Merry Xmas!

This morning, after opening our presents, Clay and I went on our first run since the marathon. Even though it was biting cold and pouring today, it felt good to again stretch our legs and get our fill of fresh air.

It took me over a week but I finally updated the running blog. IT WAS GREAT. Our time wasn't what we had hoped, but we did survive, finishing in 5:56:54 (chip time).

Looking ahead, I encourage anyone to take a similar journey..."from the couch to the finish line." I have only positive things to say about the LLS's Team-In-Training experience. They are organized, cheerfully positive and remind us all of how fortunate we are, what real struggle is and how powerful we can be in the face of life's challenges. So, if you are contemplating your 2009 resolutions, consider challenging yourself with TNT.

Wishing all the health and happiness in the new year,
kimi

Post-Race Days

After crossing the finish line, we walked right under a set of piped showers fully clothed. The perceived heat was intense. Our clothes and even shoes waterlogged, we walked through Kapiolani Park to gather our finishers T-shirts and snacks at the TNT tent.

TNT provided the same plush shuttle buses back to the hotel where we loaded up two huge plastic bags with ice from the hotel ice machine. After taking a hot shower, we sat for 10 long minutes in tub of i-c-e then proceeded down to the pool for an afternoon in the sun.

Many of the hotel patrons were also race finishers, boasting proud finishers shirts and hats.
That afternoon Charlaine, Clay's sister flew in for Christmas at home, and we all had a 'victory' dinner together. Needless to say we called it a night early, but after 18 hours we were pooped.

Auntie Kay and Uncle Walter, and Auntie Fay and Auntie Vicky took us to brunch the next morning at Wailana Coffee House, right across the street from the Hilton Hawaiian.
This day proved to be the most beautiful and our legs the most sore. We made time to lounge by the pool for most of the day until heading to Kailua to spend the night at Clay's parents house.
Sadly, our whirlwind trip was already coming to an end. We left the next afternoon after an early lunch at Helena's with some of Clay's friends. My Auntie Amy and her 'nephew' (?) were in town from Kauai visiting, too.
Its a shame we couldn't stay longer, but seemingly did so much while we were there. Neither of us can wait until the next time...!

Race Day

It's hard to imagine what running beside 20,000 people feels like until you are literally IN a sea of runners, the size of a small city. Maybe it was the fact that this was our first marathon, not just a half marathon, that the enormity of it all seemed more profound, or that Honolulu 'felt' smaller than San Francisco. Either way, our bodies and will power were tested and pushed to the limits on this rainy Sunday as we overcame challenges large and small.

The 26-mile extravaganza had 20,302 people who started the race this year. And 20,058 of them finished. 60% of the participants were from Japan. A little more than an hour into the race along the midpoint at mile 14, a group of elite runners flew by on a whisper, barely making a sound as their shoes slapped the slick pavement.
Few supporters were out at that hour, and an army of volunteers waited with cups and sponges and medical supplies, while the rain pelted.

The top five male runners finished the marathon in under 2 hours and 30 minutes during the 26th annual event. Patrick Ivuti, of Kenya, finished first at 2:14:35.

The first female runner to finish was Kiyoko Shimahara, of Tokyo, at 2:32:36.

But the Honolulu Marathon, also known as the people's marathon, is not just about the elite runners. It's also about regular folks on personal quests.

Like Gladys Burrill, 90, a great-grandmother. She was on a record pace for her 90-94 age group through 24 miles, but became ill. Medical personnel advised her not to finish but when she felt better she went to the finish line to greet friends, family members and congratulate finishers. She dedicated her race to her husband of 69 years, who died just three days ago.

Or Darlene Heck, 70, of Haleiwa. She was aiming for a 6 hour finish and ran on pace with Clay and I probably the first 4 miles or so. During that time, we learned that she had successfully completed 18 previous marathons and had survived leukemia just a few years back. This was her second time training with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team-In-Training group and surprised even herself by raising over six thousand dollars for cancer research and patient services. Needless to say, Clay and I were blown away by her spirit and determination. She was truly an inspiration.

This people's marathon is one of the few in the country that does not close the course until every runner who is willing and able finishes the course. That means 90-year-old Gladys could have taken 16 hours if she needed it to finish and they would have let her. By comparison, in San Francisco, they close the course after 6 hours.

The start got off with a bang. Literally. A fireworks show and a the shot of Howitzer signified the official 'gun time' start. Clay and I were so far back in the crowd, we took 15 additional minutes to cross the start line after the gun went off. And, it was raining...which actually was a good thing.

It keep the race cool until around 8am when the clouds started to part....

As we were schlepping up Diamond Head around Mile 8, Patrick Ivuti, the first place finisher was blowing down the hill at 2:06:15 minutes on his Mile 24+.

All along the race course, supporters with bullhorns, signs, whistles and clackers spurred on the runners. Even when the rain pelted down they did so from under slickers and umbrellas. As the sun came out, their numbers grew.

Along the way, scores of characters could be seen traversing the course.

Couple other personal favorites that I couldn't get captured on camera were: 1) the guy doing the marathon in wooden japanese clogs or 'getta', 2) a guy doing the marathon barefoot, 3) a full guy in full leopard bodysuit including a lucha libra style full head mask and a j-pop blaring backpack, and 4) a guy in a full body chicken suit with not 1, but 2 heads.

At Mile 15, Clay's long time friend Joe Monoco, met up with us and ran the Hawai'i Kai loop. Words of encouragement can be a powerful thing. And, Joe pumped us up with the right dose of kudos to keep us going.

At Mile 18, Joe's brother Kamu Monoco, joined us to run with us to the finish. We passed two bands along the route including this one just before Mile 22.

Clay's parents waited patiently as thousands passed at Mile 22. They arrived at 7:45am, a good 2.5+ hours BEFORE we came through with Kamu.

The last set of baby hills before the finish proved to be real challenges. Though the were hardly speed bumps compared to SF's hilly landscape, they were tough after the previous 24 miles. At the finish line at Kapi'olani Park, runners raised their arms over their heads as they crossed the finish line. Some had smiles. Some grimaces. And some even cried. Hideki Okajima of Boston Red Sox fame, pumps a peace sign upon his finish of 6:08 (gun time).Clay and I proudly finished together. Yes, hands raised to celebrate a triumphant moment.

Officially, our stats were as follows:
Clayton Katsuyoshi
Gun time: 6:12:09
Pace time (start to finish): 5:56:54
Category: Men's 30-34
Category Place: 791/1197 (66%)
Gender Place: 6742/10624 (63%)
Split 10k: 1:13:26
Split 21.1K: 2:59:10
Split 30K: 4:06:35
Split 40K: 5:34:48

Kimiko Nishikawa
Gun time: 6:12:09
Pace time (start to finish): 5:56:54
Category: Women's 30-34
Category Place: 820/1719 (47%)
Gender Place: 4285/9665 (44%)
Split 10k: 1:13:26
Split 21.1K: 2:59:10
Split 30K: 4:06:35
Split 40K: 5:34:48

Pre-Race Days

Friday, Dec 12

6:30am Wake up
7:30am Arrive @ SFO
9:05am Fly from SFO to HNL
1:10pm Land and take plush shuttle coach to Hilton Hawaiian Village3:00pm Get settled in our 28th floor Tapa Tower hotel room
3:30pm Go for a short, 30-minute run to loosen the legs and test feel of the humidity
5:00pm After showering, walk to Hawaii Convention Center to check out the expo and get our race bibs
6:00pm Walk to Ala Moana Shopping center and have dinner
7:00pm Back in the hotel room for a movie and bed!

Saturday, Dec 13
9:00am Meet the team for a group pep talk
11:00am Meet the Youngs and Clay's parents for dim sum at Legends...yum!
1:00pm Run errands...drop off post-race clothes at Kapiolani Park, drop off extra gel packets and gatorade with the Kamu for him to meet us along the race route with goods in hand
3:30pm Back in hotel to rest (literally the view from the window that afternoon)
5:00pm Meet entire LLS TNT runners, staff and honoree for Pasta Party
7:00pm Done...and back to room for clothes layout, a movie and rest
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate................

Sunday, Dec 14
3:30a Wake up and eat Oatmeal for breakfast
4:15am Meet team downstairs and walk to race start
5:00am Fireworks and race start!!!

13 days to go: Taper and Detox

To all those who have listened to me blab, donated to the cause or just read my updates from afar, the time in near. Honolulu Marathon is in just 13 days away, on Sunday, December 14th.

At the last water stop of my 17-mile long run, we were struggling. Mentally we had miscalculated and thought we were closer to the finish than we were. All we wanted to hear was that the finish was just around the corner and close by. When we asked the volunteers how much further we had to go, they replied "TNT never tells you how far you have to go, but will always tell you how far you've come." It's a simple thought, but really meaningful, especially if put into the perspective of someone fighting a disease (or in my case, training for a marathon).

How far I've come:

• 4 months of build-up towards this event
  
• successful completion of Nike Women's Half Marathon (13.1 miles in 2:37:35)
  
• 200+ miles of training (buddy runs, track runs, mentor runs and group long runs)
• $5500 RAISED FOR PATIENT SERVICES AND CANCER RESEARCH!

Come race day, I will have armed myself with as many tools for success as possible.

It is my sincere hope that if any of us or our loved ones must step up and fight the fight against cancer, we too will be armed with all the medicine, treatment and services to help us WIN that fight.

Together, WE have made a difference. YOU have listened, read, donated and/or encouraged me in my training. Thank you.

Aloha,
Kimi