Life in Hawaii is defined by outdoor activities if for no other reason than the year round near perfect weather. The sun and air *call* to you, asking if you can come out and play. I can recall going to class at the University of Hawaii Manoa, and being completely distracted by the insistent day just beyond the glass and the siren call of the beach. And it didn’t help when the instructor, wearing shades and swim trucks, informed the class that surf was up and there was a perfect wave out there with his name on it. Later, dudes.
I never got into the world of surfing, choosing instead the solitary life of the long-distance runner, well, maybe not so solitary in a place where it seems *everyone* runs. I remember once doing a training run in the early morning, moving along at what I thought was a good pace, when I hear footsteps coming up fast behind me. I move over expecting to have my wheels blown off by one of the seriously athletic runners in the neighborhood. Imagine my surprise when this little elderly lady sprints on by me, gray hair tied in a ponytail. She is I guess in her 60’s — maybe older hard to say — and mind you I am in my early 30’s training for the Honolulu Marathon. At first this is disheartening, to be so easily put in one’s place, but upon reflection that was amazingly impressive now that I am her age with a back that makes running impossible.
Back then I was living in a part of Oahu called Hawaii Kai, and worked all the way over on the other side of the Honolulu at Ft Shafter. Two or three times a week I would get dropped off after work in the middle of town, and run the 8 miles home eastbound on Kalanianaole Highway. I figured I could get my training runs in and simultaneously use my feet for transportation. Given the level of traffic on that highway I could almost make it home as fast as the creeping cars. I realize now that it probably wasn’t the smartest thing to be running for an hour next to a busy road, but too late now, huh?
Anyway, I did end up running my one and only Honolulu Marathon that year, finishing in just over four and a half hours. All these years later I remember being surprised that so many folks came out of their homes and lined the entire 26-mile route, cheering on friends and strangers, running in the sun and wind.
whoisfenton 