The 1995 Hawaii Marathon
1995:
The 1995 December Honolulu marathon began with Lorna, Ester Poor and me near the start. We were all together and waiting for a break in traffic. I was somewhat behind because a pushy lady scooted in front of me. I knew I wouldn't be able to catch up before the race began in 4 minutes and so I edged my way out of line and headed for the starting line. I arrived there ready to go, just before the gun went off at 5:30 am. It was an impressive start with fireworks, comments from the Master of Ceremonies on the sound system and lots of excitement. Everything went fine during the first 10K. It was a slow start, but the weather was hot about 88F and 80% humitity. I was feeling OK. The second 10K was cut at just 2:15 hours, still good. Then I started to feel my leg muscles, the ones in front. I passed the half-marathon at 2:34, but shortly after that at 15 miles a wall went up like a black curtain...I had to walk. I ran out of energy at the Hawaii Kai area on the way to Diamond Head. The sun was still behind the clouds. I had run without a shirt or hat and was draining water from every pore in my body. Meanwhile, these were some things that caught my attention. The worst moment came when I was rounding a corner and going on a sidewalk down the first hill. A little Japanese man in bright fluorescent green began running downhill full speed just as I was stepping off the curb in his path. He hit the brakes and his running shoes sounded like screeching tires. The funniest thing was going up to the first camera with some military and Hawaiian men all walking and one said to the camera man on a stand above the road "make look run?" The man replied "cannot do, you walking!" The most moving event was going past a lady about 85 years old who held out her hand and we slapped 'softly' as I went by.
The last half of the run/walk was OK. I hit 20 miles at 4:00 hours straight up and thought with only 6 miles left, one 10K, it was easy money---I thought! It took me 2 more hours, but I had overall no injuries, no problems and generally a good run. I was very sweaty and glad it was shady almost all the way to Diamond Head. At the start I ate an energy bar and was so sweaty in the first half mile I took off my hat and shirt until Diamond Head, when the sun came out. Lorna and I think it's the last Honolulu Marathon---too many people. One more thing, at the end I was tired, really tired. Lorna did a good run at 4:45 and just like last year, I was an hour behind and then some. My time was just under 6:00 hours this year; last year it was 6:24. (North Shore Hawaii, December 1995)
I did finish!
Just at the finish line. Time = 6:00 hours | Distance = 26.2 miles
To leave here........