I believe I’ve seen what “sweat equity” looks like.  The field of marathoners wasn’t as large as I have seen – or experienced, but the effort was no less for sure.  The temperature started at about 25C at 4:15am and finished closer to 30+C with high humidity by 9am for the runners.  The UofC half marathoners Karen, Karin and Joanna, were off the course before the temperature peaked and thankfully, did most of their effort in the dark and early light of day.  I think that our half marathoners were very glad to have made the effort and especially so that they didn’t do the marathon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The marathoners on the other hand, duked it out on the Honoapiilani Highway.  After starting in light rain and reasonable winds pushing them along, the wind died and the sun exposed itself from behind the clouds only to bake the runners as they made their way along the route.  Unsurprisingly, Steve, Bill, Glen, Jenny and Linda – all were in pretty good spirits – even at 8miles (12km) to go.  They had completed their last long run in 3C and raining – so we already knew they were tough.

 

The field tromped on past us as we sat beside the highway and cheered them on.  I thought I had seen everything but I was amazed again at the diversity in the runners.  Big, small, (and a couple of skeletals), beautiful runners, lopers, hippity hoppers and shufflers.  Orange shoes, neon green shoes, and a few pair of ‘slippas’.  One guy carrying an American flag (a really big one), one carrying a full military backpack, one with a shark headpiece (fake of course), and one bouncing a basketball the whole way.  No surprise he was by himself.  There were teams of people running together including Japanese twins that I’m sure had people rubbing their eyes to be sure they weren’t seeing double.

This is the great thing about running.  If you have two feet and a heartbeat – you can do this thing.  It’s not for the faint of heart and without a doubt it requires one to be dedicated and diligent about one’s training – but if you have the desire – you too can run a marathon.

 

Congratulations and Aloha marathoners.

LiveSplendidly!