2012 Honolulu Marathon

Carbed up the past few days. Forgot my HR strap in Hilo, but lucky Chris Gregory did some quick thinking and posted on Facebook for help. Steve Pavao brought it over on the next flight out and met up at the expo. Walked around all day yesterday at the expo, Ala Moana, then to watch 'Wicked' at Blaisdell. Probably walked close to 10 miles, well at least 8 because we were on our feet for about 6 hours. I guess that gave our feet confidence, all we did today was pick up the pace. Kept eating complex carbs all day with a bit of protein. Pizza and salad for dinner. Slept a solid 6 hours. Oatmeal for breakfast.

My goal was to break 4 hours. During training, I had a great 18 miler but anything longer and I felt like crap. 4 hours was a practical and manageable time.

There were SOO MANY PEOPLE! 31,089 participants lol! We walked past all the pace signs that read 6-7 hours, then 5-6, and so on. As we advanced closer to the start line, people even began appearing faster lol. Winona and I discussed advancing to the front. We got into the 2-3 territory and she wanted to back up a bit. The fireworks went off exactly at 5am, which reminded me to turn on my GPS haha. We were about 300' from the start line, but it took us 3:37 to get there, which was just enough time for my GPS watch to find satellites. My HR was 101 before I began running! It was just too damned exciting. The fireworks kept going for what seemed forever.

There were too many slow runners in the front. My plan was to run a 10ish pace for the first half mile then slow pick it up to keep my HR down. But my HR was in the high 150's already, and in the 160's at a 9 pace, so I figured WTF. I'll run as fast as I can in the 160's and maintain that. Seemed to work out. Electrolyte every 30 min, GU Roctane 5 min before and every 45 min. I sipped water from my little Hawaiian Springs 16 oz bottle that the hotel gave me. I held on to that little buddy for 11 miles. I actually felt kinda sad letting it go. I tossed it gently in some soft grass next to a trash bin in front of a nice house (You think that's funny? I laughed when I found out Winona kept hers the ENTIRE RACE and refilled it from paper cups while running!). Although I missed my friend and was thankful for nourishing me so far, I felt free and felt like I could pump my arms more. I picked up the pace for a bit while still trying to stay loose. It was around then when I looked around at the people around me and we were all going the same pace and cadence. They all looked like they were gonna maintain and I thought to myself, this is my group! We ran this far together and we'll pretty much be together the rest of run. I drew so much energy from them and all the participants.

The middle miles were a blur, but I felt great! Mile 17 was when I usually started feeling crappy, but that's because I would start out too fast. My calves began cramping up at mile 19, so I tried to loosen them up and quickly downed a Roctane and an extra electrolyte. This worked for a while but decided to slow it down to just under 9. In the meantime my hamstrings began to cramp. The hill at mile 25 was the worst. I pushed with my gluts, trying to save every other muscle and it seemed to work. My average pace was 10:27. Not sure which aid station it was, maybe the 24 mm, but I walked while downing 3 cups of gatorade and water. I lasted maybe just 3-5 seconds but it felt tough as nails to get started again. After the hill was a ridiculously steep downhill section. At least it felt like it after 25 miles haha! I tried to come down controlled but everything was aching. Finally I decided to let go and just go with it. I held a pace that kept the cramping right on the edge. When it flattened out I picked up the cadence and held on. Only 2km left with 15 minutes to go to break 4. Nice and easy, mashed potatoes...

Finally, the finish line came into sight and I had The Last Samurai film score on my ipod playing. Such a moving and motivational song. I begged my legs and ipod to just make it. And they did. Crossing that line felt so glorious. I never felt so accomplished finishing any race before. Everything went as planned with just a bit of cushion. My first official marathon!

Garmin results: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/250672378
Official results: http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=103633
Bib #4736 Finish time 3:51:42; 8:51 pace;
989th out of 31,089 participants;
M30-34: 111/1279;


I'm even more proud of my babes who destroyed her goal by over 15 minutes with a 4:12! 30th out of 865 in her division (F20-24)!