run run rudolph

Too hopped up on sugar and the excitement of Christmas to go to bed, although I should have been asleep hours ago because we're hiking tomorrow. After working on Kuliouou Half for two years and getting my personal best time to 30 minutes flat, I think it's time for a new challenge. This (coming) year I want to do something that just plain looks impossible: run the Koko Head stairs. I've only gone up twice, and am in nowhere near the right shape for running it, but am looking forward to working toward that.

We're closing out the year by trying new trails, mixing it up a bit, getting me out of my comfort zone and using hiking as cross-training for the Great Aloha Run in Feb. Tomorrow is Hawaii Loa Ridge, and I'm going to try to squeeze Aiea Loop and the Stairs in one more time before school's back in.

We did five runs this year, fueled by my thirst for competition with myself and our very real need to increase heart-healthy activities in our lives. Actually, I did five, he did four, but only because the Kapiolani/Straub Women's 10K was women only. Our first 2010 run is the GAR, and we're signed up for the Tropical Triple Crown - Hibiscus Half in June, Coconut Chase 8K in July, and Mango Days 5K in August. (Active.com offered a package deal on registration, so after I checked to make sure neither the CC8K nor the MD5K involve chasing a grown man dressed as a piece of fruit, as is the case with the Jamba Juice Banana Man 5K - I grabbed it because 1) it's cheaper that way and 2) now we have no choice but to stay in shape this year. That's a resolution for 2010 - NO COLD EVENTS.)

Last year I "resolved" to get us marathon-ready by December, even if we had to walk it - but after the Hibiscus Half ran our @$$es into the ground, I decided that baby steps were the way to go. Especially because Cub's motto is "No pain, no gain." Unchecked, he will run (or hike, or work, etc.) until his asthma begs him to stop. Also, we need to become social runners whether we like it or not, because we NEED to join a training group. For the instruction, but mostly for the camaraderie and moral support. (We're really not that great at this for each other - if I wuss out on an afternoon run, he won't push me to go, and vice versa. We also use running as a way to get away from each other when we're pissed - something, in light of the direction our running is taking, we should maybe avoid.)

2010 should be a great year for both Cub and me, with "Citius, Altius, Fortius" as our central driving force. Not just with physical endeavors, but with other personal challenges, with work, with each other.

Not yet sure if I'm going to create an actual resolution list, but that's something to think about on tomorrow's hike.