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The
Hibiscus Half Marathon is a 13.1 mile race was
run on Sunday, June 15, 2008 6am
at Kapiolani Park Waikiki,HI
Ran in Memory of Bill
Crooks
It was a perfect day for a
run and I was able to finish
as the
1st Male Master Finisher and
was 8th overall and
of course dedicated it to
Bill. I
didn't reach my goal of
raising $2,500 and will
continue to take donations
till I reach it.
 Hibiscus Half Marathon:
review by ultraDave
The 2nd annual Hibiscus Half
Marathon was held on June 15
in Honolulu, Hawaii. It is a
benefit for the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society – which
helps with patient services
and blood cancer research.
Leukemia is a cancer of the
blood and is characterized
by a multiplication of white
blood cells. I ran this
event in memory of my late
friend, Bill Crooks who died
of Leukemia in 2006, after a
year long battle with the
disease. It was my first run
dedicated to Bill, my former
running partner, since he
passed away. Please read the
touching story of the last
time we ran together, “In
Memory of Bill”, by
ultraDave at the following
link online.
http://ultradaveruns.com/memory.html
As Sunday morning began, it
was the dawning of another
perfect day in Hawaii. To be
more precise, it was a
perfect day for a run. The
13.1 mile course started and
ended at Kapiolani Park, in
the shadow of Diamond Head.
Nearly 700 participants
picked up their timing chips
and gathered at 6am for the
start near the Waikiki
Aquarium. Racers began the
run by running one time
around the park before
beginning a short uphill
grade and circling Diamond
Head crater. Aid stations
with water and an energy
drink were given out by
enthusiastic volunteers five
times out on the course,
approximately every 3
miles. Passing through the
residential and commercial
areas of Kahala, runners
then merged onto the
Kalanianaole Highway. Seven
miles into the race, and a
little past Wailupe Beach
Park, the course doubled
back on the highway.
Turning just past the famous
Waialae Country Club golf
course, a short descent
meant that runners had less
than 4 miles left. Once
again, back on Diamond Head
Road, another short uphill
run this time presented
runners with a beautiful
view of the blue ocean,
waves coming ashore, and
plenty of surfers at
“Cliffs”, a popular surf
break. It was a good enough
view to make you want to
stop for a short while to
watch.
However, with only a
mile left in the race, the
urge to finish was greater.
The last stretch was back
through the park, with
plenty of spectators
cheering runners on to the
finish line just ahead.
Passing under the yellow
Finish Line arch, chips were
collected, and it was on to
the refreshments near the
Queen Liliuokalani statue. I was lucky enough to be
able to then head back out
on the course for a cool
down. It gave me a chance to
run with my friend, who was
running back and forth
between individual runners
from her team, and
encouraging them on to the
finish line. It was a great
site to see, many of them
finishing their first half
marathon ever. Many of them,
exhausted, but all smiles,
as their family waited for
them at the finish line.
This is what running is all
about: living a healthy
life, accomplishing goals
that you set out for
yourself, and sharing them
with your friends and
family.
Awards and random prizes
were given out at the awards
ceremony at the Bandstand at
9:30. Custom made awards
were given out to the Top 3
Overall Male and Female, Top
Master Male and Female, and
Top 3 in each Age Group
(every 5 years) Male and
Female. All participants
also received a red T-shirt
with a big Hibiscus flower
design on the front. This
was a very well organized
run that you should be sure
to run next year. And of
course, it was great to see
that the purple jerseys of
Team in Training were there
in full force.
Bottom line: it was a lot of
fun, and benefited a great
cause. I was proud to have
run In Memory of Bill, and
for the Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society. It was in fact, the
spirit of Bill that helped
get me back on the road so
quickly. Six weeks ago, I
was not running, due to a
prolonged running injury.
However, I knew that I had
to get back in shape in time
for this run. Through a
smart and patient rehab
period, I pressed on, and am
fortunate enough to be able
to say that I not only
finished this half marathon,
but was the 1st
Male Master Finisher, an
award which I dedicate to my
late friend, Bill Crooks.
Aloha, and happy running!!
Overall results for the Half
are at:
Pacific sport events Half
Marathon Results
Still accepting donations to
reach my goal of $2,500.
_______ Pledge $1 per
mile ($13.10) - Receive free 1
month supply of a multi-vitamin, and
1 month online personal coaching by
All-Star Fitness& Nutrition*,a $32
Value.
_______ Pledge $2 per mile ($26.20)
- Receive 3 months supply of a
multi-vitamin, and 3 months of
online personal coaching by All-Star
Fitness & Nutrition*,a $91value.
_______ Pledge other amount
*All-Star Fitness & Nutrition is an
online personal coaching program
which will help you reach your goal
faster. Run farther, faster, lose
weight, finish your first marathon,
improve strength and endurance, help
control or cure a disease, or just
improve your health in general.
For
more information contact your
personal coach, David Carlsson. For
more information or to make a
pledge, contact David at
808-221-1802 or
ultraDaveruns@yahoo.com
To send a donation, please put
“In Memory of Bill” one the memo
line, and make checks out to David
Carlsson. Mail to 1909 Ala Wai Bl.
#308 Honolulu, HI 96815 |
