Kimmie's Honolulu Marathon Headquarters!!
I DID IT!!!!
I got back home late on Friday the 14th, and I have so much to tell you, I don't even know where to begin. So I'm just going to jump in.
First of all, there were 350 participants from Team in Training chapters all across the country, and we raised a total of $1.2 MILLION DOLLARS for the fight against leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Is that amazing or WHAT?? And this is just one race! TNT does hundreds!
Second of all, Hawaii is everything everyone has ever said it was. If you haven't gone, GO. Especially in December. I have a TAN in December, for crying out loud. I had to pinch myself the entire week. It truly is paradise on earth.
Third of all, I'm ready for my next marathon. I can't WAIT to do this all over again. I felt great, I was in great spirits, yes, my feet hurt like hell after a while, but I had an absolute BLAST. My fellow runners were wonderful, the race volunteers were ineffably spectacular, there were spectators everywhere rooting for us, there were bands just lining the course, playing music for us for the hell of it, the scenery was beautiful...it was an adventure. From the very beginning.
Before the race even started, the sky just opened up. I'm talking tropical downpour here, people. 5:00 am and we're all drenched. I just stood there and laughed, grateful for all of those practices in the Seattle rain. I'd been trained to deal with situations like this...matter of fact, I thought it was nice. The rain stopped ever so briefly, just before the starting gun.
Ahem. The Honolulu Marathon starts with the firing of a CANNON. How awesome is that??
Then, with fireworks bursting overhead, 27,000 people make the trek to the start line - I have no idea how far back I was, but it took me 15 minutes or so to get the start line. This is the third largest race in America, second only to New York and Chicago, so it takes a while to cross! Gotta love those timing chips.
So we cross, and the sky opens again. For the first four miles, it's a monsoon, in the pre-dawn dark. It felt amazing. It stayed overcast for a good part of the race, which was wonderful. It kept the hot sun off us, and provided a few welcome sprinkles while we traversed the course. The only issue was that there wasn't much of a breeze, and after the sun finally rose over Diamond Head, it got really muggy, really warm, really fast. The Hawaiian heat is not to be underestimated, and it was indescribably hard to run in. So I didn't. I walked the majority of the course after mile 11. So my time could have been better, but that's what the next marathon is for. :)
I saw people running in costumes, like full-on costumes. Bear suits, robots, Snow White (twice), a guy in full Japanese regalia (including wooden sandals (!). It was NUTS! I dunno how those bear suit guys survived.
The greatest part about this whole experience, besides knowing I was going to make it, was knowing that I was never alone. I knew I had all of you behind me. Literally, as well: I had sewn the ribbons you had sent me into the back of my race-day shirt, so I carried our loved ones 26.2 miles, guys. I did it. One of my buddies has the pictures to prove it...I'll send it when she gets it developed.
And there were so many people to talk to, and there were so many Team in Training runners, each of us pushing each other on. If you're ever at one of these things and hear someone yelling "GO TEAM!" it's one of us. Or someone who has been one of us. All of our coaches were out there, too, and they ran with us for periods of the race, checking in, giving advice and encouragement. My head coach, Jim, ran with me for 15 miles before he backtracked to join another group for another 15 miles. He clocked 32 miles that day. Siri, another of our stellar coaches, ran 28 miles, spending time with each of us, making sure we were well and having fun on the way to the finish. TNT is one hell of an amazing group, but we Seattleites are blessed with the best coaches in the whole organization. When I ran the last 0.2 miles to the finish line, Ilana and Emily, my two TNT mentors, who had already finished!, were there, screaming for me on the sidelines. They stayed to cheer me on and bring me in. That's why, for my next marathon, I'm doing it with TNT. These people believe in the cause, they believe in teamwork, and they believe in getting us to our goals.
So I think my next one will be the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco in October 2008. The entire race is devoted to benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, so it's one of TNT's flagship events. It should be a total blast! Stay tuned for more craziness from this former couch potato. I think I'm addicted to this...
Thank you for everything. Most of all, for helping me do something for others.
Have a wonderful, safe holiday season, and I'm sure we'll be in touch.
Love, Kimmie the MARATHONER
