Bob's Running the Honolulu Marathon Sunday - Sat., Dec. 10, 2016

Bob's already asleep and has the alarm set for 3:30 am. Our hotel is directly across the street from the shuttle buses to the marathon start point. Bob and his Hawaiian running buddy, Mike, plan to start running at 5:00 am with 30,000 other marathoners. You do realize 30,000 people is a pretty good-sized city in and of itself. That's a lot of runners!

All of Bob's gear is laid out for morning

Go, Bob, go! Bob and Mike plan to walk a lot of the route. It depends on how Mike's plantar fasciitis is doing. Bob hopes they finish by 11 am because that's when rain is forecast to come in. 

If you want to track Bob's progress and see how he's doing,  go to Athlete Tracking - Honolulu Marathon  (http://www.honolulumarathon.org/athlete-tracking/) and enter his bib number: 11742. Right now it's about 72 degrees with 87% humidity in Waikiki, so they could have a cool morning for the race.

Yesterday, I went with Bob to the Honolulu Convention Center where he picked up his race packet. We walked the convention floor and looked at all the products. Bob bought his marathon shirt there. It's a gorgeous shirt this year.

Antherium and red torch ginger

Bob picking up his packet

Hawaiian quilts

After the Expo, we went to a pre-race, carbo-load dinner at Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant with 80+ running friends, some from Hawaii and some from the Mainland.

Bob's running buddy, Mike, and
his wife, Rosemary

Buca di Beppo's decor is "fill the walls and every nook, cranny and alcove" with as much memorabilia as possible. Somehow it works. You always find something new to read or look at.

Mike, Lisa and Rosemary

Nelly, another running friend, and Mike

Nelly and Mike

Group photo

Another group photo

Best of luck to all the runners in the marathon on Sunday! 

Bob, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Man - Sun., Dec. 7, 2014

If you think you've had a tough day, you could be like Bob, out running the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon today. That's 26.2 miles on hard concrete or asphalt. Think of the pounding your feet and knees take. Ouch!

Bob has been running marathons for eight years and has run about 34 of them. He started running marathons in Honolulu, Hawaii, in honor of memories of his dad running marathons. To train, he joined a Team in Training group in Washington state when we lived in the Tacoma area.

Bob finishing his first marathon in Honolulu, Hawaii (2006)

Finisher's tent (feels good to sit down!)

Finisher's T-shirt

Bob by fish mosaic at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu (2006)

Over the years, Bob has run in many different locations either training for marathons or running in them. His favorite training runs were done along rivers in Austria and Germany.

In early 2007 we moved to Makakilo on Oahu, Hawaii. Bob joined a running group called Runner's HI. He ran with them religiously and we became part of the Runner's HI ohana (family). During the five years we lived in Hawaii, we traveled to Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai on numerous occasions where Bob completed marathons with his friends. He loves the sound of the ocean and tropical scenery.

Runner's HI ohana, Honolulu, Hawaii (Bob and I in back row)

Big Island marathon in 2008. (6 hrs, 33 min., 21 secs)

Eugene, Oregon marathon

Bob finishing the Eugene marathon

Kauai marathon registration display

Setting up for Kauai marathon first aid - Bob hamming it up.

Not only does Bob like to run marathons...he became a Marathon Maniac. In order to become a Marathon Maniac, you have to complete one of the levels. I think Bob has made it to the Silver Level, but you can go up even more levels to the Titanium Level. Me, I think they're crazy. But to each their own. I'll stick to walking, thank you.

Some of the Marathon Maniacs of Hawaii

Hilo Marathon finish, March 2009

Dinner at Cafe Pesto in Hilo, HI - March 2009

Kona, HI Marathon finisher (2009)

Maui Oceanfront Marathon - January 2009

Maui Oceanfront Marathon - January 2009

Kauai Marathon - Sept. 2010

Back to today's marathon. Estimate is that 25,000 people entered the marathon in one of its forms: Kid's Race, 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, Bike Ride, Wheelchair Race. About 3,500    signed up for the full marathon and 14,000 signed up for the half marathon. All 50 states were represented and people came from 13 countries. Twenty-six live bands performed along the route.

The race went past Travelers World RV Resort...twice. What a wonderful group of people at Travelers World. We had many people out cheering for Bob at both places as he passed the park. Bob said it means so much to him to have that much support. He was so pleased. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer for him and give him High 5's!

Here are some photos from today's San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon...

Betty Ann, Marlene, Rod, Jocelyne, Newt, Steve and ?

A group of Rock 'n' Roll Marathon runners

Travelers World RV Resort is on the marathon route.

Pretty stylish ladies!

Terry cheering on the runners.

Pam, Bob E., Brenda, Ralph, Terry, Jocelyne, Lincoln and Chloe

Superwoman

Bob crossing the San Antonio River bridge

Bob coming up on Travelers World

Loved this girl and her sign!

Bob with 4-1/2 miles left to go.

Soon he'll be crossing the finish line. The end.

Bob finished the marathon (26.2 miles) in 6 hours, 35 minutes, 34 seconds! Way to go, Bob. Yayyyyy!

Bob with his bling

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon medal.

Now for some Papa John's Pizza and beer!

Marathon...Nevermind N -- Tues., Apr. 16

In the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge my N words are: Nevermind N.

I am going to skip N and go back to M for marathon. Yesterday afternoon, two bombs exploded by the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Three people died and over 175 were injured. At this point no ones knows who did this or why. 

This deeply affected runners around the world. I know. I'm married to one.

Bob finishing Hilo, Hawaii Marathon, March 22, 2009

Bob has run marathons for the past seven years. He started out with the help of Team in Training who taught him the basics of running. At age 50 Bob completed his first marathon (Honolulu) -- the same age that his dad ran his first marathon -- and has since completed over 30 marathons. Bob's father passed away in April 2001. Running the Honolulu Marathon was a tribute to his dad.

Bob just crossed the finish line, Honolulu Marathon, December 2006.
Look at that smile!

Bob's first marathon complete. Here he is, totally happy in
the recovery tent. Great sense of accomplishment!

Maui Oceanfront Marathon, January 25, 2009

Bob: Finisher, Kona Marathon, June 2009

When we lived on Oahu, Bob joined Runner's HI. Every Tuesday evening he ran with the group to stay in shape. Bob and his friend Mike also ran together on the weekends. Wonderful friendships were formed. Runner's HI welcomed us into their running group ohana (family).

Bob, Johnny Landeza (ran Boston 4-15-13), Mike Passmore -
finishers of North Shore Oahu Marathon, May 2011.

Fifty seven runners from Hawaii ran the Boston Marathon. Thankfully, all of them are safe.

Runner's HI ohana in 2008.

In response to the egregious attack in Boston, Bob is gung ho to sign up for more marathons. Most marathoners feel the same way. They will not let this incident keep them from running marathons. My friend, Danielle, in Washington state ran the Boston marathon last year. She did not run it this year and wasn't planning to run it next year due to injuries. However, because of the bombings, she has "decided to try and qualify again in 2014, and run for those who no longer can."

Fierce independence characterizes marathoners. They like the "high" that comes from their personal efforts on the course. Running 26 miles is not easy. Deep commitment and strength is needed to train for and complete a marathon.

Kauai Marathon finisher, September 5, 2010.

I hate to run as I prefer walking, but I respect runners and their quest for a personal best.

Bob and I are appalled by the cowardice of the perpetrator of the bombings! If they find who did this I think their punishment should be to run 100 marathons, at the point of a gun, if necessary. Maybe it would change their life. (Or maybe not, who knows?)

Because Bob is the runner, I'm asking him to write his thoughts. What follows is Bob's take.

It doesn't matter if it's a marathon finish, the Super Bowl or a Little League game, as a culture, we love to compete, participate and be spectators. Regardless of the actions some will take, this spirit to pursue our happiness and well being will not be put down.

When people who run 30 or more miles per week for months to prepare for a marathon are faced with adversity they use it as motivation. I predict the number of people running marathons over the next year will increase. That is how we are wired, as individuals and as a society.

When you do a marathon, you learn to run through your fear ("Can I do  this? Will I get hurt? I might come in last. Am I good enough?"). The reward is the sense of accomplishment at the finish line.

As a society, I believe we will outlast the fear of terrorism and realize the thrill of victory as we continue to live our lives to the fullest.

I am motivated to train harder and run another marathon in the next few months.

Travel Bug and Bob out.