14 Sundays to Honolulu (and a Writing Tip!)

Aloha,

Ten years ago I made myself a promise.

I was going to run a marathon a year for ten years starting with 2001 Honolulu Marathon.

This is the second week of a series that follows my journey that ends with the 2012 Honolulu Marathon.

I’m planning to also tie the marathons with my writing, but I can’t think of any comparisons…

(OK, I can, but I'm spreading the wealth... there’s fourteen weeks left and I’ve only done nine marathons, so I’ve got six "extra" weeks  J)

Weekly Training Status Update:

This Week’s Current Weight: 207

Last Week’s Previous Weight: 211

Existing Excuse For Weight Gain: (HA! None needed.)

Miles scheduled: 9

Miles ran: 6

Current Conclusion: I suck

How did I get started was a popular question and it’s all because I wanted to shake up my then-yucky life.

I had a friend called Dennis who died of AIDS in the late 1990’s, so when I researched the various charities who would help volunteers run, I decided to run (raise money) for a Los Angeles-based AIDS research group.

When the hundreds of us met for orientation, we were all asked to run three miles at our own pace. This I did, and found myself in a group of about twelve people from all different backgrounds and ages.

We met as strangers, but as time ran by, we became friends and all but one went on to finish the Honolulu Marathon of 2001.

Me.

As mentioned last week, I nearly popped my Achilles tendon and was forced to quit the training, but I did raise the required money for the group, so the main goal was achieved.

Oh... one other, small thing happened after I hurt myself and bailed out of the marathon, but continued running with the group. (I needed to figure out if I wanted to complete a marathon…)

One of our gang, Tracy, invited one of her friends for our Saturday group run.

This friend, Sylvia, ran with us for only three sessions. On the last Saturday, she asked if I wanted to go on a blind date with one of her friends (who liked Irish accents…)

Why not, sounds like fun, and it’s only a blind date, right?

 Sure J

The blind date in Long Beach, Calif., turned into courtship and nearly eleven years later, my wife and I are married more than eight years… and what happened to Sylvia?



Happily married herself, she was the U.S. Army doctor in charge of discharging our third son after he was born here in Honolulu.



Yo, Papa... Your head is so shiny, I need shades!

 



Next Week: Marathon #1: San Diego, 2002

15 Sundays to Honolulu

Aloha,

 Eleven years ago I made myself a promise.

I was going to run a marathon a year for ten years starting with Honolulu Marathon of 2001.

I was running with the gang of amateurs – and I fit in quite nicely.

I always ran on Tuesdays, and on the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, I was so angry that I ran and ran even after my Achilles tendon nearly popped.

Unable to walk for six weeks and not much caring about a “stupid race,” I put my goal on hold until the following year.

I ran my first marathon in 2002, and this December, I will finally run in the Honolulu Marathon – and reach my goal of “Ten in Ten.”

http://www.honolulumarathon.org/?s=home

For the next fifteen Mondays, I’ll be posting something related to my “training” and the adventures behind my first nine marathons.

(I ran one once without a lick of training, ‘cos I wanted to see what would happen…)

Please don’t think this is going to be all serious and dry, and full of nutritional tips, ‘cos it won’t be, I promise.

(Although drinking warm beer served at Mile Marker 18 at Disney World’s race did fill me up.)

I’m not all about beating personal times – my only goal is making the finish line before the cleanup trucks catch up with me!

Next Monday: How a random blind date during a group run ended in marriage (!!!) and how the person who set us up in Long Beach became our Discharge Doctor for No. 3 Son here in Hawaii J

 

PS... If anyone will be running in Honolulu... let me know!!!

We can be TEAM BLOGISFEAR      :)