Kauai marathon, 8/31/2025
I flew to Kauai on Wednesday for this Sunday race! I think
that was perfect timing to get there, settle in and loosen up after 14 hours in the air, adapt to the time change, etc. I think it would have been
even better had I not done so much hiking on Thursday that my hips then quads
were still sore on race morning!!! However, I wouldn’t have changed anything because I got in great hikes that I absolutelky adored and still managed the marathon!
Some super quick background: I just feel so lucky that I was
able to even do this marathon. When I had a bad ankle sprain this spring, I didn’t
know what that would mean- especially for the hiking that I wanted to do daily. I
wrapped the ankle (that is still swollen) before the marathon and didn’t have
any problems. In addition, I hurt my knee about 4-5 weeks before the race. For
a solid 2 weeks, I wasn’t able to even take walks without pain. Sometimes I could
run, but I would finish and it would be so painful and stiff. Obviously, I was
super concerned, but I think it was a bone bruise and with enough icing, I got
it to heal! I am SO VERY GRATEFUL for this.
I trained myself hard for this race, and took my weekly training plan very serious. It was one of my
goals for the year to actually coach myself again. To treat myself like one of
the athletes I coach and to follow my plan, do my best, and be as prepared and
fit as possible. I did that, and I’m proud of myself.
I built to 50-54 miles per week for my top 4 weeks of
training. I did a few new things in my training:
1.
I tried to mimic approx the total time I would
be out there on race day. So that doesn’t mean I ran 26 beforehand, but I did
run 23 as my long run (which is a good thing for my run level and pace). But
then I continued with a walk, so that my total moving time (so metabolically, muscularly,
mentally, I would have my systems prepared for the length).
2.
I also did the same idea as above except
followed up my long run with strength sessions (lower body) to build leg
strength on tired legs.
3.
The final changes made was that I really blocked
my weeks: I would do long run, FOLLOWED by 2 more (at least) consecutive days
of running, with one of these days a significant mid distance run of 14-15. By
blocking/stacking these run days- it would then give me 2 days/week – Thurs and
Friday off of running (usually Thurs would be swim or bike day, then pretty
much always off on Friday) to repair and recover. I think this really worked
well to the point of what I was trying to accomplish. It let me train hard/get
in lots of miles on tired legs (u can’t always train on fresh legs because then
aren’t teaching the body how to recruit accessory muscles to come into play.
DAYS BEFORE RACE: hiking Thursday and Friday wasn’t ideal if
my goal was to PERFORM OPTIMALLY in the marathon. But I would choose it again based on how the
race went. The other component I would repeat is my nutrition the week of race.
I knew last year I had messed up my stomach with tomatoes/too much acid before a late summer race. When I got to Kauai- I came with oatmeal, an apple and a tuna packet and whole grain
wrap for each day. Super easy to open the packet at the beach or end of a hike,
dump it in wrap, roll it up and boom. So basically each day, I would have
banana in am (stopped at walmart immediately after landing for my usual: bananas and wine), pour hot water over oatmeal in a paper cup and put in the car to
be oatmeal for after a hike, bring an apple, then have a wrap/tuna at some
point. I also had bars with me, also peanut butter pretzels. I would eat
something else that I would purchase- (always drinks/ I did go to happy hour
daily), I was slightly concerned that I was cutting food short, not getting
in enough calories. Oh, I also had a few bagels- maybe 2 blueberry that I had brought from home and kind of ate as needed. I also took
at least one electrolyte tab, usually 2 (one always was a NUUN, the other would be a liquid iv packet-
plus I liked that would give me some calories without fiber in this pre race week. I’m not saying at all that I
would recommend this eating plan for someone else, but honestly it worked for me in the end and -- to do a marathon with NO GI ISSUES, omgosh I’ll
TAKE IT!!) *The night before- I boiled up these soba noodles that I had brought from home and mixed another packet of tuna in. (I don't even like tuna, but, honestly, if it allows me to travel on a food budget, I'll take it!) (I made up for it in happy hours and also had a few meals out that were great!)
·
RACE MORNING: race started at 6 so I planned to
get there at 4, planned to get up at 3:15. Well- I basically was ramped up at
2am with no HOPE for more sleep. I left
the vrbo at 3:50- got there at 4. I had 2 hours to mingle, walk around, and I
reminded myself to get off legs and sit!
·
Things (gi) system was feeling super smooth and
I thought I was fine going to bathroom, but at like 5:10, I had a wave come
over me like noooo pls nooo! Do not let this be a story in my day!! I went to
bathroom, prayed (literally) (and it was all I asked other people to pray for
me for- pray for my gi system)!! that this would be the end. Luckily it was!!!
·
There was a 30 min walk to start line and a
Hawaiian ceremony-was beautiful! Then it was time!! To RUN!!!!
At race ceremony, even walking over I had this intense urge
to pee. I have never had that before, I couldn’t believe it. The race started
and the first two miles, all I could think is that I cannot believe this- I need
to pee and I was giving serious consideration to possibly stopping bc it was
uncomfortable and distracting.
Mile 1: I knew this mile was flat to begin and I always love
a nice flat start! I settled in nice and calm, yea.
Mile 2 we turned left and were supposed to start an incline.
Well, I didn’t really feel an incline, I thought hmmm, well maybe soon…. I was feeling
a perfect maybe 6-6.5/10 effort- exactly on plan.
Mile 3: took the first few sips of a UCAN gel, and also just
noticing my surroundings and all sorts of interesting things. First, there is a guy near me wearing khaki
shorts and a button down Hawaiin shirt. Interesting- even if he is doing the
half, wtf? Also, so many women wearing these new fancy like “skort” things with
like “pleats” on the skirt so that every step their skirt balloons up in the
air and it looks like it is swishing on their legs when it comes down. I don’t
know, but that would drive me crazy feeling all of that movement around me/
fabric tapping on me each step. Just interesting to notice. Also, a few people just HOLDING their phones
(more on phones later)- but I wouldn’t even want to hold my phone for a 3 mile
jog. Anyway, each to their own, I was just noticing all of these things and
still wondering where the hill was. Pace 8:23- noticing my pace continuing to
warm up, but I still am at my 6-6.5/10 effort as to plan.
Mile 4: I take in some water sips from my flask because
while the sun isn’t out- it is cloudy and sun still rising, it is already
HUMID. I’m already sweating quite a bit, just keeping this in mind. 8:11.
Mile 5: I am honestly wondering where the hill is. Later, when I drove these roads, I did notice
there was an incline, so it was there, but I just didn’t notice it, it wasn’t
bad and it was all just gradual along the way, and now we enter the TREE
TUNNEL- just beautiful and spectacular to be able to be ON FEET taking this all
in. When in the world do you have an opportunity to run through the tree tunnel
and have this time to really be feet on the earth, fully immersed and experiencing
it. It was pure awe and joy. I just was
smiling honestly the whole time. 8:31
Mile 6, Tree tunnel continues and I just remember this mile
as being fully just loving how I am feeling on this day. Running easy, feel strong on my legs,
breathing easy, happy heart. I take a few more sips of my ucan gel- my plan for
first 10 miles is to take some sips every 3 miles. 9:11
Mile 7: we take a left onto a main road. There is a lane closed down, but I notice
tons of traffic going in the opposite direction, it is only like 7 am now- not
sure if there is more traffic because other roads are closed maybe. I start to notice also that I’m taking the
tangents, doesn’t seem like anyone else around me is, but I personally am not
going to add distance to my marathon, so I try to keep aware of where the most
direct line is to where we are going.
Plus, that is helpful to stay aware and present. 8:22
Mile 8: My mind does some sort of little anxiety flutters,
not because I’m feeling bad, but because I’m falling into my “forward thinking”
trap. Like how will this go? How will I
feel in 10 more miles, in 16 more miles.
I remind myself to be where my feet are, enjoy my surroundings, absorb
every moment. So, I am aware of trying
to be present, but I’m also feeling some of my tendencies to worry about how
things will unravel. 8:07
Mile 9: I have a few people running near me holding super
steady pace with me, I’m so thankful. One guy is quite tall and I do tuck
behind him (until he isn’t running the tangents). Then we end up really shoulder to shoulder
for most of this mile. I ask him
quietly- “steady pace, are you doing half or full?” I was hoping he was doing
the full because I wanted to have someone right at my pace to kind of try to
lock in with. He said the half though. We just asked where each other were from- he
was from Austrailia but living/working in
NC. Here I go- 3rd sips of my UCAN gels. 7:25
Mile 10: Now another guy running our pace asked me, because
he heard that I said I was from Virginia, where in VA I was from. He said he was from Falls Church, so then
somehow we got chatting a little bit about did I grow up in VA/ no, but I went
to college at UVA/ then he is asking if I happened to know a few of his friends
(I didn’t)(shocking)/ he mentioned he went to MCV (which is where I was DYING
to go to med school- waitlisted twice- 2nd time after becoming a VA
resident, uggggg).. So, we were chatting TOO MUCH and I didn’t honestly like it
because I knew I didn’t want my energy going into chatting. I finally said, it is
nice to meet you, I can’t talk anymore.
I couldn’t tell if I was just worried about my energy, or if I was
losing it, but I knew my goal wasn’t to be social during a marathon. 7:32
Mile 11: Now we are at a place where the half/full split in
opposite directions. After I split off
and began going uphill, there was a guy who was yelling out, “you are definitely
in top 10 of women” which surprised me.
I honestly wasn’t trying and certainly wasn’t expecting to be. Part of
me was like hmmmmm…. What if??!! And
then the rest of me was like, “sharon, your goals for this race are to (not
have major GI issues all over Kauai) but to run with JOY and just SOAK UP THIS
BUCKET LIST EVENT…. So I reminded myself to stick with exactly where I knew I
needed to be pace wise. I had a Cliff Block this mile because I think I wanted
the caffeine from it since I was worried I expended too much energy talking. It
reminded me why I don’t like blocks during running- so hard to chew, then I
feel like I Need a tooth brush, but… I don’t regret it, and I was happy to
maybe feel some jolt of caffeine. 7:43.
Mile 12: Ok geez, here is the hill, mercy. It’s a hill. Just stay with yourself Sharon. Manage your
energy. Plug along. I think it was somewhere around here where there was a family
sitting on the hill in their front yard and I glanced over, thought there was a
dog sitting with them, then I notice as it got up and had horns, it was a
goat!!! 9:29.
Mile 13: UH OH. I’m literally dying on this hill- I’m
worried about my legs- which already started sore. This hill is not just a hill, this is so
significant that I am worried that I am not doing the right thing for my legs by
running it. I don’t need to “win” the hill, I just need to not let the hill
crush me for the next 13 miles. I started my 2nd Ucan gel here. 9:58
Mile 14: Thank goodness we plateaued and I felt like I got
my legs back. It boosted my confidence that yes, the hills will be hard, I was
WARNED about this. AND… I have trained hills all summer, so my legs will be
able to be resilient. 8:49
Mile 15: Here we go again, I knew this was going to be the
hilliest part, mile 13-20- maybe I got thrown off because the first mile 1-7
was also supposed to be a hill that I didn’t really feel at all affected
by. But I am challenged here. I grab ice water from aid station and pour
over head. Felt amazing. Took some sips of ice water as well. My legs were
screaming and I start to get serious about making choices that are not ego
driven. I realize I might seriously need to consider walking the hill in order
to be smart in the big picture. I relax shoulders/ everything I can so that I
can just plug at this hill. 10:18
Mile 16: this is where it happens. I have to walk. I am reminded walking uphills doesn’t mean a
stroll, so I bent my arms and tried to lose as little time as possible. The
people I was near pacewise aren’t really seeming to be gaining much ground on
me at this point even though I was walking uphill. It got a little easier, so I jogged. Then again just boom we are gaining so much
elevation that I notice it is a new temperature and a bit cooler, I walked
again fast, and realize, while walking, make use of this time. I had half a packet of mortal hydration mix
in my belt and I had finished one of my water flasks, so I quick pour the
powder in my empty flask and at next aid station, I am ready to pour ice water
in. PERFECT. I quick run into the port o pot here- I don’t
think I’m having an emergency, but it is a good time to regroup, I am fast in
and out and get going again. 13:10.
Mile 17: So, the hills continue, and there is a point where
I am walking and thinking, geez, while I’m walking, maybe I should call someone
to let them know that I’m still going and just to “check in”….. and I’m very
quickly like (first of all- if you even slightly know me, you know I hate the
phone, I do not talk on the phone, so why would I even think about making a
phone call), but more importantly--- what am I thinking? That I can get like a “lifeline”
of someone to help me with energy? NO. just no. NO. You go into a marathon and you
are on your own to make it through, no lifelines. The sun is coming out, it is both once in
awhile hot, but then a little breeze of cool
air comes, which I am thankful for. We
are now in these neighborhoods that I would have NEVER SEEN/ never driven
through except for this opportunity of a marathon. The people were GREAT. Such
fun neighborhoods, so great to see where people live, the local Hawaii vibe,
everyone is happy and helpful. A guy had a stand out that had dixie cups with
soda, Ohhhh I was so grateful. I’m
continuing to do a run/walk as needed to be smart about the hills. I want to run as much as possible, so even if
it isn’t fast, I do that, but when I realize that the smartest thing to do on
the biggest climbs is to walk, I don’t beat myself up. 9:05
Mile 18: There is some rolling hills in here, so I’m
thankful for any downhill opportunity honestly! I am telling myself to just be
in this mile. That right now, I am mentally
ONLY thinking about getting to 20 miles.
*The plan was at 20 miles things start to go back down in elevation, so
I am just trying to stay gritty and work in here. There is a stand with orange slices, I grab 2
and am so thankful for the tang of the juice. As I’m struggling, I try to keep
encouraging others that I also see struggling.
If we are both walking and I start, I would say, come with me, let’s go…
OR- if they pass me as I’m walking, I tell them they are doing amazing. It helps them AND me. Some people do a slight response, some people
have zero response and I realize they are listening to earbuds. I am slightly annoyed by this- like- that
pulls you out of the event we are in- we are in this together, but you cannot
really be part of the fabric of what we are doing if you cannot even hear. Just my opinion. 9:36.
Mile 19: I’m now at the point- with taking in ice cold
mortal, which is sooooo good, the 2 tiny sodas, the oranges, along with the ice
water dumping over my head that my stomach is having not GI issues…. But definitely
it’s clenching and bloating. I feel like my skin on my stomach is so tight I
have no room for expanding my stomach to
breathe, so I’m a little bit worried and try to get myself to only take in
water so I don’t overdo the stomach. There is huge uphill here and I am walking
again, this is all just such a grind.
But I remind myself when walking, “my intention is to be FULL OF JOY in
this race” so anytime I walk, I tell myself to LOOK UP! And what do you know? I
see immediately this beautiful, deep purple, vibrant flowering bush in someone’s
yard. There is beauty everywhere. The
neighborhoods are beautiful, the volunteers are amazing, I am focusing on
gratitude for this opportunity and for so much GOOD! 11:51.
Mile 20: Ok, I made mile 20, things will be less hilly now…
WRONG. I’m not sure why we are still climbing up. The elevation profile in the map did not say
this. But, it’s got to be soon, so stop
thinking sharon. I am now back to where I am taking 1 sip of mortal at every mile
marker and at the half mile markers, taking some water. So, I am just little
bit by little bit making it through, doing anything I can to mentally
persevere. The hills continue. 10:35
Mile 21: So, we are supposed to be going downhill but we
aren’t, but at least we have some rollers in here, up and down. We come to a neighborhood with tons of
cheering and energy. There is a few
women standing in the middle of the road asking if we want them to use what I
think was a leaf blower to blow “cold air” on us to “push us up the hill”. I was so confused. I am so sorry but I am sure my face was like,
whaaaaaattt???? First- do those leaf
blowers blow cold air? And also, just NOOOOO I did not want a loud blast of questionable
air blasting at me. I shook my head, NO.
I think maybe other people wanted this because they seemed surprised
that I didn’t want that? But yea, absolutely NO.
On the other hand, what was AMAZING right past this- was a
woman giving out ice soaked washcloths that we could HAVE. OMG I honestly think
THIS WASHCLOTH got me through! I ended up holding it in right hand for a mile,
then left hand a mile, alternating to the finish line. It was a LIFESAVER!
Another great spectating thing was big BUBBLE machines- actually
all sorts of bubble machines- one was a small bubble maker. Just such little glimmers of joy, and
sometimes it was nice to have just “quiet energy” instead of like cowbells (or
leaf blowers). There were also hula
dancers on the side, some people keeping a run cadence with drumbeats, which
was a highlight also. 10:28.
Mile 22. I’m just waiting, PATIENTLY WAITING for this
downhill. What goes up must come down,
so WHEERREEEE IS IT?? And why was the map wrong? I am walking at least one hill
in this mile again… I do feel slightly disheartened just because I’m like, “ I spent
so much time studying that map, why wasn’t it correct”… I’m now on the “way
back” while people are still going out- so I am passing them in the opposite
direction. I notice so many people doing
maybe exactly what I considered- they are walking uphills talking on the phone.
I have never noticed this. I’m not a fan
at all. I’m shocked by myself that I even considered it, and I m just reminded
by how our tendency in the times we live in, is to be so accessible, to have
just this fundamental inclination to go to the phone, go to electronics, to be
anywhere but PRESENT. I would have
missed so much in this race had I been chatting to someone on the phone. 12:05
Mile 23: here we are at a point where there are 3 (plus a
little) miles left. That is this 3 mile loop that I know at home, so I think to
myself, you have one of these loops and you’ll have MADE IT! We have some
downhill stretch here, I am so thankful to feel my legs actually just doing
some running. I still am taking in Ucan gel
sips because I know anything can still happen.
I don’t want to cramp, I need to keep the energy/calories/electrolytes
flowing. I need to stay with myself, stay within my energy, keep my mind
positive, and NOT NEGOTIATE giving up. 9:28
Mile 24: It is kinda soul crushing to have more hills (UP)
now, again.. this was not in the plan. But it is what it is, it’s been 4 miles
now of evidence that we are not going all downhill. I walk the steepest part again and then am able to get running again. I was happy that even when I was walking, I would *first remind myself: LOOK UP- see the beauty, be in the intention of why you are here, which is to LOVE EVERY SECOND of this opportunity, then *second, I would make sure my walking wasn't just sauntering. I was trying to go decent so that I wasn't actually losing too much time to the people who were running. (At these inclines, I was lucky that I actually didn't lose too much!) Now, we are coming back towards the ocean which is so comforting. I am trusting myself that I can just manage through. Every step is willful, every moment, I am
using energy to continue willing myself forward, hydrating, switching washcloth
hands, pacing myself through my last sips of mortal hydration (new to me this year from the IM 70.3 PA), taking ice water from aid
stations. 10:04
Mile 25: I’ve been
WAITING FOR THIS LAST FULL MILE!!! I
wanted to get here, because then I knew, I was going to TALK MYSELF THROUGH to
the end. Here is the time when I had planned to be my own best cheerleader,
commentating as if I were Kara Goucher, the BEST RUN COMMENTATOR EVER! And I
start some dialogue in my head (don’t worry I wasn’t doing this out loud). But I began commentating in 3rd person
(sports psych hack- use your mantras in 3rd person saying your
name), so I began:
Sharon is making it through this final mile. She is
committed to the finish; She is trusting her training, her body, her mind and
her focus to fight through every step.
Sharon has embraced this opportunity of love and passion for
this land, she is asking herself to do hard things and to never give up. This day is happening because she was
intentional, and she followed her dreams and her heart. What a gift of a day, a
gift of a lifetime!
Every step is a choice, either towards who you want to be,
or away from yourself, and every step, she is going in HER direction, in the
direction of filling her heart with joy, embracing this PARTY ON THE FEET!
10:07
Mile 26: 9:53.We get to the 26 mile marker and A guy there
shouts out: you have 26 miles behind you, now ONLY ½ to the end! I thought, what an idiot… he doesn’t know
that a marathon is 26.2- not another half.
He just doesn’t know. Then 100
feet down the road a woman yells, “Almost there- another ½ mile.” I literally want
to die with these comments (I’m now wondering is there another hill too!!) It
doesn’t matter, there is nothing that will stop me at this point. I haven’t
even crossed the finish line, but I am already smiling- I know I can make it, I
HAVE made it. I never gave up. What a journey.
It was every bit as amazing as I imagined. It was MORE! I did love every bit of this,
even the struggles. I wouldn’t have wanted it anything less than the challenge
that it was😊
My heart is so full. A dream fulfilled.
****After the race, I was definitely wiped out, my blood
pressure (as expected) dropped and I made sure to lay on the grass a few
minutes. They had these wrap slices
there which I thought was a great idea- I got a turkey (like not a whole “wrap”
but those segments)- and it had lettuce and tomato and I was so thankful for
something like this, until I bit into it and there was bacon inside and I had
to literally like roll it out of my mouth before I got sick. Luckily, they also had diet soda which is
just a necessity for me at the end, and chocolate milk, Chobani yogurt. I think having the milk and yogurt (I kind of spread them out over an hour because so much dairy scared me!!) helped my
recovery because I felt honestly fine after I got into dry clothes. I went into
the ocean all afternoon and next day was carrying on with more hikes in this magical land, God's playground.
Part of me is curious what my legs would have been able to
do if they weren’t sore from the 10 mile hike day that I did down to the
canyon/back up/ then to the napali coast… but honestly I wouldn’t change that-
those hikes are unforgettable. I’d love to go back and do this race again… (or just
live there!)
