Never once to Hawaii, now twice in 2 years. Sis’ celebrating her big 5-0 Birthday this week AND running a 50K all-UPHILL ultra-marathon in our 50th state.
[Can’t believe you have a sister turning 50? Just smile & say: Nope I can’t believe it either. No need to share she’s my younger sister ❤]
Boarded a direct flight to Kona (United). 7 hour ride, 5 of it over the vast Pacific. Kept my shade shut & movie-binged. Caught up on the latest Planet of the Apes prequel – don’t be a hater. NOW we know why Nova couldn’t speak in the Charlton Heston version. LOL>
Open-air airport, no walls – just like Maui. Rental car pickup. B&B overnight in Kona. Palm trees, flowers – and chickens, crazy amount of chickens free-ranging in Hawaii. Tropical, temperate Hawaii. Sis might be planning ALL future family getaways.
Woke super early (time difference). Morning hill trek before Saturday’s 50K. Road climbed high above Kona, beautiful view of the ocean. Easy 2-mile run that got away from me. Garmin read 5.12 [miles] when I returned for fresh fruit & papaya pancakes. Paradise.
Late road start to Hilo for tomorrow’s 50K registration. Sis beat me there (retrieving lost luggage) & managed bib pick-up. Afternoon FREE, too early to check-in my bougie condo in Waikoloa – beach DAY. Detoured north: Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park.
80° & sunshine. HUGE turquoise waves lashed the Park’s volcanic-rock shore. Laid back in lush green grass & closed my eyes. Ocean breeze, surrounded by Palms, secret quiet paradise. Big Island drive home (digged on the Hawaiian names).
Laupāhoehoe ⇨ ʻŌʻōkala ⇨ Pa’Auilo ⇨ Honoka’a ⇨ Waimea ⇨ Waikoloa
Lunch in Waimea, dinner in Waikoloa, both with a pig theme. 500,000 wild hogs on the Big Island – I went with fish 🙂
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- Sis’ 5-0 destination BIRTHDAY
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- tropical CEMETERY run
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- secret quiet paradise
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- HUGE turquoise waves
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- ocean breeze, surrounded by Palm
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- Laupāhoehoe ⇨ ʻŌʻōkala ⇨ Pa’Auilo ⇨ Honoka’a ⇨ Waimea ⇨ Waikoloa
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- 500,000 wild hogs on the Big Island
Laupāhoehoe Point
Hawaii’s feral pigs have history in their genes
“It has always been believed that the pigs were likely brought by famed explorer James Cook when he discovered the islands around 1778,” says Anna Linderholm, assistant professor of anthropology at Texas A&M University.
“He almost certainly brought pigs, chickens, and other animals with him. But our findings show that the wild hogs there today were introduced much earlier than his arrival, by hundreds of years at least. They likely came from European or Asian descent.”
Texans love their cattle, and Hawaiians love their pigs. Millions of visitors to the islands have attended luaus where a roasted pig in the ground is considered a must-see event, and Hawaiian lore has it that pigs were associated with various Polynesian gods and they were treated with great reverence and respect.
“The ancestry of feral hogs in Hawaii today can be traced back to Polynesians, and their colorful island history and legends are embedded in the state’s culture and many traditions,” Linderholm says.
No New Year’s Eve plans this year. Lazy relaxed nite. Welcomed 2018 from the comfort of my own home – but first…after receiving an urgent email reminder, set my New Year alarm: specifically 12:15am Mountain Time.
Been in contact with 3 different companies to register for Antarctica. Each have a limited # of entries. No openings on the UK site ‘til March 2020. Best hope for 2019: Minneapolis-based Marathon Adventures. Alarm set for 11:45pm New Year’s Eve.
Registration for the 2019 White Continent 50k, Marathon will open tomorrow January 1, 2018.
The tentative dates for the 2019 WCM are Saturday January 19, 2019 to Sunday January 27, 2019. But please note, those dates could shift one week in either direction.
Please note that we are limited number of seats on our flight and we have a long waitlist of passengers from 2018 and many others interested. As such, if you want to confirm your 2019 entry we encourage you to register quickly to avoid missing out.
Again, registration opens January 1, 2018. We look forward to having you join us for the 7th annual White Continent Marathon in January 2019!!
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Steve Hibbs
Chief Adventurer, Marathon Adventures
Watched New York/Times Square ring in the Year, then off to bed for a 2-hour snooze. Alarm buzzed right on queue. Booted up the laptop, took out the pup, celebrated 2018 vicariously thru Ash & Tom’s New Year pics – 5 more minutes.
Like magic, countdown timer disappeared at 12:15. Link appeared & I plugged in my personal details. Passport #? Passport #? ARGH. Upstairs fast – scurried to its ‘safe’ non-travelling spot in the closet – then back to my kitchen laptop. Timed out. Refreshed the page, re-input 12 lines of data, payment cart appeared. Payment cart, YES! $1,000 deposit – one THOUSAND dollars.
Am I in? Fraud alert tagged my transaction. Thanks Discover but ARGH. Quick call, charge now a pending transaction. Still no confirmation. Am I in? Too keyed up to sleep, watched an hour of Netflix before drifting off – penguins, seals, icebergs, Antarctica.
Keenan,
Hello 2019 White Continent Marathon Adventurers!
If you are receiving this e-mail that means your entry for the 2019 WCM is confirmed. Apparently there were some issues with runners not receiving a confirmation e-mail following initial registration. But please note that we have received your entry and you are confirmed.
During the race, our runners are cheered on by penguins and seals. Following the races our runners are able to enjoy excursions to a penguin colony, where they see Gentoo, Adelie & Chinstrap penguins. They also explore the nearby Russian Research base and their ornate Orthodox Church.
The 2019 WCM will once again be camping overnight in Antarctica. It is a great experience! That’s right the 2019 White Continent 50k, Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Adventure will be sleeping overnight in Antarctica the evening before the race. This will guarantee that everyone will finish their race in Antarctica.
ANTARCTICA! Life-time dream realized. Absolutely ANYTHING is possible! ❤
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- Happy New Year!
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- Sis’ New Year’s Day bowl of black-eyed peas, a Southern tradition
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- best dog EVER
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- ANTARCTICA!
For the family who THINKS they have everything. Late Christmas present from my punk little brother – LOL>
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- Bro, are ya kidding me?
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- you heard the joke? “a Polar Bear, a Yeti & a Redneck walk into a bar…”
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- forget PJs, save the BOX 🙂
New Year’s Eve – time to reflect on another year past, another year of growth, another year of INCREDIBLE life adventure. Absolute no better time to say THANKS – new places/new faces, laughs shared with family & friends.
Family/2017 LIFE highlight
High in the Rockies, one exit past the Continental Divide, Ash & Tom’s Colorado wedding over Memorial Day weekend. Team Wilpiszeski filled the arena with laughter, dance & sheer noise. Whatta FUN family – EVERYONE left Silverthorne crushing on Jersey.
The Haga Clan? Let’s just say this Father-Daughter brought it. Memory I’ll never forget. Three time zones represented, family ‘cross the USA – ALL flew in for Ash’s BIG day. BIG LOVE, proud Papa, thanks FAMILY ❤
Travel
- New Zealand · two weeks, two islands, LIFETIME of memories. Ran EVERY day – Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Franz Josef Village, Queenstown, Dunedin, Oamaru, marathon finish’d in Hamilton. Palm trees, glaciers, geysers, glow worms, whole lotta sheep, Fiordland Nat’l Park, Hobbiton & penguins too! Nothing left undone.
- Nova Scotia · two week vacation squeezed into a 4-day weekend. Cape Split hike, toured Grand-Pré & Peggy’s Cove (Nova Scotia’s iconic lighthouse), my first Cèilidh (music/storytelling nite) PLUS a 4th Canadian marathon. What an adventure! To the Cavanaughs, Gillis’ & Schofields – I am indebted. Thanks from the bottom of my American heart ❤
- TOTALITY (Casper WY) • Great American Eclipse on my BIRTHDAY. Like nothing I’ve EVER experienced. Skies darkened, white light glowed around our extinguished Sun. [Next 2 minutes] ‘diamond ring’ visible to the naked eye. Surrounded by sunset & stars, soaked up the cityscape lights of Casper below (street-lamps triggered by the mid-day eclipse). WOW!
- Dublin IRELAND · Marathon #100. Ran this day side-by-side with Sis. Cancer SURVIVOR celebration!
Marathoning
Completed 27 marathons this year (including one ultra) – upping my FULL stats from 78 to 105 finishes. 2,017 miles+ logged in 2017 (GOAL COMPLETE). Haven’t missed a month marathoning since December 2013, that’s 49 consecutive months. Next BIG thing – marathon on EVERY continent (including Antarctica) by May 2020.
Easy to get caught up with an ‘out with the old, in with the new’ attitude.
So while I’m super eager/anticipating what lies ahead in 2018 – I am grateful for a life well lived. I am grateful for the past 365 days – laughs shared, high-altitude hikes, new places/new faces AND of course, my best pup Ro. Nothing left undone 🙂
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
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- whatta sunrise – WOW!
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- beautiful pinks over the North Atlantic, marathoning tomorrow
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- TOTALITY camping adventure
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- the River Liffey
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- walking the bride
Father-Daughter Dance
