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 🙂
Just 3 weeks back, I thought I’d knock off marathon #8 in Minneapolis but fate stepped in & I needed a June make-up race.
Late Friday nite flight, picked up my rental at Enterprise, then headed 2 ½ hours north to Duluth — tomorrow’s race destination: Grandma’s Marathon. Easy drive; powered by Sirius Radio I listened to Country Classics – yep, the super twangy stuff from the 1950’s & ‘60’s 🙂 20 minutes outside of Duluth, heavy fog rolled in. Pulled off momentarily, then realized it wasn’t dissipating anytime soon so dropped my speed to 35, hovered in the right lane & stayed über alert to other motorists and wildlife.
Located a safe stop to catch some zzz’s (no hotel this trip), then woke to my iPhone alarm 4 hours later.
Fog, accompanied by mist & temps in the low 50’s. Surprisingly cold for June. Boarded a race bus which ferried me & fellow racers to the Start Line in Two Harbors, northeast of Duluth. Waited ‘til the last possible moment to shed the jacket & drop-off my gear bag – sooo late [that] I was blocked from joining my race wave, relegated to joining the 5:30 pacers.
Didn’t reach the official start until 6 minutes after the gun sounded, trudged thru a pack of runners, resulting in a super slow 11 minute first mile. Music cranked up, I started to work my way around folks. At mile 3 I passed the 4:30 pace team & at mile 6, I put the 4 hour pacers behind me. Now the trick – run my race, stay loose, don’t panic.
For a guy who struggles to run in heat, this was my day. Caught a glimpse of Lake Superior thru the fog & drafted closely behind a fast-footed runner with crazy long hair. I matched him on hills (which better suits my Colorado training), then fell back on the long stretches. Goal: stay close for a half marathon – revised goal, I’m drafting thru mile 15.
Reached down for water & just like that, he was gone. Thankfully, still felt strong. No grabbing water again ‘til mile 19, then again at mile 21. Felt the burn at mile 23 & punked another 11 minute shuffle.
Water, I need water. Or air, maybe I can’t breathe. Stopped at the mile 24 aid station & turned my head to see the 4 hour pace team pounding behind me. Where did they come from? I am NOT giving up on my first sub-4 with only 2+ miles to go.
Crowds lined the final mile thru downtown Duluth to Canal Park. I reached deep & ran. Pulled out my buds & let crowd energy breathe blood back into my legs. I’m blowing hard now. I can hear the race announcer, I’ve got to be close.
Almost 4 minutes under my marathon goal – boo-yah, first sub-4 marathon.
(Race Time) From Grandma’s Marathon sponsor, Verizon Wireless: K R Haga has crossed the Finish in 3:56:38
Slipped to the ground & was done. Couldn’t stop shivering, finished in the medic tent. Super low sodium but high hemoglobin numbers. Released 30 minutes later. Thanks Colorado for my high hemoglobin – high altitude living does a body good.
sub-4 – FINALLY!
sub 4 FINISH!
next month Montana!
