Name: Kunitake Farms Kona Marathon
Date: June 28, 2009
Distance: 26.2 miles
Location: Kona, Hawaii (west coast of the Big Island)
Course: Out and back, gradual hills (Click here to view course.)
Time: 5:53:27
Pace: 13:29
Place: 182 of 258
Division: 16 of 23
Results Link: Click here.
Weather: 75°-85°, east wind 10 mph, sunny
Notes: I was fortunate to receive a Teacher Creativity Fellowship, part of the Lilly Endowment Inc. I used the endowment to travel with Ed to Kona, Hawaii, in order to run the Kona Marathon, which partially supported the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. We were able to spend 12 days in paradise. It was the trip of a lifetime. The marathon was run one week after we arrived in Hawaii. It started at 5:30 A.M. (Hawaii time). The first few miles were dark or shaded due to a 5:45 A.M. sunrise and a mountain in the way. I stuck to my 9 min. run / 3 min. walk plan for nine miles. After that, I noticed that my hips weren't feeling strong. In order to be able to finish, I started walking more. I walked a lot more than I had originally planned to walk, but I FINISHED, and that's what's important! The heat wasn't as bothersome as you might imagine, and the gradual hills were almost unnoticeable. There was truly never a moment that I was miserable. If I was hurting, I walked and looked at the beautiful scenery around me. The best part of the marathon was my prayer band. I wore a band that listed a person's or group's name for each mile. Therefore, on each mile, I had a friend on which to focus. It made the miles go quickly and gave me an almost spiritual journey through my great family and friends. When I finished, I was very emotional. I was thinking of all the great people in my life, and of how far I've come since I was diagnosed with Crohn's. It was an unforgettable day. I plan to write a more detailed account of the marathon, and will link it here when I do.
Photos: 24 — See below. Ed was a great photographer!