This is my second Honolulu Marathon, and I am grateful to just have made it to the start line. A herniated disk in my upper back put me on the couch for several months and made my entry doubtful. Fortunately, the pain vanished as quickly it came, leaving me thankful for its departure and anxious about a possible return. 'Be anxious for nothing!' is a mantra I repeat over and over. Slowly I rebuild my confidence, and become free to train in earnest for my 14th marathon.
Mid-summer is not an ideal time to train in Hawaii. You break into a sweat just pulling on your socks. Most of my training takes place indoors during lunch break, either on the treadmill or on a variety of exercise equipment that work the core. Outdoor runs are reserved for the weekends, and is typically a long slow distance run done when the sun is below the horizon.
A few words here about these long, slow distance runs. I think they are terrific. It is an excellent way for me to stew over the day and set things right in my mind and my soul. Typically I begin a run with grumbling. As the miles unwind, I shed my anxiety and despair, and reach some sort of balanced calm...may I even say happiness. Sometimes this occurs unexpectedly. I may be complaining to myself about my job, my family, or general life situation, and how I am mistreated and unappreciated. Suddenly a sense of freedom and lightness of spirit steals upon me, and my concerns seem trivial and inconsequential. Sometimes this balanced calm feeling can be intentionally brought about. For example, on a few long runs I repeated a bible verse: 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' This mantra propels me through the miles with a smile upon my face.
Marathon day arrives. I hop on my bicycle at 4 am and pedal from my house to the start line, which is 5 miles away at Ala Moana Beach Park. I pass groups of people setting up water and aid stations in the darkness. Halfway through Waikiki, the groups of people turn into marathoners walking to the start line. I lock my bike in the Ala Moana Shopping Center parking lot, and walk a few hundred yards to the start line.
This year my starting position seems to be somewhere in the middle of the pack, with no easy route to the front. My watch, which Isaac so carefully repaired the previous night, shows 4:55 am. I am pretty far from the loudspeakers, and hear some faint muffling about getting ready to rumble. The Star Spangled Banner is played, followed by Aloha Oe. Fireworks light up the sky and we start to walk slowly forwards. As I cross the start line, the running starts for many of us, though there are quite a bit of 'stop-and-gawkers' who seem mesmerized by the fireworks.
The course runs for about 2 miles to downtown Honolulu, and then takes a 180 degree turn to lead back down South King Street. We run past Kawaiahao Plaza where I work in the Human Resources Department at Kamehameha Schools. This year I have no funny inclination to run into the building;
I put in my notice two days ago and feel warm satisfaction and relief knowing my time with KS HR is nearly over.
I am trying for 10 minute miles this year and am on pace through the half-way point. Around mile 17 my right foot starts to cramp up. I stop and pull off my socks, rub my foot a bit, stretch a bit, then it is back on the road. I've lost about 5 minutes with my podiatric emergency, but that is fine. I am glad to be out here. The pain starts in earnest around mile 20 - this type of physical pain I sense to be a good thing, almost cleansing.
After passing the Waialae Golf Course, the route leads to the finish line at Kapiolani Park via Kahala Avenue. I look up and see my family waiting by the bridge over the canal. Ah, how nice it is to see them out there - even if they don't look all the excited to see me!
After receiving encouragement from family Vanderhoeven, I trudge back onto the road. I see a friend from work who is pace setting the 4:30 group. I try to stay with him, but falter on the long slow incline up to Diamond Head Lookout. Last year I remember I walked this bit of the route; I am determined not to do that this year, no matter how snail like my pace may get.
Finally I see the finish line looming up ahead. Sweet blessed relief!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My time is 4:32
Half-way time is 2:09
Good for 2,520th place out of 20,117 finishers
Post-race, I wander through the maze of runners to the malasada dispensary. I inhale 4 of these warm, crisp, sugary delights. I talk a bit with a guy who has run 82 marathons this year, and is advertising on his shirt some sort of vitamin. I will look him up later.
Rosanna meets me in front of a large video screen, which shows, on a 20 minute delay, runners as they cross the line. I snap a picture of myself. Even now, looking at it, I can remember vividly the feeling of finishing.
Why do I run all these marathons? I am not the fastest or fittest guy out there. I drink too much beer and even sometimes smoke cigarettes. But just imagine if I didn't run - I would be an out of shape slob! But my running is not for physical reasons. I run because of the feelings I get while running. And there may be a lot of pain before the ecstasy, but those 5 minutes of exhilaration are worth it.
Rosanna and I stop at the supermarket for some refreshment. Beer and chips!
Mid-summer is not an ideal time to train in Hawaii. You break into a sweat just pulling on your socks. Most of my training takes place indoors during lunch break, either on the treadmill or on a variety of exercise equipment that work the core. Outdoor runs are reserved for the weekends, and is typically a long slow distance run done when the sun is below the horizon.
A few words here about these long, slow distance runs. I think they are terrific. It is an excellent way for me to stew over the day and set things right in my mind and my soul. Typically I begin a run with grumbling. As the miles unwind, I shed my anxiety and despair, and reach some sort of balanced calm...may I even say happiness. Sometimes this occurs unexpectedly. I may be complaining to myself about my job, my family, or general life situation, and how I am mistreated and unappreciated. Suddenly a sense of freedom and lightness of spirit steals upon me, and my concerns seem trivial and inconsequential. Sometimes this balanced calm feeling can be intentionally brought about. For example, on a few long runs I repeated a bible verse: 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' This mantra propels me through the miles with a smile upon my face.
Marathon day arrives. I hop on my bicycle at 4 am and pedal from my house to the start line, which is 5 miles away at Ala Moana Beach Park. I pass groups of people setting up water and aid stations in the darkness. Halfway through Waikiki, the groups of people turn into marathoners walking to the start line. I lock my bike in the Ala Moana Shopping Center parking lot, and walk a few hundred yards to the start line.
This year my starting position seems to be somewhere in the middle of the pack, with no easy route to the front. My watch, which Isaac so carefully repaired the previous night, shows 4:55 am. I am pretty far from the loudspeakers, and hear some faint muffling about getting ready to rumble. The Star Spangled Banner is played, followed by Aloha Oe. Fireworks light up the sky and we start to walk slowly forwards. As I cross the start line, the running starts for many of us, though there are quite a bit of 'stop-and-gawkers' who seem mesmerized by the fireworks.
The course runs for about 2 miles to downtown Honolulu, and then takes a 180 degree turn to lead back down South King Street. We run past Kawaiahao Plaza where I work in the Human Resources Department at Kamehameha Schools. This year I have no funny inclination to run into the building;
I put in my notice two days ago and feel warm satisfaction and relief knowing my time with KS HR is nearly over.
I am trying for 10 minute miles this year and am on pace through the half-way point. Around mile 17 my right foot starts to cramp up. I stop and pull off my socks, rub my foot a bit, stretch a bit, then it is back on the road. I've lost about 5 minutes with my podiatric emergency, but that is fine. I am glad to be out here. The pain starts in earnest around mile 20 - this type of physical pain I sense to be a good thing, almost cleansing.
After passing the Waialae Golf Course, the route leads to the finish line at Kapiolani Park via Kahala Avenue. I look up and see my family waiting by the bridge over the canal. Ah, how nice it is to see them out there - even if they don't look all the excited to see me!
 |
| Isaac handing over my phone will suspiciously eyeing the photographer |
 |
| With Isaac and Alanna at Mile 23 |
After receiving encouragement from family Vanderhoeven, I trudge back onto the road. I see a friend from work who is pace setting the 4:30 group. I try to stay with him, but falter on the long slow incline up to Diamond Head Lookout. Last year I remember I walked this bit of the route; I am determined not to do that this year, no matter how snail like my pace may get.
Finally I see the finish line looming up ahead. Sweet blessed relief!
 |
| And finally it is over |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My time is 4:32
Half-way time is 2:09
Good for 2,520th place out of 20,117 finishers
Post-race, I wander through the maze of runners to the malasada dispensary. I inhale 4 of these warm, crisp, sugary delights. I talk a bit with a guy who has run 82 marathons this year, and is advertising on his shirt some sort of vitamin. I will look him up later.
Rosanna meets me in front of a large video screen, which shows, on a 20 minute delay, runners as they cross the line. I snap a picture of myself. Even now, looking at it, I can remember vividly the feeling of finishing.
Why do I run all these marathons? I am not the fastest or fittest guy out there. I drink too much beer and even sometimes smoke cigarettes. But just imagine if I didn't run - I would be an out of shape slob! But my running is not for physical reasons. I run because of the feelings I get while running. And there may be a lot of pain before the ecstasy, but those 5 minutes of exhilaration are worth it.
Rosanna and I stop at the supermarket for some refreshment. Beer and chips!
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| Need some refreshment |
 |
| This looks pretty good |
 |
| Now for the chips |
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| Walking home - these other guys are still heading to the finish line |
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| Deschutes and Kettle Chips |
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