Team HI CLASS

On Sunday June 1, 2014, 5 people, including your blogger, participated as Team HI CLASS in the Honolulu Ekiden and Music Festival.  What an awesome experience.  During this past year I have become interested in running and have participated in a number of different races.  Nothing major or all that serious yet but I am slowly becoming more experienced.  It is easy for races to quickly become an addiction as there is always such an amazing energy created by being part of such events.  Being surrounded by people with drive, passion and commitment to their health is inspiring and encourages me to continue on my journey to greater health.   

The Honolulu Ekiden is a relay race that consisted of 6 legs, totaling a marathon at 26.2 miles, which went from Kapiolani Park to Sandy Beach and back.  I had never done a relay race, except for in PE in high school (back in my young days!).  I felt that a relay race was going to be something fun and exciting to participate in.  The course was an amazing combination of endurance and breathtaking views.  The legs varied in length from about 3 to 6 miles and in the elevations.  Even though my team and I were not concerned about time, other teams were for a very good reason because the winner won a trip to Japan.  Pretty good incentive to run fast.  

There were 180 teams that participated.  A large number from Japan and a great turn out from Hawaii.  It is a big draw for Japanese to come and participate because the relay race is also paired with a great outdoor concert the night after the race with popular Japanese band SCANDAL (this year) along with a few other bands. 

Team HI CLASS only had 5 runners, which had one brave woman volunteer to run two legs -  a total of just over 9 miles that she completed in a speedy 84 minutes.  Then she handed off the sash (not a baton) to me at leg 3.  I took off at such a speed (NOT), but I started to run from about Roy’s Hawaii Kai along the Kalanianaole Highway and head up the hill to Hanauma Bay.  Wow.  That hill was way more challenging than I had anticipated.  I had to walk most of the way up because when I was running I felt like I was going backwards!  I ran…I mean my leg ended at Sandy Beach.  I had the most beautiful view while running that I had to stop and take video and pictures.  A videographer passed me on a motorcycle and reminded me I should be running.  I had to explain that I needed to take pictures…and a break!

I passed off the sash to Sid.  He took off running and did a great job completing leg 4.  Our next runner had a long and hot run but made us proud with 10 minute miles.  The anchor, the man, finished the race with a very impressive mile time of 6 minutes.  As he was coming through to the finish line, Team HI CLASS gathered just before the finish line and ran with him through the finish line.  He came up so quickly I couldn’t even keep up with him (pretty embarrassing and now there is a video on Facebook that will allow the moment to be replayed, forever!).  But what a great moment to finish the race with these great team members.  

The event was very well planned and executed.  At each sash exchange station there were bathrooms, tents for shade, water, police, an ambulance and a huge team of volunteers making sure that everything worked properly. 

Some teams were serious about the race and their times, while my team was not that concerned.  I am not a fast runner by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy the activity of running. 

Personal motivation is one thing but having a team of people who are positive and encourage you is at a whole other level.  I was incredibly lucky to be supported, even though I did not perform to the level which I had hoped, by a team that made me incredibly proud to be a part of! 


Best, 

MJ