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17 Random Thoughts From Things I Saw & Experienced Running The Colfax Marathon

DENVER (CBS4) - I found myself up at 5 a.m. Sunday morning in a car in a dark parking lot listening to Katy Perry.

My girlfriend and I were trying to decide if we would run the Colfax Marathon.

Mark Haas Runs Colfax Marathon
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Well, we had trained and we were registered, so why not?

The following are random thoughts from things I saw and experienced running the 2015 Colfax Marathon (& included are some of the shots from the camera I took along for the run):

1. What Time Is It?

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6 a.m. is a really early start time (for someone who works nights like me)

2. I Have No Idea What That Ride Is Called?

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I haven't been to Elitch Gardens in probably 15 years, is it still fun? I should probably go back.

3. High Fives

Getting high fives from random kids is the best part of running a marathon.

4. Stop It, Relay Team. Just Stop It

Running a marathon as part of a relay team looks fun, but it is not fun when you are running by yourself and a fresh group of runners keeps passing you ever 5 to 6 miles.

5. Hey, I Saw The Foo Fighters There!

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Does the Fillmore still get good concerts? I saw Foo Fighters there in college, haven't been back since.

6. I Don't Think I'm Going To Catch Him.

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Not going to happen.

7. Gotta Love The Cowbell

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"Yeah, you're going to win!" - Cowbell-ringing man

8. Super Signs

People make good marathon signs, my favorites: I trained 4 months to hold this sign and You are running better than the government.

9. Hey, Mile High!

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10. Is Peyton Here Today?

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11. I Guess We're Not Allowed To Run On The Grass.

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12. Sloan's Lake

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Sloan's Lake is beautiful in the morning. Probably is beautiful the rest of the day too, but really nice at 7:30 am.

13. Mexican Food, With Cliff Divers

I can't see Casa Bonita without thinking of South Park.

14. The Last Three Miles Were Brutal.

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The hill heading east on 17th Street in downtown Denver is absolutely brutal when it is at mile 23 of a marathon. It took all my energy and I just stumbled across the finish line.

15. The Reward

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Finishing a marathon is really cool, I just wish it didn't take four months of training and 26 miles of torture. But I guess that's what makes finishing so rewarding.

16. The Recovery

I recovered with water and Mountain Dew. It cost less than a post-run $65 athletic recovery drip.

17. Had To Get A Little More Running In Sunday Night At Work

This was my second marathon. I finished in under 4 hours!

Mark Haas is CBS4's weekend sports anchor and sports reporter. Read his bio or follow him on Twitter @markhaastv or on Facebook.

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