This race is unique as they have something called "The Chase." A handful of local athletes get the chance to run against elite runners. This year the elites were Patrick Makau (current Marathon record holder), Jimmy Muindi (he won the Honolulu Marathon a gazillion times) and Nicholas Manza. The local athletes start at a staggered time and the elites start at the regular start time and chase them down. It's pretty amazing to see it all!!!
For more information on the Hapalua Half Marathon click here:
thehapalua.com
This was my 2nd year being involved in the Hapalua. Last year Team Let's Get Fit took 2nd in the mixed relay team event. This year I decided to run the Half Marathon as part of my training for the North Shore Marathon next month.
Leading up to this race I've been sick and busy to my training wasn't the best. While I have been able to log mileage much of my running has been very un-focused. But, when you're a full-time working mom you have to take what you can. We did some fun carb loading at Bravos with friends on Friday and spent Saturday taking it easy and trying to get rest for the race.
On Sunday morning we woke up at 3am and headed to meet friends for the race. We were all so happy that it was dry as we walked to the Duke Kahanumoku statue for the start since it had been pouring all day on Saturday. As we sang the anthem and Hawaii Pono'i I started mentally preparing myself for the run. And that's when the heavens opened and dumped a ton of water on us (the news said that 4 inches of rain fell on Oahu today). As I shivered waiting for the race to start I tried not to psych myself out. You see, I don't run in rain. I hate rain. I am always cold and I just don't like it. Yet here I was in the middle of nowhere, 6am, totally dark, wearing a tiny little tank and skirt, freezing cold and about to start a 13.1 mile race. NOT GOOD!
As the race started we took off and the rain only fell harder and harder. As we got into Waikiki the roads were absolutely flooded and the rivers of rain and water falls were pouring into the street making puddles unavoidable. My shoes were soaked and every step made a squishing noise as my foot forced water out of my shoe only to be filled by more water falling from the sky and seeping in from the sky. I could not get warm and was running with my arms wrapped around my body to try and stop from shivering. I tried not to think and instead just focussed ahead, willing myself to keep running. At about mile 3 when we got to the Kaakako area the rain let up and my body began to warm up. I continued to focus on not stepping in puddles and willing myself to go forward. At about this time we began seeing members of the Chase coming around the bend. It was pretty awesome to see the elite runners plugging ahead and I cheered for them. After another mile we saw the elite chasers and as always it was awesome to see how gracefully they ran. There motion was so fluid and effortless as they sped past me at a 5 minute mile pace.
After we made the turn and headed back toward Ala Moana I glanced at my watch and saw that I was running at about a 9:45 minute pace on average and a 9:20 at the current mile. I told myself to hold it at this pace and I'd be okay. It was here that I started feeling the effects of the cold. My legs felt extremely stiff and tight, however, not necessarily fatigued. I wasn't sure how the rest of the race would play out, especially with Diamond Head looming at miles 9-13.
With the rain as a distraction the time seemed to go much faster than normal long runs. Before I knew it I was heading to "home court" and Monserrat Avenue. I knew that running it last week and all the hill work I had been doing would be a good advantage for me and I told myself to run strong. Monserrat is a gradual incline that kills and I told myself to just keep my legs moving. Glancing at my watch I saw that I had my overall pace down to 9:40 and I told myself that I had a chance to PR if I kept strong.
Up Monserrat I tried to pass as many people as possible. In my head I imagined I was famous bicyclist "Perico" who is known for being strong on hills. I willed myself to be him and ran strong and hard up the back side of Diamond Head. When I finally reached the top and the down slope I reminded myself that this is where I could pick up some pace and I tried to run strong.
At the 2nd Diamond Head hill I geared up and got ready to run up hard. By this time my legs felt warm and I knew I could get a good time if I picked up the pace. I took my last Chomp, downed a GU gel and put it into high gear. I passed many people up the hill and ran it the strongest I have ever run it. At the top I looked at my Garmin and knew it was going to be close. I decided to leave it all the road and ran strong strong strong.
Coming down the stretch I still had my legs and my lungs and so I kicked it at the end and ran in to see that I had a new PR. My official time was 2:04:50, a mere 20 seconds from my last Half Marathon in November. Not a great PR, but in the advserse conditions I was happy to finish the race strong.
After the race I had some malasadas and shaved ice and had fun with friends. Before heading home we had pho to warm up.
All in all it was great race with our friends and I learned that I can indeed run in the rain. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment