The Kauai Marathon - RunHalf Marathon

Wow, I had so much fun, the energy and buzz got me so into the zone! My run plan was to run 4 min walk 1 min, my friend was into doing it with me because she wanted to run a 10 min mile and I knew I could do that because I was able to come close in training. She doesn't keep track of her runs and times like the anal me. I lost her after the fist mile, part of it she was fidgeting with her ipod and didn't tell me and when I turned around to find her she wasn't there. I continued with my plan, ran up to my other friend who was doing the whole but she running the whole time so when I it was time to walk I would loose her, then when it was time to run I would catch back up and pass her, this happened for about 3-4 cycles and finally she never passed me again on my walk, that alone gave me assurance that my race plan was a good choice, when I was running I was running fast when I was walking I had a good pace but allowed my HR to come down a bit to conserve energy to finish strong. This course is very challenging, it is mostly climbing the first 7 miles the second half of the course is flat to down hills except for two good rises just before 12 miles.

Every drink station had hula dancers of different sorts with drummers, what a surprise, I was so Happy to see them and felt bad they had to endure the rain that we welcomed, they were all volunteers, a coworker of mine did a Hula marathon for 6 hours!

I was just so excited that my plan worked, actually when I was coming down the last 1.5 miles and realized I was going to finish early, I kind of slowed a bit because I wanted my hubby and kids not to miss me finish. They arrived to the finish 1 minute prior to my finish and got me on video! I was 10 minutes early of my fast predicted time.

Normally the weather in Poipu is very sunny and warm, I was hoping for clouds and rain and that definitely helped my performance.

My video finish!
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?...

Start training for my longer runs sooner than 6 weeks out!

Stood for my finishers photo, walked around stretched, thanked my foot doctor for my inserts that help my flat feet and keep the PF away! Waited for my friend to come through the finish line, she was 15 minutes behind me, her first long race ever, she was a sprinter in track in high school and still learning about pacing. So proud of her to take on the challenge,I think she learned a lot. A year ago she said she was a sprinter and wasn't interested doing any long distance. Glad she changed her mind.


lack of long run training.


This was the inaugural event and everyone was raving at how good a job they did organizing and planning this event, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and even thinking of doing the whole next year.