 8.15 miles After running about a half a dozen races in my life, with little to no pictures, Craig was sure he wanted to buy this one for me. The camera guys were standing on an over pass in which I ran under. |
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Saturday, February 23, 2013
GAR Pictures
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
First Race of the Year: The Great Aloha Run (Kris)
Wow! Just got back from this race, aka GAR. It is one of the most popular races in our state. The starting line is near the Aloha Tower, down town Honolulu, and finishes at the Aloha Stadium, 8.15 miles later.
Over 18,0000 runners completed the race today, Craig and I being two of them!
This is was not my first time running this race, but it had been ten years since I had run it. It is instrumental in my preparation for our December marathon.
This was Craig's very first race. Some unfortunate things happened in the days leading up to this day. When we picked up our race bibs at the running expo on Saturday, we failed to see that the girl handed Craig the wrong racing number. This morning at about 4:45 am, on our way to the race, we realized that Craig was to be running under the name of Evelyn K, age group 65-69. It was so disappointing to me that at his first race ever, this was happening.
Anyway, it doesn't end there. We ended up laughing at the end of the race when we found out about another mishap. Craig ended up running with my racing number and I wore Evelyn's. When we got home, we checked our finishing times online. It appears that I may have won Evelyn a first place metal for her age group! He he... I can't stop laughing! She's was ranked #1, the fastest 65+ year old lady out there, by a good 10 minutes! (We checked and they issued her a new number at the expo when they saw hers was gone. The REAL Evelyn completed it with a respectable 3 hrs 6 min)
Though my preparation for this race was anything but ideal, I did meet the goal I set the week of the race. I had some big obstacles in my training over the past 6 weeks (sick children and a busy coaching schedule). I believe I had some 10-14 day stretches with no recorded run. I felt super bummed about this.
Last Sunday, in a last ditch effort, I ran 8.25 miles to see what goal I should set for myself. I ran 9:01 min. miles, finishing at about 1 hr 15 min. After this, I set my goal for 8:45 min miles.
I am happy to say, with God's help, I met my goal!!
By God's Power, my results:
(If you log onto the GAR site, it's number 15219) Craig went through the results and fit my time into my age group and came up with the last statistic:
Time: 1:09:53 (8:35 min. miles)
Finished 1,308 out of 18,198 (all finishers)
Finished 265 out of 9503 (all females)
Finished 34 out of 1025 (Female 34-39)
The things I want to remember about the race itself was that the first 4 miles seemed to be slightly frustrating. It was just so crowded with all those people. It was hard to find enough room to set my pace and stay there. I thought that there would be no way to reach my goal in this situation, but I was wrong. Though there were some slower miles, the saved energy was exerted later to make up for them.
At the 4 mile mark, I was so pumped when I looked at my watch and saw it said 32 min. I realized I was making good time after all. The last mile was really tough though: against the wind and some up-hill. I struggled to keep up my pace near the end.
Because of all the activity around me, everything just seemed to go by very fast. I spent a lot of time praying for Craig. During every hill and challenging part I prayed for him to stay encouraged when he got there. I prayed for Ju and her training too. The last few miles I tried to really fight the desire to slow down and be comfortable. I like to chant things during the last push. (This past summer's 10k I chanted "quick feet, hot lava." This was after Stan had given me some very valuable advice about my footwork during a trail run.) During this run I was saying "quick feet," again, but also "do my best, for God's glory."
At the end of the race we met up with our good friends Cary and Raylynn, a couple from church. We rejoiced about the morning and swapped stories. Cary and Raylynn are our #1 encouragers. They both have completed big races, including marathons. Their advice and encouragement is invaluable!
Overall, it was a very good race for me. It took some time to accept that I'm a little slower than 10 years ago, so I had to change my expectations a bit. That's why this phrase has been important to me: "Do my best." I say this to my daughters and to my basketball team girls: "God wants us to give our best." Following this truth, I have found personal victories and contentment.
Over 18,0000 runners completed the race today, Craig and I being two of them!
This is was not my first time running this race, but it had been ten years since I had run it. It is instrumental in my preparation for our December marathon.
This was Craig's very first race. Some unfortunate things happened in the days leading up to this day. When we picked up our race bibs at the running expo on Saturday, we failed to see that the girl handed Craig the wrong racing number. This morning at about 4:45 am, on our way to the race, we realized that Craig was to be running under the name of Evelyn K, age group 65-69. It was so disappointing to me that at his first race ever, this was happening.
Anyway, it doesn't end there. We ended up laughing at the end of the race when we found out about another mishap. Craig ended up running with my racing number and I wore Evelyn's. When we got home, we checked our finishing times online. It appears that I may have won Evelyn a first place metal for her age group! He he... I can't stop laughing! She's was ranked #1, the fastest 65+ year old lady out there, by a good 10 minutes! (We checked and they issued her a new number at the expo when they saw hers was gone. The REAL Evelyn completed it with a respectable 3 hrs 6 min)
Though my preparation for this race was anything but ideal, I did meet the goal I set the week of the race. I had some big obstacles in my training over the past 6 weeks (sick children and a busy coaching schedule). I believe I had some 10-14 day stretches with no recorded run. I felt super bummed about this.
Last Sunday, in a last ditch effort, I ran 8.25 miles to see what goal I should set for myself. I ran 9:01 min. miles, finishing at about 1 hr 15 min. After this, I set my goal for 8:45 min miles.
I am happy to say, with God's help, I met my goal!!
By God's Power, my results:
(If you log onto the GAR site, it's number 15219) Craig went through the results and fit my time into my age group and came up with the last statistic:
Time: 1:09:53 (8:35 min. miles)
Finished 1,308 out of 18,198 (all finishers)
Finished 265 out of 9503 (all females)
Finished 34 out of 1025 (Female 34-39)
The things I want to remember about the race itself was that the first 4 miles seemed to be slightly frustrating. It was just so crowded with all those people. It was hard to find enough room to set my pace and stay there. I thought that there would be no way to reach my goal in this situation, but I was wrong. Though there were some slower miles, the saved energy was exerted later to make up for them.
At the 4 mile mark, I was so pumped when I looked at my watch and saw it said 32 min. I realized I was making good time after all. The last mile was really tough though: against the wind and some up-hill. I struggled to keep up my pace near the end.
Because of all the activity around me, everything just seemed to go by very fast. I spent a lot of time praying for Craig. During every hill and challenging part I prayed for him to stay encouraged when he got there. I prayed for Ju and her training too. The last few miles I tried to really fight the desire to slow down and be comfortable. I like to chant things during the last push. (This past summer's 10k I chanted "quick feet, hot lava." This was after Stan had given me some very valuable advice about my footwork during a trail run.) During this run I was saying "quick feet," again, but also "do my best, for God's glory."
At the end of the race we met up with our good friends Cary and Raylynn, a couple from church. We rejoiced about the morning and swapped stories. Cary and Raylynn are our #1 encouragers. They both have completed big races, including marathons. Their advice and encouragement is invaluable!
Overall, it was a very good race for me. It took some time to accept that I'm a little slower than 10 years ago, so I had to change my expectations a bit. That's why this phrase has been important to me: "Do my best." I say this to my daughters and to my basketball team girls: "God wants us to give our best." Following this truth, I have found personal victories and contentment.
Monday, February 18, 2013
My Story (Kris)
It was a cold and icy morning in February, 1974, I was the fourth child born to Dale and Nancy Doron... alright, just kidding about all the life details. Fast forward...
I have always enjoyed competitive sports. I believe I was born with a bit of a drive to be moving. High school sports were such a highlight for me: loved, loved playing! After college sports were over (4 years of basketball, 1 year of track), I became a little more serious about running. I came up with 5 reasons why I started running.
1. weight control
2. stress relief
3. no club fees
4. I live in the perfect climate for year-round participation
5. I just can't keep still!!
So when I moved to Hawaii in 1997 (the day after Stan and Ju got married), running became a fun hobby.
Eleven years ago this month, Craig and I found that we were expecting our first baby. (Julie and Stan were in fact visiting us on the island when we found out). For a little over a decade I have either been pregnant or nursing. That chapter of my life has just come to a close.
It was time to answer the question that others have been asking me and I have often asked myself: "Are you planning on running a marathon some day?" I had always said "no," until recently. If I'm going to run a marathon, now is the time!
I am thrilled to have my sister willing to take on this challenge with me. Some days the challenge just seems too enormous!
The biggest challenge for me is to find the time and discipline to train. God has blessed me with fun-loving husband, Craig, four daughters and a son. These people are my first priorities!
I have always enjoyed competitive sports. I believe I was born with a bit of a drive to be moving. High school sports were such a highlight for me: loved, loved playing! After college sports were over (4 years of basketball, 1 year of track), I became a little more serious about running. I came up with 5 reasons why I started running.
1. weight control
2. stress relief
3. no club fees
4. I live in the perfect climate for year-round participation
5. I just can't keep still!!
So when I moved to Hawaii in 1997 (the day after Stan and Ju got married), running became a fun hobby.
Eleven years ago this month, Craig and I found that we were expecting our first baby. (Julie and Stan were in fact visiting us on the island when we found out). For a little over a decade I have either been pregnant or nursing. That chapter of my life has just come to a close.
It was time to answer the question that others have been asking me and I have often asked myself: "Are you planning on running a marathon some day?" I had always said "no," until recently. If I'm going to run a marathon, now is the time!
I am thrilled to have my sister willing to take on this challenge with me. Some days the challenge just seems too enormous!
The biggest challenge for me is to find the time and discipline to train. God has blessed me with fun-loving husband, Craig, four daughters and a son. These people are my first priorities!
Tory-10
Jessi-8
Lani-6
JC-1 and Allie-3
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