Honolulu Marathon

I wish I had the pic of George Brown and I as we finished the HM together 16 years ago Dec 1993. I was just down watching it, at 5 this morning Dec 13, 09, starting off with the fire works and the StarSpangedBanner!! As I looked for my friend, Dan, running his 30th, the feelings and memories of that morning long ago welled up inside. I couldn't believe myself that I did it and now all that's happening since. Where did all the years go??

George had done all of them since 1974 or so, so that made it his 19th or so. He had been asking me, then encouraging me as I started training back in Sept of that year. Our SpringerSpaniel got into the act and over the next 3 months I figured later that she&I covered the distance to Boston in our training practice; so we did our own Boston Marathon getting ready for the HM!! Why was I doing it?? I needed another reason rather than just to do it.

One day at the hospital a patient's mom said she had trouble taking her very sick boy to the ED; she had no car, no transportation. The idea went off in my questing head: raise money for her to buy a car. That was my mantra and my shirt saying: "I'm running for Linda's car"; on the back it said "Bury me at Punchbowl". Later after finishing we gave Linda a check for I believe, thinking back, about $1800. There was a write up in the Fayetteville paper.

George&I got to Honolulu 2-3 days before the Big 2nd Sunday, played some golf, got psyched up, me plying him for help tips. Then the time came, gathering down at Ala Moana Park about 430AM, the gathering dread/thrill, wandering if I could really do it--. There were at least 25,000 runners gathered. The Kenyans and other fastest marathoners were put up front. The fireworks went off and so did we, although it took about 6-8 minutes for the crowd and us to really start running. The first 7-8 miles went well, climbing up and around Diamond Head to a glorious sunrise; I was going to be fine. Right.

At Hawaii Kai, about mile 13, I hit the wall!! I had to stop; cramps set in; I thought I was done for; I was lying in someone's front yard; agony of agonies; George was very patient; he even massaged my cramping legs; gradually I got better; unbelievably I got up and started a say-shaying/shuffle-- I learned it from the Trukese (where Shirley&I lived in Micronesia). The next few miles were a blurr; I have memory now of the false finish line at the beginning of Kapiolani Park which was like a Jacob/Rachel thing where you have to work another 7 years to get your true love; 26 miles is a long way, but the other 0.2 miles to the finish is like another 100; the pure joy of finsihing is like no other--well I could mention something but not here--but finish I did and George was right there with me, sacrificing his usual time of 2 hr and 40 min to do my 6 hours and thirty some minutes. Receiving the clapping crowds, the shell lei, the medal, the shirt, remembering the sweaty smell, my own priceless sweat, lying under the huge umbrella banyan trees, just relishing not having to run any more, and that I was still alive!! Thank you, Jesus!!

I swore at the time that I would never do this again, but I did. Running is sorta like an addiction. I ran the 94 HM this time George doing his usual 2+hours; I cut my time by 30 minutes. Later in July of 95 I ran the Grandfather Mtn Marathon. I tried 2 more but my shoes gave out and I could never find another pair. It takes magic shoes. You also have to be a little driven and crazy.

George and I got together again in Dec 95, while I worked on the Big Island for a few months; this time I just did the Mayor's Walk 10K; George continued to do the HN until he broke his hip on ice about 2 years ago. I think he did 37-38 consecutive HNs!!! My running shorts and shoes are off to him for that and helping me achieve these memorable moments in my life!!!

Thanks, George!!!