Cheyenne Marathon
Sep. 23, 2018
4:39:41 70/164 Overall 443/808 Male
1/2 in 65-69
Marathon
#160 (and #25 in doing 50 states at least twice) was a different kind of
challenge for a lot of reasons: 6000’ elevation for starters (at my age,
reduced lung capacity is already a problem); the first aid station was not
until mile 6 and there were not enough the rest of way to help with dry air
(10% humidity); dirt/gravel road for most of first 8 miles; seemingly 2/3 of
the course being uphill; running solo for much of the run because there were fewer
than 200 in the full; temps rising into high 70s by finish. It’s always a risk
to run an inaugural marathon because they will make a lot of mistakes (and
hopefully learn from them). All that being said, I actually enjoyed most of the
run because I realized a fast time was not the goal. By slowing down and
walking as needed, I finished without much soreness (my last mile was my
fastest).
The
race started at 6:20AM, but it was still dark. We had to walk from the dark
parking lot about ¼ mile to the starting line, also in the dark. There were no
porta-potties and no open buildings, so I just waited in my car for the start. “Very
rustic, out in the country and isolated” describes the start area. I ran the
first few miles through rolling hills on a gravel/dirt road alone, but then the
4:25 pace group caught me and I enjoyed their company for 3-4 miles before they
left me at the first aid station at mile 6. The course finally ran through the
city on a good asphalt road surface and headed out to the other end of town.
There continued to be long, steady uphills including one like Hospital Hill. We
did get to run some down hill on the way back which was nice. We ran through
the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo grounds, and then with about 3 miles to go I
hooked up with 2 ladies from upstate New York. They were both in their 50s and
had run Boston before, but like I was, they were just getting through this one.
It really helped to have folks to chat with, and we had fun finishing up. Their
families were cheering them with .2 to go and I thanked them for the fun I had
with their moms/wives. After I finished, the lady in the green in the above pic
asked to take my picture. She explained that she was Ms Wyoming,
Mobility-impaired, and was grooming the girl in the chair to become so, too.
The lady has MS and has had over 45 operations for it and some accidents she has
had. She has been relearning to walk this last year. I told her that running a
marathon is a lot easier than what she has overcome.
So,
my time was one of my slowest, but I got in a good long training running for
running the 50k on Oct. 7 with Jodi to celebrate her turning 50 on the 13th.
I did get 1st in my age group and got the cute mug and a cool medal.
This was Marathon #160; 25 states on 2nd go-round; All 10 Canadian
provinces.
Photos: https://photos.shutterfly.com/gallery/4feba295-4764-4379-930e-f53f8ac30145?type=shared
(The description is roughly in order of the pictures.)
Cheyenne
Trip
I
flew into Denver which is only an hour and a half drive from Cheyenne. On the drive
to Cheyenne I took the long way so that I could visit Rocky Mountain National
Park (and get in free with my Golden Eagle senior pass😊) and Estes
Park. I saw a herd of elk and then saw one close-up as it crossed the road
right beside me just as I was leaving Estes Park.
Arriving
at my motel in Cheyenne, I noted the decorated boot at the entrance. Later I
found out that there are about 50 8-foot boots throughout the city so you will
see a number of them in the pics. Saturday morning, I visited the historical
museum and saw the capitol which is undergoing a 3 year renovation and (unlike
High Speed Rail) is on time and on budget. Wyoming became the 44th
state in 1890 and has a population about the same as Fresno (500,000). When it
became a state, it included suffrage for women; the first state to ever do
that. I also took a tour of the old governor’s mansion. It is fully decorated
in a décor of mid-1900s and included a Royal typewriter, game/sun room, and
kids’ door with Beatles’ poster on it. Who remembers Jolly Time popcorn? We had
that when we were kids in Calistoga.
I
picked up my bib at the Cheyenne Depot where there are a couple of more
decorated boots and was were the race would finish. I enjoyed the speakers at
the expo, both of whom live in Cheyenne: Brent Weigner has run over 350
marathons including in 160 countries and all 7 continents 10 times. Jerry Reif
has run a sub 3 hour marathon and BQed in all 50 states. He just turned 50 and
is hoping to run sub 3 in 4 decades. (See their stories at https://www.cheyenne.org/race/?RL=1
).
After
the race on Sunday, I took a two-hour bus tour during which I learned a lot of
old west history of Cheyenne. Wild Bill Hickock, Bat Masterson, and many other
characters lived here. Like so many old west towns, it provided 3 things to the
cowboys: alcohol, gambling, and prostitutes. Calamity Jane came from San
Francisco to ply her trade. Unfortunately, she brought an STD that spread
quickly to patrons and other “ladies”. Hence, the nickname “Calamity.” Cheyenne
is also host to the largest rodeo in the world for 10 days each July. Our bus
stopped for us to tour the rodeo museum. The statue of “Champion” Lane Frost
shows him on a steer just before he was thrown off at 7.5 of the required 8
seconds. The steer then speared him; he was the last fatality at Cheyenne back
in 1989.
I
had dinner at Sanford Grub and Pub and enjoyed perusing all the sports and
historical memorabilia throughout it. I also got an amazing rib dinner for
under $20. I also got gas in Wyoming for $2.75; great not to pay CA prices/taxes
at the pump! On the way back to Denver on Monday, I headed toward Buffalo Bill’s
grave/museum and Lookout Mountain. On the way I saw a turn-off sign for Regis
University. I immediately took a quick exit to take a look at it because it is
the very university from which Jodi received her nursing BS. Very fun find!
Buffalo
Bill was quite a colorful character. His Wild West show toured the world from
late 1880s to mid-1910s. It included 4 stops in Fresno. Annie Oakley was one of
his featured performers.
Photos: https://photos.shutterfly.com/story_invite/d0ae61e6-e81c-44aa-aa0f-3ee97f470683/70231134722?cid=SHARALEMAIL
(The description is roughly in order of
the pictures.)
