Hawaiian Kahuna (Priest)
Up early – really early for state #48. 5am marathon start meant I’d be running with a headlamp for almost 2 hours ‘til sunrise. Whereas most runners caught a 3:45am bus from Lahaina, I walked a short ¼ mile to the Start Line [awesome condo location in Wailea 🙂 ]
Congregating in a large parking lot, more than a thousand chatty runners lined up on Wailea Alanui. 12 people used this race to complete their 50 states – Hawaii is where most folks end the Quest. Listening to native music, we chanted lyrics back to a Hawaiian Kahuna (Priest) while awaiting last minute race instructions.
Had never raced wearing a headlamp previously; luckily, no issue – easy to adjust. Why such an early start? Most of us Mainlanders were expected to melt once the sun rose. 80 degrees isn’t crazy hot in July/August, but acclimating to the 60-degree temp differential (vs Colorado) is a struggle in only 2 days.
Ran at a fast clip first 8 miles, pacing a sub 1:50 half. Goal: get in as many miles as possible before morning heat kicks in & I sizzle. Darkness gave away to pre-dawn dusk at mile 10; turned off my headlamp a mile later. Race highlight – saw a whale breach between mile 12 & 13. Not from a ship, not on a whaling cruise – turned my head left & watched this whale break the surface while running, not once but twice. WOW, WOW, WOW!
Sun consistently streamed from mile 16 – temp now increased 4 degrees every 30 minutes…felt like a slow-cooking lobster. As I baked, folks starting passing in waves. My friend Stephen met up at miles 17, 21 & 23 – provided water & orange slices. Thanks!
Entered Lahaina city limits; dropped off Honoapi’ilani Highway, veered left on Prison & felt a late burst of energy. Increasing pace on Front Street (town’s main drag), saw the Finish. Heard another runner coming up fast behind. Instinctively [after 26 miles] switched gears – enough gas in the tank to outsprint the half marathoner by a length. Pumping hard at the end made for an awesome finish pic – American flag & palm tree backdrop, everything you’d hope & expect from Hawaii.
Stumbled forward & soaked under a nearby mister. Whatta life experience!
Maui Oceanfront Marathon (MOM 2016 Results) »
Lahaina, HI, Jan 17, 2016 K R HAGA LOUISVILLE, CO 4:47:27
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- Kahului Airport greetings
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- sunrise just past mile 11
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- Ma’alaea Bay
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- mile 12 whale breach – WOW!
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- American flag & palm trees — FAAANNNTASTIC!
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- STRONG!
Recouped on Maui’s Big Beach – ocean breeze & zzz’s, just what the doctor ordered.
Call it a day? Heck no. Caught the end of the Broncos-Steelers game, changed clothes & returned to Lahaina for a sunset dinner cruise (special event for MOM marathon/half marathoners & guests). Watched the sun sink slowly into the vast Pacific, most memorable sunset of my vacation. Mahalo, Hawaii for a 2nd amazing day.
“Mahalo” is a Hawaiian word meaning thanks, gratitude, admiration, praise, esteem, regards, or respects.
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- ocean breeze & zzz’s — swimming restricted, check out those waves
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- special event for MOM marathon/half marathoners
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- Mahalo, Hawaii for a 2nd amazing day
Backpack & running bag stuffed. Gone for almost a week but packed light – shorts & swim trunks, heading to Hawaii. Marathoning & a volcano hike top my itinerary – crazy excited!
DIA monitors decked in ‘Bronco Orange & Blue’ – classy, Denver…NFL home team support.
Direct flight, yes. 8 hour flight, ouch…that’s a loooooong time to sit.
Sleep? Read? Heck no. Watched ‘Alien Sharks’ as we flew over the Pacific – no land past California, only ocean for 5 consecutive hours. Tried to keep my mind alert…the more it wandered, the more I thought of downed flights over large bodies of water. Must be an old-person thing…never remember being worried years ago when I lived in Russia & traveled trans-Atlantic quarterly for work. LOL>
Landed in Maui – no issues, greeted with palm trees & humidity…in January. FAAANNNTASTIC!
Car rental pick-up, condo check-in followed 45 minutes later in Wailea. Opted for a non-hotel stay in Maui – liked the option of having a kitchen available for meals. Highly recommended.
Quick belly fill in nearby Kihei; shut-eye came quickly.
Woke early Saturday to sunshine, bird calls & tropical coloured flowers – Aloha, Hawaii! Unpacked my Newtons & a pair of shorts, stepped outside – ready for my first island run. Plan A: don’t get lost. Ran south to Makena, where all man-made roads eventually dead-end in La Perouse Bay. Lotta resorts, lotta golf courses, lotta money.
Morning sight-seeing goal: the Ocean.
Wailea Alanui to Makena Road, south on Makena Alanui, then back on Makena Road. Hilly run along ancient lava fields. Heat kicked up just past Big Beach in Makena State Park. Got caught up in the scenery; forgot about Sunday’s marathon. What taper, huh? 10.2 miles is a lotta steps, day before a full marathon – yikes! #onlyliveonce
Shower, $150 Foodland spend, late breakfast of fried eggs & POG (Hawaiian juice addiction), then a shoreline drive north to Lahaina – for bib pick-up & a proper sit-down lunch. Hula pie at Kimo’s did not disappoint 🙂
Afternoon plans: kickin’ back, napping on the sand & beach time – then caught the Cardinals-Packers overtime finish.
Food, fun & football – good Day One. 5am start tomorrow, marathoning state #48.
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- 8 hours ’til my Hawaiian adventure begins!
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- January morning run: 10.2 miles of oceanview
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- Double Canoe Hokule’a
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- lunch in Lahaina Harbor
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- Kimo’s infamous Hula Pie
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- kickin’ back/napping & beach time
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- Puamana Beach, off Honoapi’ilani Highway
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- food, fun & football – good Day One
Island FM KHEI 107.5
Flight booked — this is really happening. Super excited!
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Fri, 15 JAN16 UA1736 DENVER, CO (DEN) 11:45 AM MAUI, HI (OGG) 3:50 PM
9 more 2015 marathons — busy Fall season — then only 3 states left next year: Hawaii in Jan, Illinois in April & Steamboat Springs CO in June…and I’m a full-fledged 50 Stater!
