Another weekend of races...and future events

After all the numerous weekends of marathoning the past few months, a couple of the Ohana decided to shorten the distance for this weekend. Both the Hawai`i and Mainland groups found they short races fun and exciting but not as satisfying as getting those 26.2 (or more) miles in! Some had to remember how to run the pace for these shorter (and faster) races!

This from the constantly energized Stroller Mom & Dad at the Westfields High 5K:

Aloha All! We did a local 5K this morning and had a similar wind tunnel effect on the final leg of the run. Actually, we ran from home to the start (about 3.5 miles) as a warm up, Harriett biked. I took the jogging stroller and headed out on the course about ten minutes before the race started in order to run the course and get a good photo spot. Why? Well, the race rules stated strollers (and dogs, roller blades and iPODs) weren't welcome. Fortunately, it was not a huge race, so the running crowd was minimal. I counted about a dozen iPOD-adorned runners before Dan and Harriett passed me.

Once Harriett was passed, I got the kids back into the stroller and continued the course. Was fast enough to get ahead of Harriett so I could capture her finish.

All in all, it was a beautiful morning. No placing by my intrepid runners, but they won gift certificates in the raffle and Grace scored a donut from one of the volunteers. A good time had by all. And we got to run home afterwards.

Not quite the warm up we used to do for Ford Island -- run over from Hickam. Then do the race, and run home via a huge breakfast at Wilbur and Orville's. But it was ours. And the cherry blossoms are at their best today. Glorious puffs of pink.

Annual Ford Island Bridge Run:

Several of the Hawai`i crew took to the challenge of 'defending the home course' (though it was running our Tuesday route backwards) as they joined about 2,000 other runners, joggers, walkers, and stroller pushers in doing an out-and-back 10k around Ford Island.

Though the Ohana had its fair share of members making visits to the podium, all just enjoyed the morning running in great conditions! Great job all!

Here's a few pics from race day! Enjoy!

Not to forget, Congratulations once again to the Johnson family on their new addition (dad and baby in pic below - 2nd on left bottom row)! Welcome back to running 'Dad'! Hope mom and baby can join us soon!

Next up for some will be the Boston Marathon on Monday (Patriots' Day), April 21st. Others will be looking forward to the next couple of weeks of racing as we are now in the midst of the triathlon season (article to come later).

Of important mention is our Runners' HI Ohana reunion in San Diego, fittingly to run the RocknRoll San Diego Marathon on June 1st! A contigent of HI runners will reunite and hang with many of our mainland Ohana whom moved to the mainland U.S.!

June will also bring about the 2nd Annual Hibiscus Half-Marathon and the Kona Marathon (run on the same course as the Kona Ironman Championship), with the always fun and challenging Volcano Runs just around the corner in July (featuring an altered course for the marathon and 10-miler...see website with the new course being posted in early May)!

Let's also not forget this Saturday marks the opening of the H.U.R.T. running season with the first run being the Top of Tantalus. Here's the rest of the running schedule!

Looking forward to another fun and competitive summer of running, cycling, swimming, triathloning, etc., not to mention the various race reports from all of our Ohana worldwide!

Have fun training & good luck in all you do!