Hi Michelle,
thank you for the caring and the wonderful
"happy marathon" birthday by Parker on the phone. will let you
know when YOU can imagine running this through my photoeyes.
It's a great feeling to have conquered this
run; my fear for 3 years if I should try it.
"Called the world's toughtest
marathon," "challenges the most advanced and hardy endurance
runners. The course covers extreme tough and uneven terrain, lava
fields.. and 1000 foot elevations."
That'll scare most thinking-about-it off. Wait
till I show the world of runners the photos of the course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway nice relaxing dayoff now and just sore
leg muscles, knees are OK!
I'll let you know when I have the photos up in
a week or so.
Now what to do with myslef?
Here's my time - 3rd last from the end. Time
limit was 7 hrs 30 min. Worried before signing up if I could make this. So
it was close and I don't care that I'm at the end. Those that signed are
ENDURANCE types, running many marathons and many ultramarathons of 50-100
miles! I"m just glad I made it, crossed the finish line and written
into the race's history book.
HI Jim,
I'M STILL KICKING!
WANNA PUNCH OUT MY RIGHT THIGH FOR WIMPING OUT AT
17 MILES. ACTUALLY DON'T BLAME IT BECAUSE lst time IT HAD TO CLIMB AND JUMP
OVER LIKE 12 MILES OF ROCKS TO GET TO THE HALFWAY POINT. NO ALIENS BUT AN
ANGEL DID SHOW. LIZ FROM PHEONIX, ONE TOUGH WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T QUIT. SHE CAME
IN 2ND TO LAST, ME, 3RD FROM THE LAST. NOT ASHAMED HOWEVER, CUZ ONLY 206
SIGNED THIS YEAR, 175 CROSSED THE LINE. AT 17, ALONG ON A TRAIL, THE MUSCLE
WENT INTO SPAMS AND I'M THINKING "OH SHIT, I'M NOT GOING TO FINISH
AFTERALL. MY WORSE NIGHTMARE, I DIDN'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS
THING, TO TAKE THIS MOUNTAIN. THEN AS I HOPPING ABOUT WHINING ABOUT THE
SPASMS, THIS SOFT VOICE SAYS BEHIND ME, "ARE YOU OK?" AND THERE WERE
I MET LIZ OF PHOENIX, AZ. STANDING THERE, SHORT, 40, WITH A MEAN GASH OVER ONE
KNEE WITH DRIED BLOOD DOWN TO HER ANKLE. "CRAMPING, DAMN!, IT'S ALL
OVER!"
"WAIT, I GOT SOMETHING FOR THAT."
SHE WHIPS INTO HER BACKPACK AND BRINGS OUT WINTERGREEN OINTMENT. SHE RUBS IT
INTO MY COMPLAINING INNER , MIDDLE, AND SIDE THIGH. IT FELT BETTER RIGHT
OFF. MAYBE IT WASN'T THE OINTMENT BUT A WOMAN HAND. HAHAHA! AMAZINGLY THE
CRAMPED WENT AWAY AND WE STARTED WALKING TOGETHER. I WALKED GINGERLY, KNOWING
THE CRAMP OR ONE FROM THE OTHER LEG MUSCLES ALSO STARTING TO ACT UP MIGHT GO
SPASTIC. SHE HOBBLED, MOANING AS SHE WENT. I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED AND SHE SAID
5 LADIES TOOK A SPILL AT 5 MILES, FALLING ALL OVER SHARP LAVA ROCKS. 3 WERE
LIFTED OUT OF THE RACE, "ONE LOOKED LIKE SHE'D NEED AT LEAST 5 STITCHES.
THIS WOMAN, HOWEVER, AS A REAL TOUGH HOMBRE, REFUSING TO GET LIFTED, TELLING
STAFF TO BACK OFF BECAUSE "I'M FINISHING THIS THING." WE PROBABLY
WALKED - CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE FINISH LINE ABOUT 5 MILES (SO MY KNEES DON'T
HURT TODAY). WE CHATTED, SHE TELLING ME ABOUT HOW PHOENIX SUCKS, HER JOB
SUCKS, HER BOSS SUCKS, HER APPLICATION TO TEACH LIBRARY SCIENCE AT U. OF
HAWAII WENT UNANSWERED. THAT SUCKS. SHE SAID SHE HAS NO FRIENDS, LIKES IT THAT
WAY, CAN SEE LIVING LIKE A HERMIT IN VOLCANO VILLAGE IF ONLY SHE COULD FIND A
JOB AND BEFORE HOUSES CONTINUE TO GO SKY HIGH IN PRICE LIKE THE OTHER ISLANDS
HERE. THEN THE SCENE CHANGED TO GREEN- WE ENTERED A RAIN FOREST, NICE CHANGE
AFTER MILES OF OPEN DESOLATE BARREN LAVA FIELDS OF BLACK. I SAID,
"OH HECK, USED UP ALL MY FILM (BROGHT 4 DISPOSABLES). SHE SAYS, "OH
, WHY DON'T YOU USE MINE, I DON'T FEEL LIKE TAKING ANY DAMN PICTURES.
SHOULDN'T HAVE SIGN UP FOR THIS MARATHON, WHAT A MISTAKE." SO I
HUNG OUT LONGER THAN I SHOULD, USING HER CAMERA, SHOOTING AWAY AT THE SCENERY
FOR MY MARATHONCOURSEPHOTOS.COM. SHE KEPT MOANING WITH EVERY STEP, BUT
IT'S ILLEGAL TO HELP CARRY ANOTHER RUNNER, PLUS THAT'LL CRAMP ME OUT FOR SURE.
SO I PUT ON MY HEADPHONES AND LISTENED TO MY IPOD CLASSICAL MUSIC PUT IN BY MY
BALLERINA DAUGHTER (JUST ARRIVED TODAY IN UPSTATE NY FOR HER 3 WEEK
SUMMER DANCE RETREAT) - WHEN I TOLD HER TO PUT IN LOTS OF DISCO AND HIPHOP.
NOW I COULDN'T HEAR THE MOANING AND KEPT TAKING NICE PHOTOS OF THE ROUTE. SHE
NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS AROUND HER. NO INSTEAD,
"ONE STEP AT A TIME.." SHE KEPT SAYING TO HERSELF. I
ASKED SEVERAL TIMES ALONG THE WAY, "REALLY HURTING, HUH?" HER
RESPONSE, "YEAH, LIKE A KNIFE, SHARP, NOT DULL. oH......" AT
ABOUT 3 MILES TO THE END, I FELT GUILTY WALKING SO MUCH SO HAD TO 'DUMP HER.-
AND THE CAMERA." SHE KNEW AND SAID, "DON'T LET ME HOLD YOU
BACK." I GAVE HER BACK THE CAMERA AND SAID AS I LEFT, FOR THE
WORLD, 'AT THE FINISH I'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOU TO GIVE YOU MY EMAIL. SEND THE
PHOTOS AND I'LL GIVE YOU MY BOOK." SHE'S A SCI FI FAN. BUT AT THE END,
THERE, SITTING ON THE GROUND WITH 2 ATTENDANTS ATTENDING TO HER KNEE, I TOUCH
HER ON THE SHOULDER AND SHE LOOKED UP. "NICE JOB, YOU MADE IT! HERE'S MY
EMAIL AND HERE'S MY BOOK." I HAD A COPY IN THE RENTAL CAR CLOSE BY. SHE
SAID SHE'LL SEND THEM BUT WOULDN'T BE BACK TILL WED. IN ARIZONA. AND THAT WAS
THE LAST TIME I SAW THIS ANGEL. NOW JUST HOPE SHE'S NOT THE DEVIL AND NEVER
SENDS THE PHOTOS! THE WERE THE GREAT PART OF THE ROUTE WITH GREEN FOREST AND
PANARAMIC VIEWS INTO VOLCANO CRATERS. MY SHOTS OF THE FIRST 2/3 OF THE ROUTE?
ROCKS!
206 SIGNED UP, 175 MADE IT HOME WITH A FINISHER'S
MEDALS. NOW I GOT ALL 5 OFFICIAL HAWAII MARATHONS DONE. IF I DON'T RETIRE,
IT'S MUST MAINLAND OR FOREIGN SOIL NOW TO POUND. I AM SOOOOO HAPPY I CAME OUT
ON TOP WITH THIS FEARFUL CHALLENGE. WHEW, IT WAS CLOSE, MADE WITH ONLY 22
MINUTES TO SPARE.
IN THE HISTORY BOOK-
Had a nice loooong sleep on a sunday for once.
hey, no knee trouble today, just stiff leg muscles, especially that stupid
thigh. almost caused me to quit and be depressed back here, failing to
accomplish my goal. but i did it, even if i was 3rd last over the line. so
what, finished all carmping hawaiian marathons, got 21st, and got the pictures,
and didn't get hurt. i fell 3 times but was able to stop my fall wtih my
hands. then i remembered i brought gloves and knee pads. then when i put it on,
i never fell again. but what a wonderful run it was. at first, the first 12
miles of just barren rocks i thought, no great pictures. then at the end a
surprise with green forests and up close volcano crater shots. so taken
together, this route at marathoncoursephotos.com should be THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
COURSE so far, best in Hawaii, so i'm glad i took the challenge do traverse it.
I DID IT!
HI Steve,
How could you be so sure? Thank you for the
confidence.
But yes, you were right.
I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT was tough but what isn't if it's something you
really desire to accomplish?
There were moments that threatened a premature end
along the race route. Cramps. But in the end, I crossed the end, even if
walking through the cramp resulted in me finish 3rd from the last. 206 signed
on, 175 finished. I'm happy, at 61, with finishing, securing my 21st marathon,
getting the photos. Once I do, I'll send you the link so you can reenact what
it's like running this course.
It was a marvelous encounter to meet you. We have
very very similar hopes and dreams and are locked into the same age range with
its demand to act sooner THAN later. I look forward to what you might find on
the island. The space you mention of over 300 ft seems like an alternative
startup to get the ball rolling. There's another possibility which can quickly
evaporate. The 215K 2005 2bedrm house in Volcano won't last. I went back to it
after the run (had time for my 7 pm flight back) and could envision it as a
private (it's residential) therapy retreat or center for you. It's 1/2 acre
and I walked the back, visualizing the trails we could develop for a spiritual
walk through the woods. Then in the back, there's space for a gazebo for
therapy or just making art. We could surround it with flower gardens for still
life painting. Instead of working on depressed patients with marital, child,
and drug problems, I can see how this might attract mature rich patients (art
buyers who respect their helper) come to Volcano/Hawaii to deal with their
existential issues. And develop their creativity and art ability (many Volcano
artists available for PT cash). I think it's worth your time to see the
cheapest new house in the area before it goes. I'll have JJ the realtor
contact you. He said it fell out of escrow because they couldn't qualify so
it's not going to last at this price. I say 200K offer, 10% down for each of
us, change the living room to a gallery, one bedroom for the live in visiting
client/patient, the other we share as private office/computer/printshop. We
foster biz via a new website, offering besides online virtual gallery images,
printing services that are competitively priced. The place has a nice back
patio overlooking a small koi pond. This would be a great initial space to
start therapy. Later the back 1/2 of brush can be developed to walking path
and another gazebo placed in back for painting, therapy, and meditation. But
take a look, it's all just a thought and I look forward to your feedback,
common sense, consideration if there's something better and it's better to
postpone this move. I'm in no rush but like you, I want to keep the momentum
and motivation moving along.
I did it, I AM an official Kilauea Volcano
Wilderness Marathon MEDALLIST.
With the end of this challenge maybe it serves as
a START of our mutual challenge of getting our work out to where it belongs.
In the living and private spaces of others.
Aloha,
Rod/PY
hI CLAY,
YEAH, THE SOES ARE PRETTY TORN UP FROM THE
JAGGED LAVA. WHAT A FANTASTIC ROUTE THIS IS. YOU'LL SEE THE PHOTOS.
PRECARIOUS AT SOME POINTS. DEMANDING. WROTE THIS TO A FREIND ON THE MAINLAND
SO WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU (DETAILS) - WE'LL TALK MORE LATER-
I'M STILL KICKING!
WANNA PUNCH OUT MY RIGHT THIGH FOR WIMPING OUT
AT 17 MILES. ACTUALLY DON'T BLAME IT BECAUSE lst time IT HAD TO CLIMB AND
JUMP OVER LIKE 12 MILES OF ROCKS TO GET TO THE HALFWAY POINT. NO ALIENS
BUT AN ANGEL DID SHOW. LIZ FROM PHEONIX, ONE TOUGH WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T
QUIT. SHE CAME IN 2ND TO LAST, ME, 3RD FROM THE LAST. NOT ASHAMED HOWEVER,
CUZ ONLY 206 SIGNED THIS YEAR, 175 CROSSED THE LINE. AT 17, ALONG ON A
TRAIL, THE MUSCLE WENT INTO SPAMS AND I'M THINKING "OH SHIT, I'M NOT
GOING TO FINISH AFTERALL. MY WORSE NIGHTMARE, I DIDN'T HAVE WHAT IT
TAKES TO DO THIS THING, TO TAKE THIS MOUNTAIN. THEN AS I HOPPING
ABOUT WHINING ABOUT THE SPASMS, THIS SOFT VOICE SAYS BEHIND ME, "ARE
YOU OK?" AND THERE WERE I MET LIZ OF PHOENIX, AZ. STANDING THERE,
SHORT, 40, WITH A MEAN GASH OVER ONE KNEE WITH DRIED BLOOD DOWN TO HER
ANKLE. "CRAMPING, DAMN!, IT'S ALL OVER!"
"WAIT, I GOT SOMETHING FOR THAT."
SHE WHIPS INTO HER BACKPACK AND BRINGS OUT WINTERGREEN OINTMENT. SHE RUBS
IT INTO MY COMPLAINING INNER , MIDDLE, AND SIDE THIGH. IT FELT
BETTER RIGHT OFF. MAYBE IT WASN'T THE OINTMENT BUT A WOMAN HAND. HAHAHA!
AMAZINGLY THE CRAMPED WENT AWAY AND WE STARTED WALKING TOGETHER. I WALKED
GINGERLY, KNOWING THE CRAMP OR ONE FROM THE OTHER LEG MUSCLES ALSO
STARTING TO ACT UP MIGHT GO SPASTIC. SHE HOBBLED, MOANING AS SHE WENT. I
ASKED WHAT HAPPENED AND SHE SAID 5 LADIES TOOK A SPILL AT 5 MILES, FALLING
ALL OVER SHARP LAVA ROCKS. 3 WERE LIFTED OUT OF THE RACE, "ONE LOOKED
LIKE SHE'D NEED AT LEAST 5 STITCHES. THIS WOMAN, HOWEVER, AS A REAL TOUGH
HOMBRE, REFUSING TO GET LIFTED, TELLING STAFF TO BACK OFF BECAUSE
"I'M FINISHING THIS THING." WE PROBABLY WALKED - CLOSER AND
CLOSER TO THE FINISH LINE ABOUT 5 MILES (SO MY KNEES DON'T HURT TODAY). WE
CHATTED, SHE TELLING ME ABOUT HOW PHOENIX SUCKS, HER JOB SUCKS, HER BOSS
SUCKS,
206 SIGNED UP, 175 MADE IT HOME WITH A FINISHER'S MEDALS. NOW I GOT ALL
5 OFFICIAL HAWAII MARATHONS DONE. IF I DON'T RETIRE, IT'S MUST MAINLAND
OR FOREIGN SOIL NOW TO POUND. I AM SOOOOO HAPPY I CAME OUT ON TOP WITH
THIS FEARFUL CHALLENGE. WHEW, IT WAS CLOSE, MADE WITH ONLY 22 MINUTES TO
SPARE.
IN THE HISTORY BOOK-
LOVE, BRAH ROD