Running the Marathon with Grandson
By Osamu Shoji
Windward Y's Men's Club
I ran
the Hawaii Honolulu marathon (42.195km) with my grandchild
(Yasuke, eight years old).
I first ran the Honolulu marathon in December, 2000. My
first grandchild was born in that year. Since then, I
think, I dreamed of running with my grandson (a baseball
player.)
At last, my dream came true.
December 2008 was my fifth time to participate.
I ran 4.5km (6,000steps) for practice for 100 days from
September 1st
every
day in the early morning. I got up at 5:50 a.m. and ran
"come rain or shine!"
Several times, I practiced with my grandson.
The morning of the Honolulu Marathon, I could not sleep,
because there were strong winds and heavy rain the night
before the marathon.
It was still dark when we started at Ala Moana Park at 5
a.m., Sunday, December 14, 2008.
Grand fireworks were launched, the national anthem of the
United States was played, and a message from the next U.S.
President Obama was read out.
23,230 runners began to slowly walk and run.
We started from the position of the six hour line. It took
17 minutes to reach the starting line. This time, my wife
Yasuko came as our manager.
We ran at a leisurely pace around the Aloha Tower point,
while seeing the Christmas illuminations downtown. Many
people lined the route. My grandson was a very popular
spectacle. At the second water supply point, my friend Ms.
Lisa Joy of International Y’s Men Club was a
volunteer handing out water.
(That's
Lisa Joy Andres of the Kaimuki Y's Men's Club -
Editor)
I was surprised to meet her by accident.
We advanced to the 10km point well easily in 1 hour and 20
minutes. We slowed our pace down a little more.
However, my grandson said, "let's stop already, let's stop
already."
"I’m tired …. !"
We ran around Diamond Head.
I said, "Don't give up! Let's run arm in arm!"
We felt happy running and chatting together
We were given bananas, apples, and rice balls to eat
together while running.
I changed my running to competitive walking style. We had
three-minute breaks about 10 times. But, Yasuke said,
"Let’s run!!"
Yasuke showered his body with a sponge that contained water at the aide station, dripping water from his head.
Sometimes I felt very energetic.
The sunrise was complete. The highway road scenery was a nice view.
At the 30km turning point in Hawaii Kai, we felt great and continued on happily.
I looked only ahead and we ran hard. I said, "Everybody go! Go on the street!"
We ran happily up to 40km by this rhythm.
My wife was coming to the point where we were approaching.
We were very surprised to meet her. It is not likely to forget this change meeting of three people.
The goal point is a little farther
The horizon in the Pacific Ocean is clear and the view is the highest.
The photograph was taken by my wife of the scenic coast and it aimed at the goal line by slowly moving to the finish.
We stepped on the finish line as two people were saying. "Yasuke Shikasho, eight years old" and "Osaka, Japan.". We received the Running The Whole Distance Medal and T-shirt.
After the marathon had been run, we were invited to the exchange of Hawaii and Y’s Men's Finisher party in the evening.
I donated $250. to commemorate running the whole distance.
Next morning, we received an invitation to breakfast with a friend from another group.
This was a happy ending to the 8 hour 13 minutes-plus drama.
We did it!
