6am marathon start – back that an hour in Sebastopol where I picked up Carolyn. She slept in an all-female teepee commune (Airbnb). Makes Motel 6 sound a bit more sexy, huh? (actually kinda jealous — HA!)
Overcast cool morning – couldn’t ask for better running weather in August. FAAANNNTASTIC!
Started in Corral 2, race paced quick. Hadn’t run with Carolyn since our NM desert trail run last March. Good conversation, felt super relaxed. Generally I’m a solo runner, even in training – much appreciated sharing the day. I’d get a little fast, Carolyn would pull back the reins. sub-9 pace for 10 miles. Thanks friend. Not looking for a fast 10K, but a steady sub-4 marathon finish.
Mike from Southern Cal joined our pack; finished the Half three-four minutes under 2 hours. Nice flat course, few rolling hills, cloud cover protection from August summer rays.
Unfortunately, started puking at mile 13, then again at 15. Slowed, couldn’t hold with my running pals – but kept pushing, didn’t quit. Sick again at 18. Popped a pill at mile 21 (brought one along, just in case).
Stomach settled before mile 23 (big thanks Zofran). Slogged next 2 miles. Saw Carolyn just after the 25 mile-marker. She finished 3:59+, then walked back to pace me – WOW, thanks pal 🙂
Marathon 68 done. Marathon run streak continues at 33 months consecutive.
My first 26.2 since being diagnosed – and I had a GREAT 15 miles. Getting stronger, really good day.
Santa Rosa Marathon 28 August 2016
K R Haga
Net Time 04:39:31.003
Event: Full Marathon
Race No: 1516
Country Representing: United States
Wave: Full Marathon Start 6:00 AM
With yesterday’s 50 States Award Presentation, not a lotta time for pre-marathon adventuring.
[however] 6pm return flight home. Plenty o’ hours to get our California on 🙂
Quick stop at the Charles Schultz Museum. Always been a Peanuts fan. Received a plush Snoopy as a one-year-old from my Grandmother. Memory tugs at the heart. Started the drive back to San Fran early – destination: Golden Gate Park (a close 30 minutes from the airport). Bridge ride-over, pulled off along the ocean. Walked beachside past Seal Rocks, up to Cliff House.
Palm trees, sand & blue ocean water – ah, yes…California.
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- iconic Americana, just WOW!
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- beach volleyball
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- the beautiful blue Pacific
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- Seal Rocks
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- goodbyes from the Cliff House
Late Monday a.m. start – didn’t wake ‘til 8 (slowly settling into lazy vacation life). Yogurt, handful of nuts. Day’s first stop: the Pilgrim Monument.
— The Pilgrim Monument was built between 1907 and 1910 to commemorate the first landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in Provincetown on November 21, 1620.
— The Pilgrim Monument is the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. The granite came from Stonington, Maine, and each stone is the thickness of the wall.
Toured the tired lighthouse museum. Hasn’t really changed over the years but I go every visit – LOVE history, LOVE our American story. Climbed 116 steps to the Monument top & took in its ocean view. Stunning. Best way to start a Monday morning 🙂
Walked Commercial thru P-town’s West End; met up with a local kayaker just past the Causeway. Paddled to the tip of the Cape three years ago. This trip toured Provincetown’s extensive water estuaries. Launched 2 hours before high tide, meandered thru tall field grasses…like something from the African Queen. Water fowl, fish, green crab & [salty, edible] pickle grass. Beached on a sand bar & enjoyed a short swim while waiting for the tide to come in.
One final dinner, one last evening show – then sadly, vacation time came to a close.
Tuesday morning ferry, another beautiful sunshiny day — AND 4 hours playtime before my airport return home. BOSTON! Day choice: Public Garden and a local cemetery. [Honestly] it’s the history that interests me, not crypts & dead bodies. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere – these early revolutionaries & signers of the Declaration fill our school books.
WOW, whatta summer! Visited both coasts of Canada, family vacationed in St. Louis, road-tripped thru Yellowstone, pony-trekked the Tetons…then ended ‘heat’ season, celebrating the big 5-0 on scenic Cape Cod. #noregretlife
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- 116 steps to the TOP!
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- sunshine & ocean – who doesn’t love Mondays?
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- in 1620, Pilgrims first landed here (before Plymouth Rock)
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- Provincetown Causeway
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- launched 2 hours before high tide
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- sand bar beached & enjoyed a swim
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- European green crab
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- our Nation’s 1st Chief
Last day in St Lou-ie. Grant’s Farm – Sis pulled out all the stops.
…one time owned by Ulysses S. Grant and prior to that, by the Dent family. It is now owned by the Busch family, who owned the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company for many years until it was sold to InBev in 2008. Grant’s Farm has been an animal reserve for many years and is open to the public for free. The farm is home to such animals as buffalo, elephants, camels, kangaroos, donkeys, goats, peacocks, the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales and many more. Most of these animals can be seen by visitors on a tram tour of the deer park region of the park, while the Clydesdales are found in their nearby barn and pastures. The farm also contains a cabin called “Hardscrabble,” which was built by Ulysses S. Grant on another part of the property and later relocated to Grant’s Farm. It is the only remaining structure that was hand-built by a U.S. president prior to assuming office.
Started off the day with a tram ride thru Deer Park – where deer, buffalo & native birds roamed the grounds free. Additionally, snapped a sweet shot of Grant’s Cabin, early home to our 18th President Ulysses S. Grant.
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- Grant’s Cabin
Disembarked in Tier Garten, where for a $1 the family got to bottle-feed baby goats.
Price was certainly right – everyone joined in the fun. Highlight of the day 🙂 From there, things turned animal-exotic. Grant’s Farm houses elephants, kangaroo, zebra, camels, llamas, lemur & multiple varieties of birds. Much to see.
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- Ash
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- Tom
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- brother James & nephew Jack
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- Michaela
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- Maddie
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- Mom 🙂
The Bauernhof
German for “farmstead”, The Bauernhof was built in 1913. It surrounds a beautiful courtyard typical of a 19th century Bavarian farm, complete with stables, a carriage house, and offices and quarters for those who lived and worked there. Today, it houses the Busch family’s world-renowned carriage collection and stables.
Sis’ husband (a St Louis native) provided historical facts ’bout the Busch family, as we stable-walked by horses & carriages of days past — all started with German-immigrants Adolphus Busch & his father-in-law, Eberhard Anheuser in 1879.
‘Over 21s’ paused at the Budweiser Brewery trailer – chilled in the cooler & free sample imbibed 🙂
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- look who’s 23?
Finished? Heck no.
No Anheuser-Busch trip is complete without visiting the world famous Clydesdales. MASSIVE creatures — WOW!
The Clydesdale is a breed of draught horse derived from the farm horses of Clydesdale, Scotland, and named after that region. Often bay in color, they show significant white markings due to the presence of sabino genetics. The breed was originally used for agriculture and haulage, and is still used for draught purposes today. The Budweiser Clydesdales are some of the most famous Clydesdales, and other members of the breed are used as drum horses by the British Household Cavalry.
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- MASSIVE!
Rain started falling as we began our goodbyes. Michaela’s trip ended first, home on a 3pm flight to Connecticut. The rest of us however kept adventuring – day’s last stop: Fitz’s Bottling Company.
[while waiting for a table] Watched a line of black cherry soda being bottled. Crazy busy joint. My food memory? the Mt Everest Special – Fitz’s famous draft Root Beer topped with vanilla & chocolate ice cream PLUS whipped cream. H-U-G-E!
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- soda factory known for its root beer floats
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- the Mt Everest special
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- 4th of July holiday brew
Sadly all great vacations come to an end – but for Team Colorado, still one more show to go.
Landed in Denver at 9-ish. On the 45-minute drive home, saw no less than 10 firework displays – brightly colored explosions from both sides of the Interstate. No exaggeration…most every Foothills community was celebrating the 4th under clear Colorado skies.
Happy Independence Day, USA!
St Louis Reunion 2016
Grant’s Farm (St Louis 2016)
