I asked a bunch of my running peeps including my hubby to run with me but I got no takers. I was a little nervous but determined to do the race. About a month before the race I found a brave soul to run with me and was grateful and a little nervous. My running partner J is way younger than me, totally fit, super fast, and ultra competitive. I was so worried about keeping up with her!!!
J and I trained a bit together and were pretty well-prepared. We talked about goals and her's were a little lofty for me but I knew that she'd push me a new PR. So very exciting!!!
Race weekend came faster than I would have liked but I knew I was as ready as I would ever be and I was eager to get it done so I could take a break from training mode. I went through all my routines like getting my outfit together, eating my same meal at Bravos, and the like. I got in bed at 9am and the next thing I knew the alarm was going off!!
Hubby aka biggest supporter drove me out to the North Shore and we arrived at the pitch black park nice and early. The race started at Kaiakea Beach Park and it was so calming compared to the craziness of the 20,000 of the Honolulu Marathon with all its pomp and circumstance. No gun sounded off but when the crowd began to move I turned on my little flash light and got going.
The first part of the race is 1.5 laps around Haleiwa Town. It was dark, quiet and peaceful. J took off at a quick pace and I stayed as close to her as I could. By the 2nd lap I decided to hold a slower pace and ran at about a 9:30 mile. As we ran out of Haleiwa and out toward Waialua I was feeling pretty good and able to stay on pace. My goal for the entire marathon was to stay under 10:17 pace so that I could hit a 4:30 time. So far, so good.
At Waialua we had to take the street before the Highschool and run up a hill through residential. Not what I was expecting but it was nice to see the beautiful plantation homes, one even with a cute old dog lounging outside the with no leash, no gate. It totally reinforced my love for the little old town and made the hill work go by easily.
The next portion of the race was just Farrington Highway with nothing much to look at. Just miles of road and a few homes on large lots. A dream of mine is to live out there like that some day and it was nice to be able to see the houses in slow motion as opposed to flying by them in the car. At this point I was having a lot of conversations with myself in my head. Just me, myself, and the highway. Lucky for me I am slightly neurotic and have no problems talking to myself. My pace was at about a 9:45 by this point but I was feeling good about staying below 10:17.
The next few miles were tough but it was nice to see familiar areas that we'd drive past a lot as kids. I kept looking for landmarks that would let me know I was nearing the turn around at Ka'ena Point. Dillingham Lodge, the Polo Fields, Dillingham airfield and finally Camp Erdman. The end was near...but where? To be honest, I had never ever driven out all the way to Ka'ena Point! It's so far away that I have never ever gone out there. It was such a challenge to stay focused with myself to make it.
At about mile 16 an elderly man came up to me and wanted to talk story. If you know me, I don't enjoy talking while I run--at least not small talk and I couldn't figure out whether I was going to try and push ahead and ditch him or fall back. I didn't have the energy to ditch him so I was stuck running with him. At about mile 17 we ascended the hill and neared Ka'ena Point. This is when I saw J again and she was running strong. I was so proud of her!!! After going down the little hill I saw Ka'ena Point but was too distracted by all the damn mud that I couldn't take in the scenery (will have to go back). I did see that there were a lot of people fishing but that was about it. The mud was everywhere and my pink shoes were going to be thrashed!! awwww always the Fashionista, even when struggling at mile 18.
Mile 18 was the marker for major burn out for me during the Honolulu Marathon. It was the point that I wanted to cry and quit so I was surprised to see that I was mentally ok as I began heading back to the Finish Line. I knew that I was over half way done and had only single digits to go. With renewed vigor I pushed on.
At this point the rain was falling off and on but not so bad that it was unbearable. In fact it was welcomed as it kept me cool. I had been worried about the weather all week long. The vog had been bad all week causing breathing issues and humidity, then we had news of a possible thunder storm and flash flood. But the weather was cool, the air clean, and the rain gentle. I was sure the Marathon Gods were watching over me!!
Miles 18-22 went well. At mile 22 I began to feel aches and pains in my knees and I had to slow down a bit. I willed myself to keep my pace below an 11 minute mile so that my average pace would stay below 10:17, the magic number. A lot of mantras were shouted in my head reminders about how strong I was, how much I have trained, how much I wanted this. They kept me going.
At mile 24, the marathon gods once again gifted me, this in the form of a great laugh. An older man was sitting outside his house cheering everyone on and he shouted at me, "Come on little sister, you're doing great, your mom will be so proud of you!!!" It was refreshing and hilarious to know that at mile 24 I did not at all look my 40, almost 41 (in one month) years and the laugh propelled me forward.
As I passed Wailua High and Intermediate I could taste the end. Just a jaunt through Waialua and we'd be in Haleiwa! The police on Special Duty were awesome at this point, cheering us on and keeping me going. A look at my watch told me that if I could keep the 10 minute pace I would be rocking a new PR.
As I got into Haleiwa I poured it on. I asked myself how bad I wanted it and the answer was loud and clear. Time to burn, burn it. I passed many people in that last mile and as I neared the beach park entrance I went full throttle. Entering the park I could see the Finish Like. Looking at my watch I knew I was there. I ran as hard as I could and as I made the turn to the end line there was my family and friends. My hubby, J, Danni and Noah.
Danni yelled for me and I signalled for her to come run with me. She sprinted forward and I grabbed her hand. Together we sprinted through the chute and to a fantastic PR for mommy. It was one of the best and proudest moments of my 40 and 11 month old life.
This experience has taught me so much about myself. In 2013 I have run 5 races and I have set a new PR in each race. I have learned that hard work can get me to the goals that I want. I have learned that my body is becoming as strong as my mind. It is the most rewarding feeling ever.
I am also excited about the effects my running has had on my family. We're running our first family race in two weeks and we have been training together. Danni is a natural runner and has no problem. Noah who hates to run is asking to go on training runs. The kids have been asking about marathons and want to do one one day...the same way my dad's completed marathons inspired me to want to do one too.
Running has changed my life in a million ways and I am so thankful for all the gifts it has given to me and a new outlook on life.
Grateful running van mommy.
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