO 4:27.41
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- Austin Marathon FINISHER!
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- Texas State Capitol
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- heavy fog, crazy humid race day
