Early Saturday start, connection in Chicago, landed in Burlington VT just after 2pm. Bib pick-up, checked into the Hilton (fancy digs), then strolled pedestrian Church Street in search of lunch. Outside dining at Rí Rá, beautiful sunshiny day. Short walk down Battery aside scenic Lake Champlain, watched the sunset from my hotel room. Early to bed, early to rise – marathon #30 tomorrow a.m.
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- early a.m. start: Denver ⇨ Chicago ⇨ Burlington
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- Memorial Day run in scenic Vermont
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- pedestrian Church Street, Burlington
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- Lake Champlain sunset
Caught up with Wisconsin-marathoner Toni & husband Jeff for breakfast. First met this twosome in Jackson after Mississippi Blues in January. I’m not much for eating pre-race – but enjoy hanging with good people. Upbeat attitudes, good mojo.
8:03 start time, hats off for the Anthem, queued up under sunny skies.
Went out fast. Crossed the actual Start Line 3 times within the first 9 miles – course loops downtown, two separate out-n-backs. Drafted behind a runner trekking off road, followed along a 3 mile stretch resembling trail (good on the feet). We ran negative splits (miles 7, 8 & 9) & caught the 3:45 pace group. Stopped for water at mile 11 & they were gone.
Mile 15 – Battery Park. Drums beating, pre-warned this Hill was coming, kicked in & killed it – up & over mile 15, plus the surprise hill at mile 16. Drums set this marathon apart, a memory I’ll take home.
Course wound thru quiet neighborhoods & city parks. Residents turned on sprinklers & passed out popsicles as temps climbed. AWESOME crowd support! Toe on my right foot bled thru the shoe, slogged thru miles 21-24.
26 miles – seemingly nothing left in the tank – got into a foot race. 50 meters to go, I went full sprint against a guy fast on my left. Finish picture, a bit inconclusive – [in my version] undoubtedly pulled ahead & won the day 🙂 Relay runner. I go full-on sprint after 26 miles against a relay runner. If I could muster a little competitiveness throughout an entire race, forget sub-4, I’d sub-3. LOL >
Back in the hotel, lanced my toe to relieve pressure. Liquid sprayed like a fountain PLUS I lost the nail (Ashton says I gloss over the less glamorous aspects of the sport). Shower, quick turnaround – sailing on Lake Champlain at 3pm. Life is good.
Vermont City Marathon and Relay
#3348 K R Haga 4:35:19
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- breakfast w/ the pride of La Crosse WI
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- 8:03 official start – queued up, ready to run
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- a bit inconclusive – [my version] undoubtedly pulled ahead & won the day 🙂 Went full-on sprint after 26 miles against a relay runner. Too competitive? This guy’s smiling – my eyes say KILL
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- THIRTY!
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- shower, quick turnaround – sailing on Lake Champlain at 3pm
Woke early, packed, spent the work day in Boulder, Friday night flight to St. Louis – another race weekend, my third straight.
Been excited about marathoning in St. Louis since I race-registered last Fall – hometown to my sis & her family. Travelled tonite with Stacy, a fellow Marathon Maniac – plan was to meet up at DIA, same itinerary. Fifteen minutes out, she called: our flight was cancelled. Luckily, Stacy’s a take-charge gal with kick travel skillz. Tonite’s new destination: Chicago O’Hare. 5 hours of sleep at La Quinta (on United’s dime), morning connector to St. Louis.
Unfortunately, missed my nephew’s blistering 24 minute 5K finish – but arrived in time to meet my family at SLU for bib pick-up. Tammy’s long said NO to GO (Go! St. Louis Marathon) so appreciative she & hubby both entered the Half. Yeah, my family ROCKS!
Today’s pre-race activity – The Great River Road. Nothing says St. Louis like a day on the mighty Mississipp’. Quick obligatory stop at the Arch (even under construction, cannot miss St. Louis’ towering landmark), then east to Alton, Illinois. Detoured 30 minutes & toured Lewis & Clark State Historical Site. Always been enamored with Lewis & Clark and the American West (I was born in the wrong era).
Rode up Confluence Tower & viewed the meeting/confluence of 2 great rivers – the Mississippi & Missouri. Water on both sides of the highway, springtime on the Mississippi – happens every year. Though Confluence Tower was a bit of a bust ($4 to ride an elevator is kinda lame), picked up a map highlighting local passenger ferries. Now that would be cool – to ride across the Mississippi, right?
First lunch, then ferry.
My friend Cliff recommended I try Fin Inn Restaurant in nearby Grafton. Snapping turtle & river carp are muddy water favourites in this rural area. Decked with aquariums, ate tableside to my lunch plate’s kin. Started with turtle soup, finished with buffalo fish – deep fried, served with ketchup & an onion. Listened to locals discuss an episode of Swamp People. Redneck river day 🙂
Boarded Brussels Free Ferry – first of 2 ferries used to cross the Mississippi today. Sunshine overhead as we travelled scenic country roads & followed placard postings to Golden Eagle Ferry – dropping us back in Missouri, about an hour northwest of my sister’s home.
Marathon ready, feelin’ all Huck Finn – LOVED my day on the mighty Mississipp’!
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- the Gateway Arch – a St. Louis must
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- Lewis & Clark State Historical Site
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- Confluence Tower, Hartford IL
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- meeting of the Mississippi & Missouri rivers
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- small town USA
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- buffalo fish — a muddy water favourite in Grafton IL
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- Alton IL’s Clark Bridge, Brussels Free Ferry & the mighty Mississipp’
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- 6 miles of scenic country road — HUGE fan, beautiful day!
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- ferrying across the Mississippi — FAAANNNNTASTIC!
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- sunshine, mighty water, scenic bridges, river carp & 2 ferries – LOVED the Great River Road
Mississippi River ferry crossing
When you tell folks you’re flying to Little Rock, Arkansas, everyone thinks of the Clintons – no worries, I wouldn’t disappoint this trip.
Arrived in Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport, greeted by family – mom, brother, sister-in-law & niece – who travelled to Little Rock to support me at marathon #21 of my 50 State Quest. Best family ever!
Another unexpected cold snap in the deep South (Mississippi, South Carolina, now Arkansas) – perfect! Grey overcast skies (snow yesterday) – luckily had indoor activities planned in Arkansas’ capital city.
Bib pick-up, check. Next stop, lunch – Maddie’s Place, a Creole restaurant 2 doors down from the Cross-Eyed Pig 🙂 Food did not disappoint. Where else can one fill their pre-race belly with fried green tomatoes? YUM!
Googled top 10 things to do in Little Rock. All paths led to the Clinton Presidential Library. Library, seriously? These days I skim-read news headlines; haven’t actively read books since earning a MBA 10 years ago.
Luckily no Dewey Decimal system or card catalogue on today’s tour. Witnessed everything Clinton in these halls – thru film, photos & White House memorabilia. Clinton was a likeable President, super charismatic.
Completed our afternoon at the Old State House. This historical corridor-riddled building told Arkansas’ past, of its governors, its first ladies & of course Bill Clinton, first elected Governor at age 32.
President-Elect Clinton greeted the American public from this spot when elected in 1992. Lotta history here.
Ended the day with flaming queso at MarketPlace Grill. FANTASTIC day, surrounded by family. Super pumped, ready to run. Just wait ‘til tomorrow – a little freezing rain won’t slow me down 🙂
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- Happy Saturday from Little Rock!
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- Maddie at Maddie’s Place
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- fried green tomatoes – YUM!
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- a Monet (bottom right)
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- Oval Office replica
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- “Dear Valentine” — at the Peanuts exhibit
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- the mighty Arkansas River
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- my lovely Mom
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- Mom & her Lumberjack son
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- flaming queso – a family tradition
