Pacific Perspective and Paces (Week 15)
Vol. 4 No.26
What an amazing week of running in Paradise!
Reached a 60+ Day Run Streak
Amerithon Completion: 3,521 miles.
100 Days of 2025 Complete.
Hapalua Half Marathon in Waikiki finished.
This weeks posting is a few days late and for that I apologize. The time change in Hawaii, the workload and a Sunday race meant my writing took a hit. You may notice some subtle differences as you read along.
Something very rare to me happened on Monday, which had lingering effects that impacted me not just physically but mentally.
The week was spent acclimating to the climate and conditions here on Oahu for the Hapalua Half Marathon on Sunday. Unfortunately that also included eating from a myriad of food trucks!
There was no weigh-in this week, however I’m certain I’ve not lost any weight due to the food trucks. However I did complete 38.76 miles on my feet.
Enjoy this weeks post and thank you for following along on my journey to Qualifying for Boston at the Mesa Marathon in February 2026.
Monday: 4.7.2025 (JD 97): Took a fall.
After nearly 15 hours of traveling on Sunday I was asleep by 8pm and up extra early on Monday morning. With a later start in the day for work I decided to maximize my time in the morning and get in a sunrise run along the waterfront. This is a route I’ve run before and the memories of those sunrise runs always shines through. I had to experience it again.
The drive to the starting location was about 30 minutes but that posed no real obstacle as I was awake by 4am and traffic wouldn’t hinder my plans until after the run.
While this route does offer some incredible views, the majority it is along sidewalks smashed between the Kalaniana’ole Hwy and the million-dollar homes sitting on the water front. It’s at the public parks and that you get a view of the breaks and the vast Pacific beyond. At the turn around I was gifted with an incredible view of Koko Head Crater with the sun radiating behind her steep face.
The route follows portions of the Honolulu Marathon, a route that is permanently marked and easy to follow. It was on this route that something rare and surprising happened.
I had a trip and fall!
I’m not exactly sure how it happened to be honest. I think it was a confluence of making an attempt to avoid the sprinklers dousing the sidewalk, looking at my heart rate and missing the piece of sidewalk that was missing.
It happened in the first half-mile of this run. It was embarrassing and it hurt.
I was running full on when all of a sudden my foot didn’t plant under me as expected. My training kicked in and in that millisecond of response I rolled to my left, ensuring my hip, buttocks and pull-up muscle took the brunt of the impact. (Something similar to a Parachute Landing Fall - PLF). The training worked, I didn’t land on my face, however all 200lbs of me did land on my left hip and ass! I rolled over once more and from the roadway looked up to a line of cars waiting to make a turn, knowing full well that at least one of those drivers saw me and was wondering what the hell I was doing.
Out of instinct or the natural pressure to preserve my pride, I hopped up and kept on running.
My left hip hurt. My left ass-cheek was sore. My hands were scuffed up and my left leg was scuffed up. I could feel all of it, instantaneously. It wasn’t great.
This is wear toughness come’s into play. This is one of those moments where you toughen up or fall apart.
I shut down the internal voice of doubt rather quickly with my own internal motivational meditation on what it means to be tough, durable and unstoppable.
Nothing was going to spoil this Monday morning sunrise for me in paradise. Not even a once-in-a decade fall.
5.02 miles | Avg Pace: 8’56” | Avg HR: 127 | Best Mile: 8’29” | 72°F at 79%
Tuesday: 4.8.2025 (JD 98): Just Keep Showing Up
I woke up and everything on my left side was sore. My hip, ass and leg. All scuffed up and what feels like a bruise the size of Texas developing deep beneath the surface.
Despite the pain bubbling up under the surface, I decided that if it doesn’t affect my gait, stride or steps per minute than I’m going to continue the run streak. So I laced up, stepped outside at 5am and got busy.
Lost in translation from my digital plotting to real world execution was the distance of this planned run. Everything looked good on Strava and COROS navigation, this would be a 4-mile run with a planned finish under 36-minutes. However once on the streets and putting feet to pavement, this ended just short.
Sometimes I am very strict and if I set out for a planned run, I feel an internal obligation, a self-driven obligation to do what I set out to do. Other times I feel it’s appropriate to loosen up a bit, relax and be thankful for the miles I did get. This morning was one of those times.
When the mileage fell short, I didn’t loop around the building or beat myself up. I was emotionally and mentally satisfied with this run and that’s a great place to be. Especially given the soreness radiating deep within my left hip.
3.86 miles | Avg Pace: 8’16” | Avg HR: 134 | Best Mile: 7’43” | 72°F at 75%
Wednesday: 4.9.2025 (JD 99): RUN STREAK DAY 60
I woke up sore again and now it’s causing anxiety for my race on Sunday. I’m hoping this soreness works it’s way out and by Sunday Morning I’m feeling up for the task of running up Diamond Head crater not once, but twice.
In keeping with tradition or maybe because I’m just a creature of habit, I’ve decided to get in my Wednesday 5K not once but twice. I set out early at 5:00am for my first run of the day and knocked out my first 5K in a decent time with a very low Heart Rate. Then after work I got in the second 5K of the day, under warmer temperatures but with less humidity, the run felt great.
AM Run: 3.11 miles | Avg Pace: 9’57” | Avg HR: 114 | Best Mile: 9’43” | 71°F at 78%
PM Run: 3.26 miles | Avg Pace: 8’59” | Avg HR: 128 | Best Mile: 8’41” | 80°F at 57%
Thursday: 4.10.2025 (JD 100): No Beer, no friends but still 5-miles.
Running solo sucks. I’d much rather run with friends.
I do enjoy and appreciate the ability to run solo and be comfortable with myself and my own thoughts. It’s a gift to be able to sit quietly by yourself. It’s also a gift to have a group of friends who also have a shared interest and enjoyment of running. Both are good in their own right, but I’d choose the latter the most often.
I am a creature of habit, or so I like to tell myself. I’m comfortable with known expectations as most people are, yet deviations and changes to the norm are not life-altering events in my life. Chalk it up to getting older or maybe my bag of fucks has ran empty. Whatever it is, I’ve found that life is best when you are agile and adaptable to most circumstances and situations. That requires mental, emotional and physical strength and maturity, three elements that are strengthened and reinforced through the habitual act of running.
Today’s run was planned for 5-miles in the morning and that’s exactly what I did.
The anxiety building up in my over my hip is starting to wane with the depreciation of pain. This mornings run was nearly pain free and it gave me hope that on Sunday I’ll be able to run a good, hard race without issue.
5.01 miles | Avg Pace: 9’51” | Avg HR: 116 | Best Mile: 9’28” | 69°F at 86%
Friday: 4.11.2025 (JD 101): Friday 5K.
This might not even make sense, but today I started a “Mini-Taper” for the Half Marathon on Sunday. The mini-taper included an incredibly easy 5K on Friday followed by a very easy 2-miles on Saturday morning. This would allow me nearly 24hrs of full rest before hitting the course Sunday morning at 6am.
The distance and course were set on my watch and the only metric I was really focused on was my heart rate. I wanted to keep it low and steady and not put much strain on my legs or cardiovascular system.
So that’s what I did. An easy 5K run at 5am. Of course it was warm and humid again, but that seems to be the natural state of the Island. Getting acclimated is going better than expected.
Completing this run was easy and pain free. Confidence is building that I may in fact have a good race on Sunday. Even the thoughts of a new PR are starting to creep in, but before they take up a stronghold, I’m push those thoughts out with rational observations of heat and humidity.
On my lunch break I had the opportunity to go pick up my race packet and I do believe I was the only person in there with long-pants. Everyone else appeared to be on vacation and enjoying an easy afternoon of walking Waikiki and exploring the Convention Center during packet pickup.
The packet pickup process was smooth and quick. I grabbed a few new electrolytes to try out and picked up a hat and towel to commemorate this race.
3.14 miles | Avg Pace: 9’51” | Avg HR: 114 | Best Mile: 9’26” | 72°F at 78%
Saturday: 4.12.2025 (JD 102): A Tiny Taper & Big Accomplishment
The implementation of my “Tiny Taper” coincided perfectly with my 3 years goal of completing the “Amerithon” running challenge. That is to run a collective 3,521 miles, the approximate distance across the Contiguous United States of America. Today was the day.
It started as a Christmas gift in 2021 when my wife got me the Amerithon package and challenged me to run across the United States. I started in 2022 and it took me just over three years!
With an extremely low heart rate, I was still excited to achieve this goal. It’s been a quiet, on the back burner project that I’ve been slowly chipping away at for months on end.
The mini-taper is feeling good and I think I’ll be good to go tomorrow!
2.14 miles | Avg Pace: 10’40” | Avg HR: 106 | Best Mile: 10’16” | 72°F at 78%
Sunday: 4.13.2025 (JD 103): Hapalua Half Marathon
Woah was it early! My morning started at 3am when my alarm blew the speaker out letting me know it was time to start this journey into Waikiki. With 10,000+ runners surging into the tiny waterfront city, traffic and parking would be abundant and scarce.
If you’ve never been to Oahu, than it’s hard to describe the traffic issues they face. It’s a tiny Island full of people, with limited roadways and tight spaces in the city getting anywhere quickly is near to impossible.
Luckily there was free parking at a local Community College just 1-mile from the finish with buses starting at 3:30am and running until 5:30am. Unfortunately for me, it was an additional 30 minute drive across the Island from Kapolei.
I prepped nearly everything the night before so I could wake up at 3:00am and be out the door by 3:30am with time to park by 4:00am and be on the shuttle by 4:15am. I had a clothes bag to check in and then another 1/4 mile walk to the Starting corrals.
My pre-race plan was executed perfectly. By 4:45am I had already checked in my bag and was wondering around the start. So far so good!
I decided to wear my TeamRWB Eagle Shirt for this race and represent the organization and all it does for Veteran’s. While standing around waiting, I was approached by another TeamRWB member and as we were talking two more found their way over! Within just a few minutes we had four eagles standing around talking about running, service and our goals that morning.
The Eagle in white was there to add another state to her 50-state quest to run a Half Marathon in each state. I believe this was number 38. The Eagle in Blue with Old Glory flew in from Wisconsin for this race. As far as I could tell, he was the only person carrying the American Flag out of the 10,000+ runners. I was proud knowing it was a fellow Veteran and TeamRWB member. The Eagle in the red tank-top was a local and was there to run her hometown race. Everyone was nice, encouraging and going after their own goals.
As for me, my goals were:
To not get dehydrated and cramp out.
Have fun. Enjoy the scenery and the Race Atmosphere.
Run a conservative pace for the first 10-miles.
Push hard up the hills at the end and attempt to make the last 5K the fastest.
Finish in under 2-hours.
Last One’s the Fast One!
My execution plan to achieve those goals included the following:
Start Hydrating on Thursday for the Sunday race.
Drink electrolytes on Friday and Saturday with increased water.
No food after 4pm on Saturday to prevent bowel issues.
Lube up the grundle. IYKYK
Run with a water bottle, 2x BPN Go Gels, and some Salt Sticks.
Maintain a Sub 9’00” pace throughout the first 10-miles.
Don’t let the hills at Diamondhead defeat me mentally.
If I feel good, I’m going to GO and make the last one the fast one.
The Hapalua
The race director was great at starting the event on time at 6am! I was in the Green Corral, which was the first one after the professionals with an expected finish time between 1:30 and 2:00. With 10,000 plus runners, it was a crowded start! As the announcer indicated the start, the crowd surged forward, waves of runners, walking, pushing, moving as a giant mass to those starting mats with fingers at the ready on the watch.
The pace groups got intertwined, mixed up and shaken up. It was a massive crowd of bodies trying to find some open space ahead and settle into a pace. I spent the first mile weaving in and out of fellow runners. Pacing most while making an attempt to get into a rhythm. It was pointless. There were too many people.
Mile 1: 9’05” - Slower then anticipated.
I spent Mile 2 in much of the same state of traffic avoidance and passing people up. I was able to pick up the pace near the end of Mile 2 and get my pace down to 8’49”.
I couldn’t believe that it took two miles of weaving and bobbing like Muhammad Ali to finally get into a settle pace surround by fellow runners of similar abilities! I spent a lot of energy with lateral movements instead of simply pushing further down the road.
The sweat was already soaking through my shirt and beading down my back when I saw the Mile 2 sign. I knew instantly that this would not be a PR day, however with Mile 2 locked in at 8’49”, I knew I could still hit my goals.
Mile 3 and 4 were easy as I fell into a comfortable pace with my steps per minute meeting the beat of the songs in my head. It was at that point that I knew I’d been running for a majority of my life. I could repeat a song in my head to the 180-steps per minute beat without any headphones or music.
It was at Mile 4 I had to use the porta-john. Wisdom finally paid off as I had an initial thought to keep going to the next water point, but quickly shed that idea and decided to use this time while I had it. It was here where I made the one and only decision to “Pause” my watch. With the way my stomach was bubbling, I wasn’t sure how long I’d be in there. I wasn’t setting a PR, so I wasn’t pressed with making a high-pressure situation to resolve the matter faster. No, I was on natures clock now.
Apparently it was only 2min 08sec. Not too shabby, and I didn’t lose my socks!
Around Mile 5 I crossed paths with the Eagle seen above with the flag. He was walking, sweating hard and looked to be knocking on the door of the hurt locker. So I started walking with him, passed on some Salt Stick chews and tried to provide some motivation. I eventually saw him cross the finish line and snapped a few photos.
After walking and encouraging my fellow Veteran I picked up the pace again and fell into a comfortable pace that put me back on track for a sub 2-hour Marathon. The miles ticked away as I was cruising along, knowing full well that the hills were coming.
At every water stop, approximately every 2.5 miles I came to a walk and drank a cup full of water. At mile 8 I took down the first GoGel and washed it down with more water. My shirt grew heavy from my non-stop sweating and by mile 9 my shorts clearly looked like I pee’d myself. (Which I didn’t).
It was at mile 9 we started the first hill climb up to the Lighthouse on Diamondhead crater. I felt great! I was still sweating, which was a great sign and my legs had plenty left in them. Up to this point my Heart Rate was averaging 144 and there was a lot left in the tank.
GET SOME!
The hill was steep, the humidity cranking and the sun, beaming directly into the face and eyes! All I could see was the 15 ft in front of me as I started the ascent. It sucked. It wasn’t easy. After running 10-miles, all the elements were aligned to make this hill climb miserable.
All the evidence was there. People were walking, I heard someone behind me puking. Running were gearing down and trying to figure out why they paid for this pain.
That’s when my competitiveness kicked in and I started with the kills! As in passing people. One after another, I passed runners as they were dealing with the different levels of internal hell, only found on a hill in the last 5K of a half marathon.
That’s when I started stacking bodies.
Up the first hill I just started passing people. Again and again and again!
It was incredible!
On the backside of the lighthouse we went downhill to the park for a quick loop around before going back uphill to the lighthouse.
That’s when I went in for Round 2 and starting passing EVERY-BODY! This was a first in my life. Never before have I tackled a hill and never been passed.
The last 1.4 miles was downhill then flat and that’s when I let gravity take over and I just threw my feet out in front of me. My heart rate finally ticked up to 160 and my pace dropped to around 7’40”.
Crossing the finish line felt great. I stayed hydrated, never cramped and had a solid performance up the hills.
The official Clock Time was 1:58:08. This included my bathroom break.
COROS timed me at 1:56:02 and that excludes the time I paused my watch.
My average pace when I was actually running was 8’46” with my fastest mile coming in at 7’47”, which was the last mile.
As far as my goals:
To not get dehydrated and cramp out. COMPLETED!
Have fun. Enjoy the scenery and the Race Atmosphere. COMPLETED!
Run a conservative pace for the first 10-miles. COMPLETED!
Push hard up the hills at the end and attempt to make the last 5K the fastest. COMPLETED!
Finish in under 2-hours. COMPLETED!
Last One’s the Fast One! COMPLETED!
While this wasn’t a new PR, I had a plan and executed it to near perfection! I didn’t beat myself up for using the bathroom or walking at the water stops. I took in my nutrition and water when planned and continued on to run a sub 2-hour Half. All in all this was a complete success.
13.24 miles | Avg Pace: 8’46” | Avg HR: 143 | Best Mile: 7’43” | 73°F at 78%
The food trucks across the Island are plentiful and everywhere. My co-worker and I have been visiting a different truck almost every day of the week. Below is just an example of many of the plates I’ve eaten. In all cases below I can’t eat everything, it’s simply too much food. Some plates were better than others and I tended to stay away from the rice and most of the carbs.
1.01 miles | Avg Pace: 12’24” | Avg HR: 106 | Best Mile: 12’20” | 71°F at 90%
Another great write-up my friend. I could only imagine the feeling that feeling the last 5k. Great work running your race and rocking that last 5k!
I loved reading this. It gave me a few pointers for my next race in a few weeks.