The long awaited marathon update

Many of you were checking my blog hours after the marathon, disappointed that an update had not been posted. Due to exhaustion and the last week of school before break there just hasn't been much time to blog. So I sit in an airplane writing... catching up... hoping that I can post these soon.

So here is the long awaited update.... flew to Oahu Saturday morning, ran some errands in Mililani, did some Christmas shopping... headed to town around lunch time but due to a water main break in front of Ala Moana (where the race was to start) what normally takes 15 minutes took an hour and a half. Then parking at Ala Moana took another 45 minutes due to the holiday traffic and 35,000 extra people being in the area for the marathon. Walked to the convention center to pick up my packet for the race, then walked to Ala Moana Hotel to check in, then walked to the mall to pick up a few items and grab dinner... by the time I walked into my hotel room, I felt like I had already run the marathon.

Was in bed by 7:30pm with hopes of a good night sleep. However I slept for an hour or so and woke up feeling very anxious of the race that awaited me. Spent some time praying and writing out verses but between the excitement, anxiety, and my brain questioning my sanity for even signing up for this... I think I finally fell asleep at 2:30 only to get up at 3:30 to get ready and check out of the hotel in time to get ready to start the race at 5am!

Thousands of people from all over the world crowded in front of Ala Moana Beach Park divided up by their finishing times. My goal was to finish by noon (7 hours) so I lined up a little ahead of that thinking that if there are people around me with the same mindset, I will push myself to go faster. Anyway, crossing the starting line took about 15minutes due to the number of people in front of me and the fact that the signal for the start of the race was fireworks which the Japenese participants wanted to stop and take pictures. Once some of the crowd cleared the pace picked up and I settled into a comfortable pace that I could hold... jogging/walking. About mile 3 I started regretting drinking anything before the race... debated stopping at the Jack in the Box on the course but when I saw the line there was no way. After looping around by Aloha Tower and Chinatown through the Christmas lights of Honolulu Hale we came back by Ala Moana Beach Park where port-a-potties were set up. Ended up waiting at each bathroom stop 15-20minutes. Oh well... when you gotta go... you gotta go.

The morning started off rather chilly... 68 degrees... and windy. The rain did hold off until I got up to Hawaii Kai and it was pouring sideways. By the time I got back to Diamond Head it was blazing hot.

On the way through Waikiki headed to Diamond Head, I had been moving for 2 hours and up ahead I noticed runners coming toward me that were headed to the finish line... the first male finisher came in at 2 hours 15 minutes and the first woman came in at 2 hours 30minutes... 26.2 miles in 2 hours!!! CRAZINESS!!! Oh well! My goal was not to come in first … just to finish! I made it my goal to cheer on the other participants as they past. This became contagious with the people around me so any time a runner came running towards us we would start clapping and cheering. I have to say I was blessed that some of those same people that finished in 2 and 3 hours were waiting near the finish line cheering for the rest of us. The commradery of being a marathoner brought each of us together no matter what our time! Despite a cramping foot and sore knees, I tried to keep a smile on my face and enjoy the beauty of running in Hawaii. Truly the best place to run a marathon... especially in December!

Came down the hill from Diamond Head making my way to Kapiolani Park and the finish line. At this point I am just wanting to sit and not get up for awhile but I know that if I sit there will be no getting up! So at each water stop I grab an ice water soaked sponge and attach it to my knee and keep going. At the 26 mile mark... I look up to see the finish line .2 miles away thinking it seems to be getting further away... finally crossed the line at 8hours11minutes.... considering a couple of minor injuries and 4 pit stops each taking 15-20 minutes.... I FINISHED A MARATHON!!!!

I walked another 26 miles (or maybe it just felt like it!) to find my finisher t-shirt and medal... then I collapsed on the grass to enjoy some time off of my feet! At this point I took off my shoes only to realize that both of my pinky toes were solid blisters. My feet were not real happy about being stuck back in shoes in order to make my way back to Ala Moana.  Caught a cab back to Ala Moana hotel where I picked up my car... then headed back to the airport. 

Had several conversations with other marathon finishers throughout the afternoon that made me realize how much fun doing something like this truly is!!!