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What a beautiful day to run. Over 20000 runners converged around Ala Moana Park yesterday morning around 4 am in eager anticipation for the Honolulu Marathon. The temperature at start was a perfect 67 degrees, no wind and clear skies. As the starting gun fired, nearly a full minute of fireworks filled the skies as the heavily favored Kenyans blazed by us. From beginning to end, this was one of the most memorable experiences in my life.
For me, the marathon was several races within a race. The first half of the race was the time to conserve energy. Making sure I didn't burn myself out for the finish. The good news is that I felt better than any race I'd run to date. I attribute that to great training advice I received from the Honolulu Marathon Clinic I joined way back in June and my personal trainer. Fortunately, the shin splints that hampered my running for the past two months had fully healed. As we headed up Diamond head, the Kenyans were already coming back for the finish. We got to see Patrick Ivuti well ahead of the pack and Svetlana Zakharova run by us with their own motorcades. It was amazing to see that they were about to finish just as we were getting into the belly of the beast.
The second part of the race was from that half way point through Hawaii Kai and the turn back to Diamond Head. I felt great at that point mostly because I had plenty left in the tank. One of the best parts of joining a group like the Honolulu Marathon Clinic is that they can give you great tips, like which bathrooms to use because they are underutilized. That certainly saved us several minutes of time. It started getting hot with clear skies and temperatures approaching 80 degrees. Nothing can zap your energy faster than the pounding sun on your body. The gatorade and sponges provided at each aid station really helped. Although, it wasn't enough for me as I become very dehyrdated and crampy at the end.
The third part of the race was from about mile 17-21. That is Kalanianaole highway. I call that the dead zone. Too far in to turn back. Too much to go to think home stretch. That was probably the hardest part of the run for me. It's when your body hits the wall. You still have a lot to go and you begin wondering if you are going to finish or not. It's the point that you are very happy that you had all of those long training runs. At this point in the race, most everyone was walking. Lots of people were on the side of the road stretching their calves. Many laying down on first aid stations. I had to get to the Aloha gas station. From that point on, it was the home stretch.
The final leg of the race was from the Aloha Gas station to the finish. The last 4 miles. The part of the race where it is completely mind over matter. Where desire to finish overcomes desire to survive. My body had been completely depleted of every ounce of glycogen. The body says to stop. The mind says keep going. Half way to Kahala Ave, I suddenly felt a surge of energy. I started running again at full speed for about another 2 miles which took me about half way through Kahala and up the mountain of Diamond head. That second wind was something surprising to me as I was the only person running at that point of the race. Then, as the mountain incline increased, my heart rate shot up to about 176. I had to stop or I would keel over. I walked the rest of the way up Diamond head.
Normally, when I get to this point in the race, I feel like I am home free. Not this time. I was cramping everywhere. I was dehyrdated. I was sunburnt. I just needed to keep it together for another mile and a half. That was the hardest mile and a half I've ever run. When I got to the bottom of Diamond head, the final aid station had run out of water. Ouch. But, at that point, I didn't care. I was going to finish. I just ignore the pain, started running again. Saw the "Finish" sign, locked my sites on it and ran as hard and as fast as I could. I raised my arms and I crossed the finish line.
At the finish, I was greeted with a shell lei. Sprinklers to cool me off and a surprising walk that seemed about a half mile to the finishers tent to pick up my shirt. That was the single most cruel and unusual punishment anyone could have ever dished out to a runner. Jake Shimabukuro was playing a concert and there were massage booths and food for all. Of course, I took a picture with a beautiful wahine dressed in Hawaiian garb. I wonder how much that picture will cost?
I met up with my family. Walked over to the ocean and jumped in. I felt like I had just finished finals in college. I knew I was happy to be done. But, I didn't feel the euphoria I expected. More relief than anything else. As I look back over the year, this was very gratifying end to a year long objective of finishing a marathon. Just a year ago, I thought that running a marathon was an impossible task. What I learned from it is that the mind can absolutely overcome matter. Now that I've done it, would I do it again?....
Definitely. I plan to sign up on the first day in March. In fact, I'm thinking about doing a triathlon next.
For me, the marathon was several races within a race. The first half of the race was the time to conserve energy. Making sure I didn't burn myself out for the finish. The good news is that I felt better than any race I'd run to date. I attribute that to great training advice I received from the Honolulu Marathon Clinic I joined way back in June and my personal trainer. Fortunately, the shin splints that hampered my running for the past two months had fully healed. As we headed up Diamond head, the Kenyans were already coming back for the finish. We got to see Patrick Ivuti well ahead of the pack and Svetlana Zakharova run by us with their own motorcades. It was amazing to see that they were about to finish just as we were getting into the belly of the beast.
The second part of the race was from that half way point through Hawaii Kai and the turn back to Diamond Head. I felt great at that point mostly because I had plenty left in the tank. One of the best parts of joining a group like the Honolulu Marathon Clinic is that they can give you great tips, like which bathrooms to use because they are underutilized. That certainly saved us several minutes of time. It started getting hot with clear skies and temperatures approaching 80 degrees. Nothing can zap your energy faster than the pounding sun on your body. The gatorade and sponges provided at each aid station really helped. Although, it wasn't enough for me as I become very dehyrdated and crampy at the end.
The third part of the race was from about mile 17-21. That is Kalanianaole highway. I call that the dead zone. Too far in to turn back. Too much to go to think home stretch. That was probably the hardest part of the run for me. It's when your body hits the wall. You still have a lot to go and you begin wondering if you are going to finish or not. It's the point that you are very happy that you had all of those long training runs. At this point in the race, most everyone was walking. Lots of people were on the side of the road stretching their calves. Many laying down on first aid stations. I had to get to the Aloha gas station. From that point on, it was the home stretch.
The final leg of the race was from the Aloha Gas station to the finish. The last 4 miles. The part of the race where it is completely mind over matter. Where desire to finish overcomes desire to survive. My body had been completely depleted of every ounce of glycogen. The body says to stop. The mind says keep going. Half way to Kahala Ave, I suddenly felt a surge of energy. I started running again at full speed for about another 2 miles which took me about half way through Kahala and up the mountain of Diamond head. That second wind was something surprising to me as I was the only person running at that point of the race. Then, as the mountain incline increased, my heart rate shot up to about 176. I had to stop or I would keel over. I walked the rest of the way up Diamond head.
Normally, when I get to this point in the race, I feel like I am home free. Not this time. I was cramping everywhere. I was dehyrdated. I was sunburnt. I just needed to keep it together for another mile and a half. That was the hardest mile and a half I've ever run. When I got to the bottom of Diamond head, the final aid station had run out of water. Ouch. But, at that point, I didn't care. I was going to finish. I just ignore the pain, started running again. Saw the "Finish" sign, locked my sites on it and ran as hard and as fast as I could. I raised my arms and I crossed the finish line.
At the finish, I was greeted with a shell lei. Sprinklers to cool me off and a surprising walk that seemed about a half mile to the finishers tent to pick up my shirt. That was the single most cruel and unusual punishment anyone could have ever dished out to a runner. Jake Shimabukuro was playing a concert and there were massage booths and food for all. Of course, I took a picture with a beautiful wahine dressed in Hawaiian garb. I wonder how much that picture will cost?
I met up with my family. Walked over to the ocean and jumped in. I felt like I had just finished finals in college. I knew I was happy to be done. But, I didn't feel the euphoria I expected. More relief than anything else. As I look back over the year, this was very gratifying end to a year long objective of finishing a marathon. Just a year ago, I thought that running a marathon was an impossible task. What I learned from it is that the mind can absolutely overcome matter. Now that I've done it, would I do it again?....
Definitely. I plan to sign up on the first day in March. In fact, I'm thinking about doing a triathlon next.
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