Ka'anapali to Lahaina and Back

Since I may one day consider participating in the Maui Marathon (or its half-distance configuration), I figure I must try running here at least once before I fly back to the mainland. Plus, I really need to work off all of the wonderful meals I have been enjoying while on the islands.

Unable to stay at our usual hotel since it is undergoing extensive renovations, my wife and I are staying at the Sheraton Maui Resort on Ka'anapali Beach. Looking at Google Maps, I figure I could easily run from the hotel to Lahaina Cannery Mall, but the round-trip is six miles. Having totaled less than 7 miles last week, I am not comfortable running such distances this morning, but I have another option: The Sheraton has a shuttle bus that regularly stops at the Hilo Hattie parking lot in Lahaina. If I run as far as Banyan Park and then come back to Hilo Hattie, the run would only be 4.5 miles...and I would get to see more of Old Lahaina Town.

Clouds and the West Maui Mountains block sunrise as I step on the beach next to Black Rock, but the sky overhead and to the west is mostly blue. It looks like a great morning to run and an even better one for taking pictures. Good thing my cellphone has a 2 megapixel camera

I run along the soft sand for as long as I can, but I have to cut through a park as I leave Ka'anapali. The park is nice and grassy with a bit of a dirt path through the middle, so it is nice on the feet. When the park ends, I try running upon a narrow wall along the highway, but the thought of falling upon the rocks below isn't exactly appealing, so I hop over the guard rail and hit the pavement. The sun has not yet come out by the time I reach the sign for Lahaina. The temperature is perfect for running.





Proceeding down Front Street, I pass the Old Lahaina Luau just as the sun and a rainbow begins to touch its roof. I realize I am going to sacrifice my pace to capture many moments of this run. I am really enjoying myself by the time I reach Old Lahaina Town.

As I cross under the banyan tree at the edge of town, I head west towards the lighthouse and then northeast towards the Hilo Hattie. When planning this run, I never once thought about the store being closed at this hour...and I only now realize it may be a few hours before the first shuttle will arrive.



I have little choice but to continue running. The weather alternates between rain and sun as I run to the highway, by Lahaina Cannery Mall, and on to Ka'anapali. The tropical rain does not feel unpleasant, so I really cannot complain.










Once back on to the soft sand in Ka'anapli, I make my final push towards the Sheraton. I can hardly believe I have run more than nine miles...it's not like I have been running such distances since starting this vacation. Heck, I haven't run this far since my half marathon over a month ago!

For more photos from this run, check out my SmugMug gallery

Waikoloa Beach

The Hawaiian Islands are quite possibly my favorite vacation destination, but this is my first trip to the Big Island...and my first time running on any of them.

Since my wife, brother-in-law, and I are staying at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa (and could see ourselves coming back here in the future), I figure I should find a good running orbit around the hotel, but the lava rock coastline and the incomplete roads make it hard to find an ideal 3 mile circuit.

Daytime temperatures have been just popping above 80 degrees and there is significant humidity, so I decide to run only in the early morning....as close to sunrise as possible. I do not want to repeat the mistakes I made in Miami.

On Tuesday, I tried sticking to the beaches as long as possible, but the sandy path quickly becomes a broken path covered with loose lava rock and dead coral...I constantly worried about twisting an ankle as I worked my way around to the concrete paths that surround the nearby Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Today, I lead my wife around the streets, taking her down one dead-end after another (the one called "maintenance road" is not even finished). I then divert to the golf course, hoping we can at least stick to the golf cart paths...but even those do not form a complete circuit. We take to the grass and end up looping back to where we first entered the golf course. We have only run 2.5 miles by the time we are standing back in front of the hotel...my wife is done. I however, decide to try another street that leads me back around to the beach and trails on the other side of our hotel...adding another mile to my run. I do not want to run much further because we have a four mile hike planned this afternoon.

On our next visit, I need to find a way to link the Waikoloa resort area with the not-quite neighboring Mauna Lani, but without going out to the main highway.

100th Mile From Orbits

Today, my Forerunner 205 has logged my 100th mile exclusively from orbiting my house. I probably did not total 100 miles in any previous year since graduating from high school, so this is definitely a significant milestone in my return to running. Also consider that I have only owned my watch since the beginning of September, note the frequency of these runs despite longer distances involved (hard to believe I used to be satisfied jogging one 1.5 mile orbit a week) and remember that, during many of these weeks, these were hardly the only miles I have recorded.

Over the past few months, I have run more than 77 miles on road and trails that do not connect to my neighborhood...including three races that total the length of a marathon. I am pretty pleased. Hopefully rain and the upcoming snowboarding season will not derail my progress.

Burma Road Shortcut

It has now been nearly a month since I completed my first half-marathon, and I have found it difficult to get back to a regular running routine. I have run a few 3 mile and one 5 mile orbit, but skip more days than I should. It certainly does not help that I have no races scheduled between now and next spring (largely because I want to leave weekends open for the frequent snowboarding trips I hope to make). My wife has not been a source of inspiration lately...since running the 5K, she has not been running at all. So, to help both of us, I push us out of bed and drive us back to the fire trail at the end of Crenshaw, hoping a trail run will get both of us back on track.

Our run starts fine, naturally gaining speed over the long two mile decline. Even my wife can maintain a sub-9 minute pace over this stretch. The uphill on the other side, however, proves more difficult than I remember...and both of us slow considerably. Before we reach the turn around point, both of us are walking. Our next descent isn't nearly as fast as the first...and, by the time we begin the two mile ascent back to our car, we both realize we will be walking most of the way.

As we complete our fourth mile, my wife and I notice a couple hiking up an adjacent hill...perhaps a shortcut to the park at the top. With our pace already shot, we agree to follow them. Unfortunately, when we get to the base of their hill, we do not find a dirt trail, but a steep incline covered in loose Palos Verdes stone.

At first, we embrace the challenge. This hill is a bit steeper than any we faced on the Point Mugu Trail Run (more than 45 degrees by my wife's estimate)...and the stones really make us work to find stable footing. We pause to take in the view. Fortunately, we can use our cellphones to snap some pictures. The weather couldn't be more perfect...sunny, but cool (in the mid-50's). The recently rain-cleansed air leaves only a slight haze between us and Catalina Island.

Continuing up the hill is a chore. I start wondering if this is a shortcut or a dead-end (the thought of descending upon the rocky path is scary). As we near what appears to be the top, more dirt is exposed, the incline gets a bit more forgiving, but the trail continues upward for a few hundred feet. When we reach the peak, we are not exactly at the park. The trail rejoins Burma Road.

I run back to the car and am happy to see that we indeed shaved more than a half mile off our planned five mile run. My wife's legs are burning, but I am feeling pretty good. I suspect I will not feel the same tomorrow morning.

Silver Strand Half Marathon (and 5K)

Driving to this morning's event is a chore. There is no parking for half-marathoners near the start (Sunset Park in Coronado) nor at the end (Imperial Beach Pier Plaza). The only options are parking mid-course hoping to catch a shuttle bus that departs at 5:40am (open only to the first 200 participants) or having someone drop you off. Since my wife and friends are participating in the 5K, they can drop me off, but must give themselves enough time to drive ten miles to Imperial Beach, find street parking (there is no designated lot), and walk a few blocks to the start of their race. One would think the 5K would start later than the half marathon, but it does not. The 5K actually begins at 7:00am...a half-an-hour before my race! The event planners must assume that participants of the half-marathon do not carpool with people in the 5K.

Anticipating street closures between starting locations, we have given ourselves plenty of time to reach our respective courses. I get dropped at Sunset Park around 5:40am. It is cold...probably less than 60 degrees. I do not wear a jacket for fear of having no place to ditch it once the temperature warms up. The only place to take cover from the breeze are dozens of port-a-potties. I decide to grin and bear it, hovering near one of the light posts dotting the street. I can keep my hands and arms warm by touching the top of the post. I note that some runners arrive wearing plastic garbage bags. Clever.

Around 6:00am, my wife calls to tell me they have arrived at the start of the 5K. The streets have not yet been closed to traffic, so they did not encounter any delays.

The sun rises. Around 6:30am, sunlight slowly stretches across Sunset Park. As I thaw, I do some stretching myself. I also take a few short walks to grab cups from the water table since I left my bottle in the car. I would have been happier if event organizers invited Starbucks to cater the event...hot coffee sounds really good right about now.

The port-a-potties, which initially seem sufficient in quantity, are now backed up dozens of runners deep. Multiple lines weave chaotically within an area far too confined for such lengthy queues. Each visit now requires a fifteen minute wait. I am not sure if it is nerves or all the water I have consumed, but I frequent the facilities. There must be a better way to accommodate a few thousand runners.

The "wheelies" (hand cycles, wheel chairs, bicycles, and rollerbladers) are now ready to race. The announcer keeps repeating "do not cross the mat" to rollerbladers who are obviously not paying attention. Doing so would cause the chip they are wearing to start recording their personal time for the race...they are only hurting themselves. Their race starts at 7:15am.

I grab another cup of water to wash down a Gu Gel. I feel ready. Since this event benefits disabled athletes, runners with disabilities including those wearing prosthetic limbs will lead our race...and will be recorded on IMAX film. I find a spot between runners carrying signs indicating a "1:45 pace" and "2:15 pace". I hope to finish the race within two hours.

My first half marathon begins at 7:30am. I find it hard to establish my own pace with this many runners surrounding me (as was the case during the Nike Run Hit Remix). The beach is to our right, where it will remain for most of the run. I pass the IMAX camera, but suspect it has long ceased filming. I start weaving through the slower runners, but must keep checking my watch to make sure I do not go out too fast. Doing sub-eight minute miles this early could hurt my chances of enduring the full thirteen miles.

Hotel del Coronado marks mile 1. I pass the famous landmark in 8:17, a bit faster than my target (nine minutes per mile), but, since I feel comfortable holding this pace, I see no reason to alter my stride just yet. We are now on Southbound Highway 75 (Silver Strand Blvd) which has been closed to traffic so runners can spread across the lanes.

Around mile 2, I reach the first water station. I have decided to grab water at all stations and drink just enough to keep hydrated. I find it awkward to drink while maintaining my pace, but I do not want to miss a step. I have no idea how much liquid I actually imbibe before I toss my cup in the final trash recepticle.

As I near mile 3, I encounter a bit of headwind. A runner with whom I chatted earlier this morning warned that wind can be a problem, so I start regularly checking my watch to make sure I am maintaining my target pace. Sure enough, I have slowed a hair, but my three mile total is still under twenty-five minutes. I start wondering if my wife or friends were able to complete their 5K within this time...not a good thing to think about since I still have more than ten miles to go!

For the next few miles, the peninsula narrows so that beach exists on both sides of Highway 75. Mile 6 and stronger headwinds occur around the first incline on the course. I push to hold my pace up the hill, down a Cliff Shot with water from the station atop the hill, and extend my stride on the decline. I am pretty happy about completing my first six miles in less than fifty-one minutes...fairly certain I have set a personal record in my the 10K. Despite having more than half of the race ahead, I am now confident that I can finish it in under two hours.

The most discouraging moment in the race accompanies the tenth mile. This is the first time I can see the leaders of the race...through a fence to my right. Not only do they look much faster, they are running in the opposite direction! I had seen the out-and-back loop on our course map, but, from this spot, I could now better visualize the distance. That said, the beginning of the loop and the turnaround points are not within visual range. Have I mentioned how much I hate backtracking?

Before we reach the loop, our course briefly weaves through a residential neighborhood in Imperial Beach. Residents lounging upon their driveways cheer us on with encouraging comments like "You're almost done! Keep it up". One of the runners behind me starts laughing. Easy for them to say...we still have four miles to go! Even worse, I start feeling my bladder. I am afraid to stop for fear of not being able to regain my pace. I grab water and receive a free Cliff Shot at a station just before the loop trying to ignore the nearby port-a-potties.

The loop takes place on an asphalt path through the United States Naval Radio Station. I pass a sign that says "5K Turn Around" and start wondering why I did not run with my wife and friends. I have no idea how much further I have to backtrack. After an incline, I encounter rough asphalt. I see a rollerblader remove his wheels, frustrated that he cannot roll through this segment of the course. I cannot let anything discourage me. I see the turnaround point and the final water station. After beginning the trek back, I slow just enough to polish off one last cup of water.

For once, I am thankful that I am backtracking. The earlier incline is now a beneficial decline that helps me regain a strong pace for the home stretch. Shortly after returning to the residential neighborhood, I see my friends, one holding a camera. Despite having run nearly thirteen miles, I somehow manage to pick up my pace. I overhear one tell the other to call ahead and notify my wife that I am coming. I now know she is waiting for me near the finish line.

I pass a few runners as the finish line enters view. I see my wife and give her a high-five as I go by. I achieve my fastest average pace of the day over the last two-tenths of a mile and cross the finish line strong. I am thrilled to learn that I have officially survived my first half-marathon in 1:53:35! I did it! And I am still able to walk!

3 Days To Go

Tuesday, I ran around my Honda dealership while my SUV was being serviced...an improvised run that included a couple of laps around Columbia Park, site of one of my high school cross country meets. Interestingly, this is the second time this week I have revisited portions of cross country courses. On Sunday, I actually touched two (Palos Verdes and South High).

I never thought I would say this, but I am starting to look forward to running my first half-marathon. I have run well more than 5 miles every other day this week and my pace has improved with each outing. My legs and feet feel good, my breathing is under control, and flat nines now seem very achievable. Heck, some of the hills I used to complain about no longer seem nearly as challenging as they had been (I managed my first mile in 8:33 despite having to climb the steep incline that begins my home orbit)...I just have to make sure not to go out too fast since the race is on a flat course.

This is my last post before the race...wish me luck!

Half-marathon Training Update

The clock is ticking and my muscles are burning, but, seven days before my first half-marathon, I am happy to report that my training appears to be back on track. I have managed my first 12+ mile run in under a 10 minute per mile pace and on the rolling hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. If I don't do something stupid during the week ahead, I figure I should be able to complete next week's race averaging a respectable 9 minutes per mile. The entire course appears to be flat, near sea level. The only thing I am really concerned about at this point is the weather since we'll be in San Diego. I'm crossing my fingers because the current forecast suggests temperatures will be comfortable...within the 60's.

Home 5 Mile Orbit

Getting back to speed has been as slow as the smoke clearing from the skies over Southern California. Sunday, my first attempt to run since the fires hit, proved to be far more difficult. I could not even maintain a 10 minute per mile pace for just 3 miles.

I have run twice outside since then, thankfully improving each time. I completed today's 5 miles with considerable elevation change and an improving pace over the final miles. Still, I have a ways to go to prep myself for the half marathon...now just 10 days away. I must tackle a 10-13 miler over the weekend and at a better pace than my previous attempt.

Southern California On Fire

This week's fires have put my training on hold. Even today I can still smell the smoke in the air...and I get a mild hacking cough every time I come in from being outside.

Assuming I start running again this weekend, will I be able to get myself properly prepared for my first half marathon? I guess I won't know until I get out there and try.

What Does A 1/2 Marathon Feel Like?

With my first half marathon less than a month away, I decide to run 13 miles today. My non-runner friend is surprisingly willing to join me, so I set our pace at a leisurely 12 minutes per mile with planned stops around miles 4 (Palos Verdes High School's cross country course), 7 (my mom's house), and 10 (my friend's house) and choose a route that is mostly downhill until the final two miles. We carry water and consume gels or shot blocks at each break.

My friend starts feeling his knees around mile 7 and, when we reach his house, decides he has had enough. I realize my legs do not have enough strength for the hill I must climb to get home, so I decide to save myself for an attempt on a later date. 10.66 miles is nothing to sneeze at, easily both of our longest runs ever, but I still do not know what it feels like to go the distance. I doubt I will be attempting 13 next week since we will be attending an auto race in Monterey. Hmmmm....