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.

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?

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?

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!

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.

Not going to happen.

7. Gotta Love The Cowbell

"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!

10. Is Peyton Here Today?

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

12. Sloan's Lake

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.

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

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.