Hawaii Palms usually has a few students participating in the race. This year however, the school has caught marathon fever. About 10 students plan to run in this year's marathon and a few more are joining in on the spirit of the race. Look for them on Sunday (possibly) wearing our yellow T-Shirts.
One of our racers is Mayumi Watanabe (wearing the purple lei), who has participated in over 20 marathons over the past 8 years. She sat down with Javier and answered some questions about what it's like to run a marathon.
How many times have you run the Honolulu Marathon?
This will be my 8th time. I can't wait for Sunday. I look forward to the Honolulu Marathon every year. It's actually my favorite marathon to run because there is no pressure (no time limit) and because of the beautiful scenery along the way. I really love looking at the ocean while I run, especially in Hawaii Kai.
How many marathons do you run a year?
About three or four.
Are they mostly in Japan?
Yes, but not only there. For example, last year I ran the Seoul Marathon and the Torino Marathon. This year I ran the Hong Kong and Geneva marathons; I also ran in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, and of course Honolulu.
How do you prepare to run a marathon?
I go jogging as often as I can, of course. Last weekend I ran a 10km marathon at Kualoa in preparation for this weekend. Food is important, too. Two days before a marathon I start eating as much pasta as I can.
What makes the Honolulu Marathon different from other marathons?
The atmosphere and the people. The hot weather can be a little challenging, but there are so many kind people who give me lots of energy - they cheer me on and give me drinks and sweet snacks. Also, I always run into runner friends along the way who encourage me and help me get through the difficult parts of the race.
What do you enjoy the most about taking part in the Honolulu Marathon?
Besides the great feeling I get when finishing the marathon, I really enjoy taking pictures during the race. I run with a digital camera and whenever I stop to have a drink of water, I take a minute to look around, smile, and take a few pictures of the beautiful scenery, my fellow marathoners, and try to capture the spirit of the race.
Best of luck, Mayumi. And much aloha.
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