Tried to eat and drink on the way to the starting line, but couldn't. I guess it was nerves. I managed to force some down. Wow, there's a lot of Japanese people here. I find a good spot in the masses, and sit down, resting the legs. Maggie snaps a couple pics, and she's out of there. Just me and 23,000 other runners. Man, there's a lot of Japanese people.
The race starts with a bang. Literally. Fireworks for a few minutes as we cross the starting line and activate our chips.
It's a packed house for the first 3 miles, as we run through downtown Honolulu. It's still dark out, so not much to see, except the huge Santa/Christmas display complete with christmas lights and all.
Kind of weird to see Santa in Hawaii. Doesn't quite compute. The course winds back around to the starting area, and it starts to thin out. Oh wait, I have to desperately go to the bathroom. I guess all those bananas didn't help. Quickly find a porta-potty, and do my business, then back out. I tell ya. I've run 2 half marathons, and 2 full marathons, and each time, I've had to stop within the first 6 miles to do my business. I gotta fix whatever it is that I'm doing wrong.


Damn, the field has thickened a bit. Gotta make up some time. I'm already down a few minutes. Run run run. pretty standard stuff. It's actually kind of cool for the first half. You know, no sun yet. Mile 6, and I'm just about at 1:00:00. Damn, I'm really slow. But this is the first time I can actually figure out my pace (I either missed the other mile markers, or was in traffic, or was in the bathroom). Mile 7. Perfect 8:45 pace. Okay, so I found my pace. Just gotta go now. Up Diamond Head, which is a slight incline, and narrows to a single lane, which makes it tough to stretch out and keep a good pace going. I jump out onto the dirt shoulder, trying to clear some room, and get a move on. Crest the top and down the other side, and that sun is poking it's head. Still not too hot though. Run run run. Pretty standard stuff.
t around mile 10, there was a stereo blasting music. 867-530 Niiiieeeeiiiiine. Okay. Interesting selection. I'll go with it.
Here come the elite runners. Already on their way back. Unreal.
Get to 13 miles, and am feeling pretty good, pace has slowed, but I think I can keep a reasonable pace for a while longer. There was a band playing some Tom Petty tune. Now, normally I really dislike Tom Petty music, but I guess when you're in the middle of a marathon, anything that can take your mind off of running is glorious. And so for about 20 seconds, I found myself singing some Petty lyrics, and running in time with the beat. Touche, Tom Petty.
Then that sun hits (and probably some fatigue). Damn. It is hot. I decide I need to not just run through the water stations, gulping down small bits of water, but that I need to stop and walk while I drink, and take in all the fluids. And get a cold sponge to cool me off. Wow, I really needed a lot of water. Good thing I stopped. Okay, rejuvenated a bit. Run run run.
And so get this. There's a few cops on motorcycles trying to slowly follow the crowd on the other side of the street. Simple enough, but the other side of the street has runners coming back the other way, so they're creeping along on the thin sidewalk. That is, until a fire hydrant pops up out of nowhere on the sidewalk, sending one of the cops off his bike into oncoming foot traffic.
Legs aren't feeling so hot. We're just about turned around on our way back, so the sun is at my back. I can't tell which is worse: running into the sun, or having it at your back. Either way, it's hot. Can't really get a good deep breath. I'm not sucking wind, but my chest, shoulders and diaphragm are all tightening up. Something I've never really experienced while running. Weird. Run run run.
Mile 16ish. Pass the stereo that we passed at Mile 10. Finally, some music to get me going again. 867-530 Niiiieeeeiiiiine. Oh, come on! The same song! I'm hoping that I just happened to hit the playlist when it looped and that there were other songs playing. If not, I really have to question the single song selection. Why that song? Is it to screw with people who are trying to do simple math in their heads about mileage, pacing, timing, etc? If so, well done you diabolical person.
There's a Japanese kid with a small stereo on his backpack, playing this goofy Japana-Pop music. Sort of like MIDI mixed with techno. Weird. And on top of the music, every once in a while, the voice of a young girl says something in Japanese. Very odd. They aren't even full songs, or song lyrics. It just seems like small sound clips from familiar songs played at a faster speed, playing over and over and over again. And mind you, this is all in that funky MIDI/techno format. Oh well, takes my mind off of running. Soon at Mile 20, and it's hotter and the legs are getting heavier. Stopping won't work...there's no starting back up once you stop to walk. So just gotta truck along. More water, gatorade and sponges. Rejuvenated for the time being. Run run run.
Mile 23, and some kind folks (read: college kids) are handing out beer from their keg. Don't mind if I do. Beer is good in the short haul. Cold, liquid, carbs, and loosens you up. Just don't drink so much that you get tipsy and dehydrated.
Mile 24ish, and some kind folks (read: old people) are handing out hard candy. And not just any old hard candy. Those strawberry things with the goo in the center, and a root beer barrel! Oh, my. I hit the hard candy jackpot. Good for that sugar burst you need to get through to the end. Just one last incline up Diamond Head, and it's smooth sailing from there.
Run run run. Finish line is in sight. Just gotta get there. Legs are picking up a bit. and it's a good finish. But damn, very very very much slower than you wanted to run.
4:40:36. Not so great. Really need to pick up the training for next time, and also not get injured and take off a month.
Time to celebrate with a beer and some Jack in the Box (what else??). Rest the legs, rest the head. Watch the Eagles beat the Giants, and we're all good.
Head out to a bar for some quick dinner and some beers to put me into a super-tired state, and we're good.
Not a bad day. Ran 26.2 miles. Feels like so long ago.
4:40:36. Not so great. Really need to pick up the training for next time, and also not get injured and take off a month.
Time to celebrate with a beer and some Jack in the Box (what else??). Rest the legs, rest the head. Watch the Eagles beat the Giants, and we're all good.
Head out to a bar for some quick dinner and some beers to put me into a super-tired state, and we're good.
Not a bad day. Ran 26.2 miles. Feels like so long ago.
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