Honolulu Marathon - RunMarathon

Started off a little too fast the first 10k. Maybe by about 90 seconds...but my legs felt good. I backed off the pace a bit, and was back on hitting my 8:45 miles.

The crucial mistake I made was not accounting for the humidity and lack of wind. I was so glad it wasn't raining, that I completely ignored those two elements and should have backed off from the start to more of a 3:55-4:00 goal. Even though my legs felt okay, I could tell it was muggy just by the way I was sweating and others were...even though the temperature was fairly cool.

The second mistake I made was not using salt tabs. I used them last year, but didn't this year...during the race or training. Today was by far the most humid day I did a long run in...so just using gels during training was never a problem. I was also only using water at the aid stations for the first 18 miles...it was only after the sun came up did I realize I needed to also take in some gatorade as I could really feel the humidity now.

Miles 11-17, I was just being stubborn. I tried to hold that 8:45 pace, but should have adjusted.

Miles 18-23 was where I met up with one of my training partners. We were both slowing down at this point, so we kept each other company as we suffered. My breathing was fine, my legs were heavy...but not really sore.

We made a push up the last major hill at miles 23.5-25, which is where I fell apart. Again...my breathing was okay...my legs were fine...but I depleated all my nutrition. We were on the home stretch...the last 1.3 miles was downhill, then flat...but as soon as I hit the downhill, I got dizzy. I was running side to side, and had to slow down to avoid falling over. I walked for about 30 seconds, then had to move to the side to stop.

I had no more gels left at this poing...the last one I took was between 20 and 21. There was a water fountain near by so I went to drink...even though I drank at the previous aid station less than 10 minutes earlier.

I knew I was in trouble when I slighly pee'd myself for a couple seconds...oh boy...this could get ugly. But luckily I didn't have to go. If I were holding anything (1 or 2) at that point...I guarantee it would have all come out right there.

I tried to walk, while holding on to the wall or fence near the sidewalk...but I could barely even do that for more than a minute before having to stop because of my balance. This went on for about 5 minutes before I just sat down on a short wall. I was literally about 1.3 miles from the finish. And I couldn't. I honestly would have collapsed or face planted if I tried to walk even 200 more feet.

While sitting...my equilibrium was okay...so I just waited there until I saw a volunteer pass and asked them to call someone to help me. They were shocked of course...being so close to the finish...but quickly realized I was in bad shape. They had me lie down and fanned me down. You can imagine how bad I was feeling to make that decision to tap out. My legs were fine, my heart and breathing were fine...but I just couldn't stand without losing my balance. It was so furstrating.

The 3 volunteers that helped me were awesome. One called for an ambulance, one fanned me down, and the other got me a buffet. A Sprite, bottled water, some hershey kisses, tangerines, and a muffin. I ate what I could, but then a police officer stopped by with some sun flower seeds. So I sucked on those to get the salt.

After about 20 minutes...with no ambulance nearby...as there were other calls right around when they called for me...the police officer encouraged me to try and walk. I realize that I could walk at that point, but very slowly as it was still a pretty steep downhill I was on.

The police officer escorted me up to mile 26 where I told him I was fine. No limp at all...and all the spectators were trying to encourage me to run...because I literally looked good...but wasn't about to chance falling on my face.

My training partner that I was with up to that point finished at 3:57 (she had no idea what happened to me...that's how quickly I fell behind)...so that's likely what I would have come in at had I not rammed into THE WALL. So yeah...40 minutes to finish the last 1.3 miles.

I did finish in good spirits. And as everyone else was running across the line...I walked. So the PA naturally called me out by saing...
"4103 looks like he could use some encouragement. That's Jason from Aiea." I didn't hear him call out anyone else's name...pretty funny and embarassing at the same time. I chuckled.

Overall...I wasn't as bummed about this result as you may think. The volunteers and police officer who helped me were so great and I couldn't thank them enough. It really kept me in a happy mood to be so fortunate to get that kind of help.



I had the fitness to go 3:50, but the weather didn't cooperate. Even the winner was almost 4 minutes slower than last year at 2:15ish...and the field had several Kenyans who posted sub 2:08 times in other races this year. I was so glad it didn't rain, that I totally neglected the humidity and the lack of wind that normally keeps it cool.

I also need to be more conscious of my nutrition. I don't think I was way off...but I could have done better considering the conditions and how fast I was trying to go. This will be important to learn from for my upcoming HIM...which is in Kona in June.

Met up with some other folks and told my story. Got my shirt and left shortly thereafter since I was about 40 minutes behind my anticipated time...and my ride needed to get going.


Pacing, weather, nutrition. Yeah...pretty much the whole deal. Training was not the issue...so it's nothing I can't correct.


Volunteers and police officers were simply awesome. I can't thank them enough. I would have DNF and took an ambulance ride if they had not bent over backwards to get me back going. I told them I was done (and I was at that point)...and they nicely offered to do anything and everything to get me feeling better.