I am not a runner. No offense to those of you who enjoy it, but to me, running is a sport that isn’t enjoyed — it’s endured.
I will do light jogging every now and then just to be moving, but it’s a safe bet that I won’t be qualifying for the Boston Marathon anytime soon.
This past weekend, I took part in the 10K of the Koloa Plantation Days Family Fun Run.
But before I get into that, let me give you some backstory.
In last week’s column, I mentioned that during my visit back home in San Jose, Calif. earlier this year I took the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train to and back from San Francisco.
That day I took the train was the morning of Bay To Breakers — an annual 12K that runs from one side San Francisco to the other.
(Fun fact: the name of the race references that it starts from the northeast end of San Francisco’s downtown area and runs west through the city to the finish line at the Great Highway, which runs along the coast where breakers crash onto the beach.)
And, yes, it’s the one where people dress in costumes. Or, some people don’t, but that’s a different story for another time.
As for how I ran, it did not go well.
I did OK at first. I took it easy and kept my pace.
But then, there’s a section of the course that goes straight up for about half a mile — the Hayes Hill Challenge they call it.
I was gassed after that treacherous hill.
I managed to jog a little while after I reached the top of the hill, but soon after I was spent and had to walk the last three or so miles to the finish line — painfully.
I wanted to fall to the ground once I crossed, but I mustered to strength to walk a little further to stuff my face with bananas, bagels, water and whatever else I could get my hands on.
That food and drink after a long race, it’s a godsend.
Now, fast forward to last weekend here on Kauai. After that experience in San Francisco, I didn’t have high expectations in Poipu.
For the 10K, considering I didn’t train that much, I instead opted for a realistic goal — just to not stop jogging.
I wouldn’t have the fastest time, but hey, slow and steady wins the race (well, finishes the race).
I’m proud to say I did just that.
I kept a nice, easy pace throughout, and I managed to finish the race without having to crawl to the finish line.
I’ll call that a win, even though I didn’t win any medals.
By the way, thank you to all the volunteers and organizers that worked the race.
And, a shoutout to basketball coach Chris Acoba, who I saw handing out water and Gatorade at the 10K turning point.
“Yeah, drink that blue!” he said as I guzzled blue Gatorade at the station. Always a Menehune I suppose. Ha.
Now since the Family Fun Run, people here are encouraging me to run the Kauai Half Marathon later this year.
Uhh, let’s pump the brakes on that.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
