330am – woke early, left early, arrived early. No civilian processing delays this day (better safe than sorry). Parked, kicked the front seat back & caught extra zzz’s. Looking left & right of me, appeared many others had the same idea 🙂
Somber, inspired remembrance before today’s March. Taps & roll call – only 3 lasting survivors returned a response. National Anthem, a Black Hawk flyover followed. Proud I chose this race, marching with our Armed Forces – proud to be an American.
Beautiful weather ALL day, temps never topped mid-70’s. Shed my double layer early.
Only 2 weeks ago, I trail ran in nearby Las Cruces – same desert, same scenic Organ Mountains. LOVE LOVE this landscape.
No 50K trail adventure today; this Sunday we marched. Marched with my Maniac buddy, Stacy & two Lincoln, Nebraska-natives, Laura & Dennis. Laura’s uncle helped design the course; Dennis is active (full-time) Air National Guard. AMAZING inspiring people – I’m better in life, having spent 8 hours with these three.
Med tents, military ambulance, helicopter flyover, Jeeps…and a whole lotta camo. Not coming from military, snapped lotta pics – kinda felt I was on the set of M.A.S.H.
Surprise Highlight: Mile 15 mess hall. $5 bought a hamburger, hot dog, chips & Coke. No sub-4 finish today, LOL> SAT & ATE – during a MARATHON. Bataan’s set the bar HIGH for all future races. Burgers & dogs grilled to order – YUM!
Memorable End: Shook the hand of a Bataan survivor at mile 25.
After a day marching, felt I still had a lotta gas left in the tank. Dennis & I said goodbye to the ladies & sprinted the remaining distance – clocking a 7:30 finish pace. Awesome end to an amazing day.
Snapped finish pics (& ate again – LOL>) Today we finished 4 STRONG.
Bataan Memorial Death March
White Sands Missile Range, NM
CIVILIAN Male
K R HAGA (Bib 2203)
from Louisville, Colorado
Finish
08:34:42.8
The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging march through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their very lives.
The race is open to all members of the public, though a significant portion of the participants are members of military units of the U.S. and foreign armed forces and their families. Several surviving Bataan prisoners usually await the competitors to congratulate them on completing the grueling march. Many injured veterans including some amputees attend to march as well.
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- civilian coral start
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- roll call, taps, somber remembrance of Bataan troop (3 remaining survivors)
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- desert sunrise
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- not just another 26.2
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- strange but true: Gemsboks (Oryx) released in White Sands (WSMR) have become an invasive species
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- today’s WOW shot — desert landscape enveloped by the region’s Organ Mountains
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- yucca
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- once a year, spring POPPIES
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- US Marshals (Border Patrol)
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- devil’s claw
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- Mile 15 bargain
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- FAAANNNTASTIC!
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- feeling STRONG at Mile 17
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- funky trail mix & a cookie – nice idea but not so tasty
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- 4 STRONG — AWESOME friend-share day!
Bataan 2016 Start
March 2016 Maniac Newsletter
Road trip delay: woke Friday to heavy Spring SNOW – 7 inches…much more than the inch forecast.
Weekend bucket list destination: Bataan Memorial Death March on the White Sands Missile Range.
Sunday’s marathon has been on my wish list for a year – signed up opening day. More than a weekend 26.2 – this is a military March, replicating the WWII trek US & Philippine POWs took in 1942.
We honor these men; we remember their service. 3 remaining Bataan survivors would attend tomorrow’s opening day ceremonies – including 98-year old Ben Skardon.
Invisible Symbols – The Ben Skardon Story
Started my journey mid-week, self-tutoring on everything Bataan via YouTube videos. Unfortunately, much of WWII history studied in school is limited to Europe & Pearl Harbor. Battles in Asia generally only receive a single paragraph in the best of textbooks. My Grandfather served in the Pacific.
The Bataan Memorial Death March honors a special group of World War II heroes. These brave soldiers were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines.
The conditions they encountered and the aftermath of the battle were unique. They fought in a malaria-infested region, surviving on half or quarter rations with little or no medical help. They fought with outdated equipment and virtually no air power.
On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. The Americans were Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines. Among those seized were members of the 200th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard.
They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. Others were wounded or killed when unmarked ships transporting prisoners of war to Japan were sunk by U.S. air and naval forces.
they were beaten and starved as they marched. Those who fell were bayoneted. Some of those who fell were beheaded by Japanese officers who were practicing with their samurai swords from horseback. The Japanese culture at that time reflected the view that any warrior who surrendered had no honor; thus was not to be treated like a human being.
To avoid Friday night metro traffic, didn’t leave Boulder ‘til 7 – overnight’d in Trinidad, 15 miles from the New Mexico border.
7am Saturday start – 6 hour drive remaining; boring all-highway trek.
Gas tank odometer bottomed ZERO 10 miles outside of Santa Fe. Would have never fueled in tiny Eldorado had I not been desperate but rewarded heartily with homemade green chile chicken tamales. surprise breakfast YUM – the gods were a smilin’ 🙂
BIG weather change.
Freezing rain iced my windshield first 2 hours of New Mexico – but from there, high mountain desert. Sunshiny skies, temps jacked up almost 50 degrees. Shed my sweatshirt, opened the windows & took in desert – no stopping ‘til the Mexico border.
Reached White Sands Missile Range 2pm. Whole lotta folks arriving today. Hour-half (long 90 minutes) to get processed. Without a military ID ‘speed pass’, just gotta take it in stride. Security of our bases is paramount – no argument here.
Parked, asked for directions. Quickly jetted to the PDC (fast learned military folk only talk acronyms – LOL>), listened to two Bataan survivors recall their experiences. It just got real.
Bib pick-up at Bldg 501, soaked in the atmosphere. Crazy proud to be an American!
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- road trip delay — Friday SNOW — much more than the inch forecast
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- Bataan Death March Statue
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- without a military ID ‘speed pass’, just gotta take it in stride
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- propane powered rocket
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- on base — crazy PROUD to be an American!
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- 98-year old Bataan survivor, Ben Skardon
New Mexico Car Karaoke, 10-hour road trip
20 hours in Sin City – quick in & out, logged my 53rd marathon finish.
Another half-day Friday workday, autobahn’d to the airport, less than 2 hours later – palm trees & desert in sunny Las Vegas. Scored a ride to Suncoast Resort, our host hotel in North Las Vegas. [As luck would have it, saw a fellow 50 Stater on my flight & hitched a ride.] Walked thru the casino to registration – smell of cigarette smoke always comes as a surprise. No allergies here, just odd to see cigarette smoking…think it’s been outlawed in public buildings & restaurants since the 1980’s.
Lucked into a dinner invite, tagged along with 3 other marathoners – fun pre-race Italian feast. Big fan of red sauce 🙂
Early, early a.m. – bus transportation started at 4:45am to Red Rock Canyon. Staying at the host hotel, luckily slipped onto a later bus – arrived 30 minutes before the 6:15 full marathon start (halfers left from the Visitors Center, 13 miles away).
Quads still tight from last weekend’s 55K mountain adventure in Moab. My sis ran the Red Rock Half while at a work conference last year, forewarned ‘bout the climb & struggled with altitude. Head manta scroll: I eat HILLS for breakfast. I’ve got this – no fear.
Snapped a few pics of the desert landscape & BAM – on our way. Rolling ups & downs…nothing noteworthy – long hill incline started at mile 4. Five miles later, stayed at it but yeah, I felt it. Fast 2-mile downhill – 7:30 minute/miles…dodged shared-lane Halfers ‘til mile 12. Two laps ‘round the Visitors Center, dropped my 2nd shirt, popped salt pills & Advil, juiced three orange slices. Mile 14 loomed ahead AND our 2nd five-mile incline. This is the climb Sis warned about. Walk, jog, aid station water. Short run, walk, jog. Aid station water. No joke. Passed a cyclist – must be a tough climb even on wheels…’cause I certainly wasn’t moving fast.
No 7:30-minute brag pace on the downhill return – LOL> trotted to mile 22….but credibly, no walk – paced slow but ran with 2 other runners thru mile 25. They dropped me at the last water station .7 miles from the Finish.
Red rock beauty & vacant desert calm. Not a great run, a 5 hour full. BUT coming only 7 days after Moab, I’ll take it.
Last Saturday 55K trail run in Moab, this Saturday road marathon in Vegas – next weekend? BOTH. Attempting my first double in Tulsa OK – 50K trail on Saturday, full marathon Sunday. Goal is a multi-day adventure race in 2017. Can’t fail if you don’t try 🙂
Red Rock Canyon Marathon
February 20, 2016 — Results By Calico Racing
K R HAGA Louisville CO 5:01:40.2
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- pre-race, pre-dawn smile share
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- canyon rock & sage brush
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- Calico Rock
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- popular with rock climbers, easy on the eyes
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- protected species living in Red Rock Canyon; depicted on today’s finishers medal
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- beautiful, hill-brutal course (heat-exposed finish pics)
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- colorful desert landscape — LOVED it!
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- quick 20 hours in Sin City; back home in time for dinner 🙂
