July 14, 2019 HMC Footnotes

The Honolulu Marathon Clinic’s Golden 14s were well represented across the pond by Stephanie and Dean, pictured in front of Stone Henge.

The Little, Little Things

Training with the Honolulu Marathon Clinic has, hopefully, revealed many positive attributes associated with regular exercise. Running may have helped you reduce your weight, your blood pressure, and stress. After a long run, maybe things just don’t bug you like they used to. However, after a run in the summer when the trade winds are weak or absent, bugs may bug you.

If you train on a hot, humid late afternoon or early evening you may have already experienced running through swarms of gnats or even termites. They’re out there and you need to accept that you will, at some point, run into those gnat swarms and neglect to close your mouth fast enough or the swarm could be too big for you to continue to keep your mouth closed before you exit, and you’ll have to breath in then have a sudden wish for floss and a toothbrush. Maybe you’re grossed out, maybe you’ve got such a runners high going at that point, that it won’t bother you too much. You could even put a positive light on it that will attract termites which are bigger and could even be viewed as a nice protein supplement along the run. Think about how convenient that is, you didn’t have to carry anything, it was right there on the route for you, free of charge, and full of antioxidants.

Don’t let bugs bug you enough to prevent you from running, they’re out there, just doing their thing, not trying to get you. One runner tells of an incident during the 2015 Honolulu Marathon at about mile 10 near Kahala Elementary. As the sun was casting a glare in his eyes, he saw little bug shimmering in the light, headed straight towards his mouth and “zip!” it hit the back of his throat. The runner tried to cough it out, but it wouldn’t come up so he changed strategies and swallowed it instead. But, that bug wasn’t okay with that. It struggled back up the runner’s throat and was ejected when the runner coughed again. “BLEH!” After a few involuntary shivers across his body, the runner continued on to the aid station ahead to drink water, telling himself it was a bee, not a fly, and the only thing on that bug’s body was healthy pollen. Yes, it was a bee that had no interest in stinging him. 16.2 miles to go!

Running helps you realize that we share this world and everything has value to it. Check out Dr. Titchenal’s “July 17, 2019 “Got Nutrients” article about the nutrition value of insects at: http://www.gotnutrients.net/

MAHALO, Annette and Kathy for taking on table duty this past Sunday!

Pink Group (9:30 – 10 minutes per mile)

By Hao Yang

The Pink Group met at 6am to start our run on this humid Sunday. We ran to Ala Moana Park and back for 8 miles. After we regrouped with other Pinks, following Dr’s talk, we ran another 3-4miles.

Homework run: 2-3 one hour runs during the week. Make sure to hydrate during your runs, and rest between two long runs!

Happy Running!

Silver Group (10:30 – 11 minutes per mile)

By Carl Silva

The Silver Group started the month of July running 12 miles on July 7. The photo above shows the group from that run. The following Sunday, July 14th without the guy on the far left.

The Group appreciated the trade winds as they helped keep the heat at bay. Hopefully they hang around for the rest of the Summer to keep us running in comfort.

Keep up your homework of 2 to 3 runs during the week with rest days in between.

July 21: 12-mile run with Baby Kilauea.

July 28: 12-mile run with Kahala Avenue.

White Group (12 minutes per mile)

By Russ Uchida

Congratulations to White Group runners for finishing our first 12 mile run for this season. The weather was a little kinder to us with breezy trades throughout the run.

We were led out of the park by Richard who kept us on track from beginning to end. The group included Jaime, Elena, Danell, Helen, Michael, Aaron, and Elaine (from the Black group). It was nice to have Elaine join us as she kept Richard company at the front of the group.

We were also happy to see Violet at the gas station on her way back to Paki. Sam also greeted us along the way.

FINALLY, just a very short note on some drama that we experienced last Sunday at the end of our unofficial run.
On our final leg, near the Diamond Head tennis courts and large banyan trees, we almost ran into the middle of a yelling episode between two men (A) and (B). Man (A) stated that the other (B) was yelling and intimidating an elderly woman so (A) intervened to prevent further bullying. Man-B (alleged bully) crossed the road to the park/asphalt running path and started to walk into the park. He then suddenly started yelling at the top of his lungs to “leave me alone”. He then proceeded to throw down his bags, reached into his pocket, and appeared to pull out some type of weapon (pocket knife). The men continued to yell at each other, then Man-(B) picked up his bags and started walking on the running path towards Paki pavilion. Man-(A) called HPD and within minutes there were 4-5 HPD officers on scene. Man-(B) was apprehended and was being questioned as we cautiously made our way back to the Pavilion.

Just a few reminders to:

Always be mindful of your surroundings when you are running.
At minimum, keep one full arm’s length from/and when passing strangers. This distance is necessary in case they lunge towards you, you will have some space to minimize and/or avoid impact.
Always be alert when running. This includes staying focused on your surroundings.
HMC recommends no ear buds while running.
Be conscious of runners running in the opposite direction, be courteous, and share the sidewalk. Some runners will not hesitate to bump you if you are not sharing the sidewalk. Share the sidewalk, stay off the bike path, and share the road.

I hope to see you on Sunday, 7:30am at Paki Pavilion!!

Blue Group (12.5 minutes per mile)

By Val Ogi

The Blue Group took our group pic on the way back at Diamond Head Lookout. We’d rather be in the cool ocean today. Felt like 90°. Sorry we missed meeting Danny at the Aloha Gas Station.

We made it back along Keala’olu Ave and Kahala Ave. and back to the park for 9 miles. Told the group that I was going to do the figure 8 around the Zoo and Kapiolani Park to make my 12 miles. No one wanted to join me.

I hope people are out on vacations, our group was down to 5. Min and Trish I hope you’re both ok, you never came back to run with us?

Thanks to Annette and Kathy for serving up pbj and chicken curry sandwiches, watermelon, carrot zucchini bread, chips, gatorade, water and Jeff’s mango bread and coffee!

Green 15s (15 minutes per mile pace)

By Lou Crompton

Regrettably, I and I believe Harry and perhaps more visited our dear friend Gladys, Glady the Gladyator, over in Straub this past week. She perks up and smiles and wants a hug when you enter her room #515, but the nurse suggests wearing the disposable masks at the door and don’t hug. She has both pneumonia and flu. We sorely missed her cheerful smile being at the HMC this morning. Go visit! Take the precautions and wash hands leaving. She and you will both be happier for the visit. We wish and pray for a rapid recovery.

Thanks to Dr Titchenal for his advice on glutens and cholesterol.  He didn’t offer a $50 wager as our Doc Scaff has – but did “confirm” that you won’t permanently effect your serum cholesterol by eating an egg; plus we get the bennies of choline in eggs. Glad I ate my egg before clinic this morning, only thing I didn’t hear was how to prepare the egg so as not to destroy the choline – maybe a future talk can mention that.

On Sunday 7/7 about 10 little green ones went out for an informal excursion – glad to have April & Gordon join us as first timers… unfortunately they didn’t repeat today. She stayed right up with the lead – so we may know who to “blame” for a no show today. Please come back next week.  HMC has lots of pace groups and several walking groups.

We were happy to have our own HMC Blair join us last week – always welcome, guy. Since we did 10.5 mi last week that meant 11 today. We had 10 in the corral including first timer Eriko, a student here from Japan.  Hopefully, she’ll continue with us, finish her coursework, pass her tests, and stay in Honolulu.

We meandered around familiar landmarks, but this time Mr Garmin said we did 11.2 miles with a 15.3 pace.  OK, we’ll take it. Thanks to our gracious table duty ladies, Annette and Kathryn [hope you managed to get rid of all the watermelon].

Next week: 11.5 miles Will we have to go out further to a new place to attain that much distance?? Regardless of distance we seem to keep the same pace, and if we extrapolate that out to 26.3 miles, we would finish about 6H 35-45… but that’s what we always do.

Aloha!

Sweet 16s (16 minutes per mile pace)

By Annette Hayes

Thank you to Dr Tichenal for giving information about cholesterol. The Marathon Clinic teaches runners and walkers about the physical and nutritional aspects of training.

The Sixteens endured the warm summer day, to complete a 12 mile journey to Wailupe Park. The few breezes, Cliff’s puzzles, and Lynn’s leadership kept them going. Welcome back from vacation, Cliff. And thank you to Lynn for being the pacing leader.

The next bus run is Aug 18. Sign up if you will be coming, so Jeff can arrange for the appropriate sized bus. We were 3 people over capacity on the last outing. The bus runs are an important part of training, so that you know the back end of the Marathon route.

Kathy and Annette manned the refreshment table. The watermelon was so sweet and juicy! It is a perfect food for recovery after a long and hot training.