DailyPosts

Training for Life

New job and a new routine. After 10 years with the same company in Hawaii, I made the bold decision to try something new and that decision requires a new routine to manage life and my workouts. So far, I'm adjusting slowly with my longer runs still in the night hours, alone. With the reflection of things that seem important when I put in those lonely night runs on the tropical trails of Oahu, I think and feel so many things. More recently, I am led to the thought of distant friends that I never really got to know that are fighting their battle with cancer. The minutes turn to hours as I run listening to the wind and bugs, and thinking of everything that is going through their mind - treatment, survival, finances, family, anger, and the list is endless.

As I train for life through sport, I'm reminded of those that came to my doorstep to keep me company when I was most likely the worst company imaginable. Still, they dropped by to say hi and keep up those spirits. Last night, I reached out to a courageous young man who is suffering with his battle with cancer to let him know that I wanted to drop by, say hi and just hang out for a while.

It's the family and friends that keep us going down this long, winding road as we experience life with jobs, kids, and challenges. At times, it's those distant friends, nearly strangers that mix up the plate and give us a new perspective and energy to move along this road.

I'll continue to train for life, and live it to the fullest knowing that I am truly lucky because of and not in spite of my challenges.

I challenge anyone reading this is go visit a distant friend who is battling cancer. We all know one or more. Just make it happen, if even for a minute. And thank you for taking the time to make a difference.

Perry the Bullfrog Lives

After years of delays, my children's adventure book is available on Amazon. http://amzn.com/1467913839   This is a fun story about a bullfrog from the bayou of Louisiana that dreams of adventure and makes his way to Hawaii where he meets another bullfrog named Opu Nui.  Together they share they culture and Parry learns to surf.  The illustrations are amazing thanks to Kate Righter, and proceeds benefit the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation. 

A really cool day in the journey of life!  Please share and enjoy the book.

Cancer Never Ends

This past month has seen some reality checks when it comes to the ongoing fight to endure the battle with cancer.  On Sept. 12, I lost my uncle that raised me when my father and mother had their own challenges.  Ironically, he was my father's identical twin and just like twins, he died from the same cancer that took my father 5 years ago.

The funeral was both a reunion and one of the more difficult emotional times of my life.  But as a family, we made it through.

Once back in Hawaii and looking to return some normal routine of family life, training for endurance events and work, I was slapped with another reality check.  My radiation therapy to my face 5 years ago had caused some damage to the nerve in a tooth.  These things happen despite everyone best efforts.  I'm surprised it took so long to present.  So, I had a wonderful root canal performed to take care of the never ending side effects of the treatment.

I almost forgot the topical chemo for basal cell and many stitches from a little cyst on my back.  These didn't slow me down although they did keep me from swimming for a while.  I didn't want to be easy shark bait.

So, as I continue to look for the normalcy in life, I'm once again reminded of the never ending battle.  Last week, I awoke to a chubby upper lip.  I guess if I wanted to look like one of the reality TV stars with their big lips, I would have been pleased.  On the contrary, I knew there was something up.  Now, the swelling is into my cheeks, upper and lower lips and eye lids.  I look so cute.  It's likely lymphedema due once again to the life long side effects from my treatment.  My system was damaged permanently, so this is what I must manage.  I'm working to isolate the trigger which is eluding us at the moment.  But, I do look rather interesting.

So, one would assume that these events would allow for a lull in my attitude.  Actually, just the opposite.  I feel better than ever and more motivated that ever.  Date nights with my wife, beach time with the boys, camping with my older son and training for long hours smelling the lilikoi, mountain apples and white ginger along the lovely Hawaiian trails that always brings a smile to my heart.  With life we can either succumb to the events that we are faced with, or continue to live the journey.  It may not always be pleasant, but that's life.  Live while there is life to live, and save the complaining for when the living is done.  Because of these challenges, I go out of my way to help others, especially those that can actually help themselves.  Sounds strange, but in a circular logic, I am showing them that because of my challenges, I am still able to do more than you without complaining and with a smile.  What's your excuse?  I can't find one.

Another Road Less Traveled

After 5 years, I heard the wonderful news from the oncologist - Cancer Free.  Technically, I know this is not a clinical term, but an emotional term.  And with the road that we traveled, emotion was part of the trip.  So, out with the clinical and technical mumbo-jumbo and on with what the patient wants to hear.  I appreciated the great news.

So, I we were so excited to now have the opportunity to consider some reconstruction after the destruction from the surgery.  Everyone tells me that I look fine.  I truly appreciate the warmth from which this is delivered.  But I just want to look more like me.  And as I type this, I know many of my close friends are working on so many jokes to toss at me.  I'm ready!

We went to a couple of plastic surgeons to get their opinion of implants, fillers, abrasion and other options to help with the 'old me.'  My oncologist said "Do nothing.  But go ahead and ask."  So, the plastic surgeons basically came back with not just "No, but HELL NO!"  That was not the news I was waiting for after five years.  But it was the truth.

And in life when you get bummed, watch out for the curve ball.  My curve ball came from my check up with the dermatologist.  He simply wanted to examine a couple things through a biopsy but nothing alarming at all.  Then the pathology came back.  Well, at first the news that was conveyed was not good, so we made an in person appointment to get the facts and options.

After stressing over the initial news, the in person visit yielded better news.  The biopsy was benign and not the same squamous cell but rather basal cell.  Heck, I'll take the lessor of evils any day.  So no new surgery to my face (just my back) and only some cream that will make me very funny looking for a little while.

The dermatologist stated that I had the best skin of any of his patients.  I should given that I avoid unprotected sun exposure, stay covered and limit my time in the sun regardless.  So this new stuff is more data to the mystery file, and another road that I'm traveling down.

But this news is not bad news, and based on what we were initially told about the pathology, it's great news!

And I'm also on the HURT wait list (I hope) as I did not get the lottery.  What a week!

Back to my training, family and work as this is one truly blessed life!!!

Louisiana 50 Miler for Cancer Research

Running 50 miles sounds long, and it is if you count each step.  It’s even longer if you think about all that goes into a run of this distance from the training, pre-run planning, actual run and experience as well as post-run and recovery.  While not the same as a trail 50 or 100 miler, this comparative short and flat run on May 20^th around a 5 mile course at the LSU Lakes in Baton Rouge, LA should have been, well…easy.  It was not.  For once, I wanted to attempt to describe the actual event in more detail from a runner’s point of view.  Although boring to many, and most readers, the words are an effort to capture the mind (or my mind) of an endurance runner.  This event benefited Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and the wonderful work they have done for more than 40 years.

May 19^th – One day before the event

The day before the event was intended to be a restful.  The week leading up to the event was absent any sleep since our family trip from Hawaii to Baton Rouge with a newborn baby resulted in him being off his sleep schedule.  I slept on average less than 3 hours per night until Thursday, where I crashed at the Best Western near the start.  A quick solo vegetarian dinner with no spice, and in bed by 8PM.  O course, all plans are only that as it was LSU’s graduation and a few other people at the hotel were excited to reach this milestone.  Eventually, I just fell asleep with a wake up call at 4:30 AM.  I always have two alarms and this was smart, as one alarm did not work.

May 20^th – The day of the event

I like to wake up about 2 hours before an event to allow myself time to eat, have a happy colon and account for any oops moments.  Everything is packed a ready to go the night before, so I simply rolled out of bed and grabbed two Clif Bars to start.  My sis crashed at the hotel as well, and by 5:01 AM, we were out the door.  In 10 minutes, we were setting up the only aid station for the run.  It was still dark but there were other runners up and going to avoid to coming heat.  We popped up the 10 X 10 tent, setup a few chairs and organized my nutrition then rested.  The nutrition plan was to carry a 50-ounce Nathan bladder pack with enough Clif Bloks for two laps or 10 miles.  I usually consume about 20-26 ounces per hour, and this would minimize the need for frequent stops.  In my front pockets, I also carried a few Succeed electrolyte tablets that I would start taking close to lap the end of lap three or around three hours.  A few local runners and magazine reporter showed up around 6:00 AM and I was off on lap 1.  Denver Benton, local runner and event organizer, took my out on this lap.  We jogged and chatted about all things runners talk about.  The lap went smoothly, so smoothly in fact that we so how took an extra leg that added 1.5 miles to the effort.  Brennan of ClaimYourJourney.com came out to snap a few pictures and Katie Key was there wishing us best of luck.  The day was already hot though, and I could feel the sweat flowing down my short and the end of my shirt.  Before the end of lap one, I pulled my sun hat from Frillneck around my face, donned my shades and prepared for the onslaught of heat to come. 

I started eating my Clif Bloks at 3 Bloks per hour, and my bladder carried two scoops of EFS per 50 ounces.  I wanted to allow time for my stomach to open and begin absorbing the needed nutrients before the heat began to close up the system.  From experience, I could feel the sweat leaving my body at a faster rate than my consumption.  Sensing this, I slowed my pace down a little more and drank a lot more.  Before finishing the second lap around 7:40 AM, I ate the rest of my Clif Bloks and came into the aid tent to refuel and quickly head back out.

The heat was slowly building and although the clouds were offering some cover, the payment was pushing up radiant heat from below and the sun was talking to me from above.  After 10 miles, the body was working as expected.  I wanted to keep a constant pace to allow for added walking during the latter laps.  So I just told myself to run smooth and easy, and not fast!  I was identifying every aspect of the course from the green pen dropped, the lip balm on the side, the flowers at the homes, the crossover near Morning Glory, which sections had gumballs and where the shade was best.  Trying to see the course helps so that you can pick off common mental landmarks as the repeat the same route, and I was doing 10 laps.  I continued to take onboard more fluids and eat the Clif Bloks, but began to notice the tunnel affect in my head where I can hear my breath and ears pop with every stride.  I knew that my electrolytes were off, and need to be very attentive to this.  I finished lap 3 or 15 miles and decided to take three Succeed to recover some lost potassium and sodium.  I pulled together the corner of my shirt tail, and squeezed out about ½ cup of sweat.  The heat was only increasing and my electrolyte imbalance was the priority focus.  From years of racing, I knew how to manage this and also knew the warning signs of heat stroke, that would come into play in a few more hours.

Now close to 8:30 AM, and the temp was talking to me.  I had 15 miles behind me, electrolytes on board and consuming more fluids than planned.  The fourth lap would see my drain all 50 ounces of fluids and looking for water on the short 5-mile loop.  I needed to remain attentive to my body signals of heat exhaustion and potential heat stroke and the humidity was climbing quickly and temps were reaching the high 80’s to low 90’s fast.  I monitored my heart rate to assess my potassium level and to see if I was in type I heart block.  The rhythm was strong and slow, at around 90 bpm and every third beat would interrupt the rhythm seeming as if my heart skipped a beat.  I tested my depth of breath and could easily get full lung expansion and my head was clear.  I would repeat this type of assessment many times as I ran around the LSU Lakes.

Back around to the aid station, my wife, sons, mom, sis and cousins were there in support.

This brought a strong smile to my face as I completed 20 of the targeted 50 miles.  They all had on shirts that carried messages of support and reminded me of the reason behind my suffering.  I downed some ice cold water, and went straight for the Muscle Milk for some early fat intake.  This seemed to open the body a little, and by 9:30 AM I was off on my fifth lap.

Lap 5 saw more heat, and I noticed that my hands and feet were cold and tingling.  I tested myself again and added a new test of leaning over for a brief second.  When I raised up, I was dizzy and the world was spinning around.  This combined with my tingling and wondering mind let me know that the heat was getting to me.  I starting walking and grabbed an entire sleeve of Clif Bloks.  This entire lap was about setting up the second half of the run.  I needed to recover some, just enough, to get my legs moving again.  After about 20 ounces of fluids and the Bloks along with 2 more Succeed tablets, I was back running.  Each marker around the lakes became a mind game: this white house under construction, the two men walking in jogging suites I keep lapping, the couple fishing, sorority row and the bridge.  I decomposed the entire 5 mile loop into tiny fragments, and kept moving around knowing that at the aid station, I would be half way done!  I saw a runner in the last mile but he stopped and was only walking.  I took one look at him, and said, “let’s run.”  We jogged the last mile back to the aid station.  The added company was a welcome distraction.

Just before 10:30 AM, I was out on lap 6 and running much better.  Maybe it was the Muscle Milk and Snickers bar that lifted my legs.  But was everything in life, when your up there is only one place to go.  So, I milked this good feeling until the discomfort returned.  I knew the effort required to run a 10 lap course mostly alone in the heat wearing a full face wrap on pavement would be a challenge.  And it truly was.  Lap 6 was nice in a way in that it marked over half way and less than 20 miles remaining once completed.  I was on the downhill part of the distance although the effort truly all uphill from here.

By 11:30 AM, I was back around and back onto the Muscle Milk and Snickers.  I was drinking about 40 ounces per hour and still not keeping pace with the loss.  My years of training remind me to eat to recover and don’t stop too long.  When you feel bad, eating is sometimes that last thing that you want to do, but don’t stop.  The heat was very intense, and I started dreaming of ice showers and the ocean back home.  I thought about the ice cooler at the aid station, and how refreshing it would be.  And every home with a water feature around the LSU Lakes was very mean to see.  I just wanted to jump in each one of them.  I continued and endured keeping very close tabs on my electrolyte situation.

After 35 miles of running, my lap times were varied.  It was now 11:45 AM, and I was going out for mile 40.  Lap 8 was not nice at all.  I simply managed this lap as a survival lap and ate everything I had.  There was nothing nice about being out that from miles 35-40, except getting around to the aid station.  No matter what I attempted, the body was somewhere else, and I did my best to jog the shady parts and walk the exposed sections.  My facial wrap was working in protecting me from the sun, but acting like an oven from the road surface reflecting heat back into my face.

40 miles down, and 2 PM was here.  The heat continued to be extreme, and I was getting aggravated from the heat continuously slapping me in the face.  I felt some salt on my face, and just endured by thinking of other parts of life.  I let my mind go to another place and did not think about the road underfoot.  The pace was slow and conditions absolutely relentless.  The 5 mile loop took about 1.5 hours to get around this time.

Back at the aid station, the entire family was there supporting me for the final 5 miles.  I drank Coke and ate another Snickers.  For the final 5 miles, my wife and sons along with my Mom joined me, albeit they were in the AC van.  I gave them my Nathan pack and carried an Ultimate Direction bottle of ice water.  For this final push, I was going Ironman style – Coke and Snickers!  I just kept moving from point to point, and made an effort to tell everyone hello.  This helped move my mind as well. The electrolyte levels were on a rollercoaster ride and my heart rate was drop then spike even when walking.  I found it easier to jog.

About a mile from the end, I was in another heat situation and stopped at the first fraternity house where my support crew brought my Coke, ice water and Snickers.  I took about 5 minutes to get some into me because I wanted to finish strong.  My Mom offered to walk with me some, and I just saw this offer as perfection to the finish.  I walked and talked the remaining mile with my Mom.  This was her first experience with me doing an ultra, and what better to experience this than to walk from mile 49 to mile 50.  

No ultra is done alone, and this 50 miler proved it.  I consumed over 30 Succeed tablets, 1 entire bottle of EFS, over 300 ounces of water and 4 Cokes, 3 Snickers bars, 3 Clif Bars, 1 Payday bar and 6 Clif Bloks.  The total time running was just over 10 hours and 30 minutes for slightly more than 50 miles.  Within 48 hours, I was fully recovered from the event!

And why would someone run for 10.5 hours in the heat?  This journey is one of many that I have undertaken over the years, ever since 2006.  That is the year I was diagnosed with cancer, underwent treatment and then returned to make a difference.  Since 2006, the challenges are to raise awareness about cancer and its impact in our community, and to raise donations directed 100% to a cause from an individual to a research center.  And ever dollar donated means so much to me, in that cancer is too prevalent and my dream to that my children will never learn that word in their personal lives.

Thanks to Planet Sun Hawaii for the sunscreen, Clif Bar for the nutrition, Denver Benton for the support and to my wonderful crew that carried me around the course. Aloha

Running for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

I’m heading back home to Louisiana amidst the flooding to run 50 miles for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBP).  MBP has been around about as long as I have, and making a difference in the struggle people unfortunately has with cancer.  On May 20^th starting at 6AM, I’ll push off with the initial strides and keep running around the beautiful Louisiana State University lakes until I complete 50 miles.

Oddly enough, it’s been 5 years since I completed my cancer treatment.  What a better celebration than to do something more than myself and give back.  I hope to raise a few donations with a page dedicated to MBP at http://www.CancerRunner.org.  The donations go directly to MBP and will make a difference in the lives of so many facing the battle that too many have already endured.

A few friends and likely a few strangers will join me for this event.  With technology today, I’ve been working with Denver Benton of Denver Benton Fitness Services from over 5,000 miles away.  We’ll finally meet in person at the event, and I look forward to a few miles of making a new friend.

During this opportunity, I will remember why I am running – this will be easy actually.  I’ll be covered from the sun, wearing strong sunblock as well as 50+ UPF rated clothing and head wraps.  And as I endure since my cancer, I’ll drink my nutrition more than any eating.  And this is a good thing to remember, since I’m out there stronger than ever!

As the miles roll past and the day gets older, my mind will slowly move to the completion and know that my new baby boy in his mom’s arms will be there waiting for me.  I hope to run the last little part with my oldest son who is now out of kindergarten and was only 1 when I underwent my ordeal.  My family will be there providing support and thinking as always how crazy I am, but knowing inside how proud they are.

Anyone can donate through the above website, and follow along via Twitter @CancerRunner.  Keep running, keep moving and never, ever quit the fight.

Worst and Best Cancer Day

Now that I’m five years past my last treatment, I think back to the lowest days of the cancer ordeal while out on long training days.  I do this to remind myself of the strength inside and remove any whining that may surface when I’m tired of running or not feeling 100%.

To find the worst day during my cancer fight, I could choose from the day I was diagnosed, the day long surgery holding my wife’s hand, the recurrence, the fear of the radiation strapped to a table, any of the endless days trying to eat/drink anything, my last day able to run or a multitude of other options.  But no, none of those even tip the scale of the worst and subsequently the best day of my cancer ordeal.

No, the absolute worst day was the day I sat down, all 130 pounds of myself (started at 162), in a rocker on a raining evening in March 2006 holding my two year old son and reading him Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.  If you have kids, you probably know this book as the rolling words and carefully rendered pages invite the child to gently fall asleep.  I loved reading this book to my son before bedtime and holding him in my arms as he would fall asleep just before the last couple of pages.  Well, my worst day was when partway through this children’s book, I was no longer able to talk.  The treatment to my head and neck had damaged my throat and mouth so badly, that I was too far gone to shape my mouth.  If it was only pain stopping me, I would have forced the body on to finish the book.  No, I physically could no longer speak and hence I could no longer finish the bedtime story to this little freckled face, blue eyed boy who had no clue of what I was undergoing – nor should he.

At this moment, I could have just stopped and asked for help and let the cancer win another battle in this prolonged war.  I could easily give up and hand my son to my wife and surrender to the invisible darkness eating me from inside.  But that would not be me.  This worst day of my treatment was also the best day, as I simply hummed the words softly.  I found a way to continue the book and as a result I won this little battle for dignity given so much dignity that I had to give up.  While there was a tear in my eye, I was happy to hum the bedtime story to my son and watch him fall asleep in his dad’s weak but stubbornly wrapped arms.

Moments like this are what I call upon when I am tired during a 12-hour night run after working all day.  When work doesn’t seem like a place I want to be or any situation that allows for the opportunity to surrender and give up, this best day allows me the strong experience to smile at the obstacles that exist all around us every day and continue to lead a truly stress free life.  Sure there are deadlines at work, endurance workouts that don’t go as planned and reasons to multi-task beyond the mere mortal limits of one person, but I still smile and put this entire wonderful life into perspective.

It’s not about how much money you make or don’t.  It’s not about who you know or don’t.  It’s not about winning a race or not.  It is about getting to the starting line, taking your turn, accepting no excuses and finding a way to read to your son even if there are no words coming out.

After reading my little blog, I hope in your life you see the challenge and smile at it as an opportunity to continue living life – your life.

Running Down the Trail at HURT Trail 100

This year’s race was preplanned in coordination with my wife to be only a 100K, only!  With our new five month old and other family priorities, we could not afford the required time for long runs.  So, we did what we could while taking care of those around us who need us the most.  But a 100K is not really a 100K at HURT.

To start, it’s actually 67.3 miles instead of 62.5 and those extra steps really make a painful difference.  The race directorate and volunteers make this event one if not the best endurance event on earth.  They truly make you feel like family/ohana.  The course is not easy with every step a chance for a twisted knee, slip off a steep ridge, and slide over slick boulders over a cliff or simply trip over infinite roots ready to catch your tired toes. No, this course is brutal every inch of the way.  Maybe this is why people come here – to test themselves unlike they will ever be tested elsewhere.  Maybe they are looking inward for a place that brings thing calmness, or they are just truly sadistic.  Whatever the reason, people love this race.  For me, I just love the outdoors!

Starting at 6:00 AM on a humid Saturday morning, the race started with the same ritual as always of traditional Hawaiian blessing as the stream moved underfoot.  I planned on a five hour first loop, and managed this closely with little effort.  My main rule is to not get injured on the first loop.  Nutrition can be recovered, but a broken ankle cannot.  The return to the start/finish was slightly under five hours and injury free.  However, the humidity was building the course into an oven with no breeze in sight.

The second loop, planned for six hours, required more experience as I doubled my electrolytes given the weather and my hydration as well.  I was drinking over 36 ounces per hour, and careful to monitor my symptoms for heat stroke.  At one time, I was sweating profusely but getting cold. Years of experience told me to adjust my plan quickly as cramps would soon be found.  Once the cramps started, I was ready and my system rebounded quickly to stave off them with the added fluids and electrolytes.  The miles between 33 and 40 were difficult due to the weather and my lack of training.  I fully expected this, and reduced my effort to compensate keeping my heart rate in check.  My trail management saw me back at the start/finish around six hours with another boost of energy after seeing my wife and two boys.  Then my stomach gave way!  This is actually good timing, and I took care of business and tossed all sugars from nutrition plan.  From here on out, it would be a non-sugar plan to allow my system to reset.  With a kiss to my family, I was off on the third loop to meet my pacer at mile 47.

The march over to mile 47 was long a painful from being tired.  The week of the race, I averaged about 3 hours of sleep taking care of the boys at night.  My wife and I both work, so just because I want to run 100K doesn’t mean she has to suffer as well.  This lack of sleep would bring out the walking zombie for most of the remaining race.  My feet were also experiencing hot spots from the moisture of the water on sections of the trail, and I was also working through some chaffing in very private places.  So, I marched through the complications to mile 47 – slowly.  With my experienced pacer in hand, and darkness upon us, we continued through the night pushing past exhaustion that was so thick I truly could not force my eyes to remain open.  My lights became a mesmerizing dance over the rainforest floor sending me into a deep walking restful state weaving from one edge of the trail to the other.  My pacer continued to instruct me along this blind dance keeping me as safe as possible.  We arrived at mile 53 where miso soup and salted potatoes helped keep me fueled.

The zombie march continued as we ascended the ridge again and crawled our way over to the start/finish where I knew without a doubt I was done.  The third loop took over eleven hours!  I went to the first aid tent hoping that the feet were so badly damaged that I couldn’t continue.  Slowly my shoes were removed and Injini socks to expose the very red and soft feet, with little to no damage – only a few blisters.  I asked to have the blisters drained, taped and switched shoes and socks.  I knew I was going back out to finish this experience.  I only needed 7.3 painful miles of sleep walking!

My pacer and I went out, back up the series of climbs that would see me wobble here, sit down there and even sleep for five minutes by a trash can.  There was no running available as my feet, chaffing and closed eyes wouldn’t allow this.  My only hope was the sunrise!

We pushed on around the course, most of which is a blur now.  Then the sun began to illuminate the sky, and I slowly returned to reality.  Down into Paradise Park we went somehow getting to mile 67.3, my goal and promise to my wife – to not go for the 100 miles this year.  I’m very glad I promised her that I would stop since this effort took me 25 hours and 31 minutes of absolute effort.

During the race, my face showed signs of edema from the radiation therapy but this has slowly resolved after about 24 hours.  Sun exposure on this course is almost zero allowing me to run with comfort.  The biggest challenge is still my saliva glands that just cannot produce enough to aid with certain dry foods like breads.  But overall, I am very pleased with my performance given my focus on family after a full year of making it through a high risk pregnancy and seeing a healthy new addition to our family.  Yes, 2010 was a difficult year making this year’s HURT even more special.

Running Dad Times Two

With the recent addition of our new son, life has been a new journey into the wild to put it mildly.  All these years of sleep deprivation allows me to push through the long nights, get both boys off in the morning (one to the sitter and one to school) and then remain productive at work. 

Oh, and then that training part of life.

Since I truly love the outdoors, I'm perfectly fine and actually prefer to run alone and at odd hours with little notice.  Recent runs have seen me leave after dinner when everyone is asleep and go until my water and food are exhausted.  Seeing the full moon rise above the Pacific Ocean, hearing the pigs tease me in the darkness and just running without any music to the sound of the trails on Oahu are truly magical times.  I think of the smallest parts of life that would pass most of us by during a busy day, and try to resolve any outstanding items that spin endlessly in my mind.  The constant smell of passion fruit and mountain apples along the trail are very refreshing to the spirit as is the sweet smell of white ginger along the way.

The years of training and racing are valuable as I am able to continue to post stronger times on my night runs and feel better.  Constantly consuming the balance of fluids, carbs, fats and proteins through the night allows the digestive system to adapt to eating and processing when the body should be sleeping.  (Very important for ultra running)

As I run over the razor thin ridge late at night in the middle of a refreshing downpour, the ferns catch my legs and my arms push through the spiderwebs that have regrown since I first came through.  After walking two stranded hikers out hours earlier, my night seems complete with a powerful feeling inside that has overcome the 2-3 hours of sleep per night. 

In the cold water from the hose outside the in-laws house, I rinse off and towel change for my short commute home.  Once home I quietly clean up and start to eat when the faint cry begins and I pause my consumption to take care of the little three month old smiling wide-eyed at 3AM.

Life is what we make of it - positive or negative.  All things happen with or without prescription.  Where will your dreams take you, and will you know it when you arrive!  Keep running, keep the hope alive.

Cancer Runner (aka Paul)

Trail Rescue

What does it mean to be a father and husband taking care of a full work load, a wife that is on full bed rest at 34 weeks pregnant and a 5-yr old son (plus Rotary President, Relay for Life Chair, Lyon Arboretum Board, etc.) plus trying to retain the athletic skills for a calm state of mind?  Well, it means finding odd hours to workout.  The last few weeks, I've been going for a workout on the trails after it rained all day long, at around 9:00 PM.  Sure, seems late but very peaceful knowing that my wife is resting with her 76 pillows and my son is dreaming of Bakugan games after I read him Ferdinand the Bull.  No, running at night after a nonstop 15 hours of work is relaxing, and running through soupy, muddy, 'cakey' trails is perfect! 

 

This past Saturday night, I was out on a normal run with all my survival gear and expensive lights when I came upon a group of hikers.  The sight of my lights seemed to startle them a bit, so I gave a popped off a friendly quiz: "Are you guys just starting out?"  The question was meant to assess their state of mind as most lost people usually deny that they are in a 'pickle'.  Without a phone, light, food or water, I knew the answer but wanted to assess the situation first from my many years of experience and also back county medical training.  They were also barefoot and very exhausted.  We exchanged some words to which I surmised they were out all day, got lost, got injured and were basically stuck!  But some how they managed to feel their way through the trails while slipping everywhere to which two were injured from falls.

 

I quickly decided to give up a light to a guy in the middle, and I carried the lady most injured with my headlamp from the end of the train of seven hikers.  We hiked through the mud talking story and staying upright with the eventually completion of their trail adventure to which I quickly departed returning to my regularly scheduled run - alone in my solitude once again.

 

See ya on the trails!

Paul