Honolulu Marathon 2024, with no training

Warning: Don't try this at home (or maybe do) I generally do not like running, but I have always been pretty good at it. I am also a habitual under trainer. I have run 3 miles (5k) a bunch but rarely further, especially in the last 15 years. I have never paid for a race. Last year I broke my ankle at the end of September, 2 months later I volunteered at the 1st water station of the Honolulu Marathon. The water station was fun, thanks to Hawaii Lacrosse Club, and the Marathon looked kinda fun. Some of my coworkers were running it and after the water station shut down I went to the finish line to support my coworkers. At the end of December I registered the day it opened, before any of my coworkers, thinking maybe this motivate me to run and speed my ankle recovery. Also registering early got me the cheapest price and an extra free T shirt. I also bought a nice running vest. In January one of my coworkers mentioned he planned to run 100 miles every month this year, I replied I plan to run under 100 miles this year. He replied with "didn't you just sign up for a marathon?" We both seemed to think the other was crazy. Only one of us succeeded in their resolution. By late January I was able to run again without too much ankle pain, and I ran a half mile twice (1 mile ran). I also started to play some ultimate frisbee and Lacrosse but don't count that running. In April I did my first longer run at 3 miles, and another 3 in May (7 miles). July I ran another half mile (7.5). I planned to ease into running over the summer, but didn't run a single mile. In the fall my focus was the annual Lacrosse tournament, so I continued to put up zero miles. After the tournament I needed to recover and put in zero miles. November came and one month to the Marathon. I ran 2 miles and a single mile (10.5). At this point I felt like running would likely be more harm than good in my marathon prep. The good thing about the Honolulu Marathon is that there is no time limit. You are welcome to walk. As usual I am under trained, but still well under my 100 mile year cap. I have done some hiking this year but nothing over 6 miles. Still, I am pretty confident I can cover the 26.2 miles but nothing idea how fast. I have some plan, run slow the first 6-7 miles, walk up the hill, run down the hills, walk to the mile 17 then maybe try running again. The day before the race arrives. Because I haven't trained at all, I don't know what shoes to wear. I think at the distance more cushion will be better, but I have never ran in my Hokas, but the shoes I've done all my runs in for the last 3 years are pretty worn out and not much cushion left. I also don't know what shorts or shirt to wear, and I don't own running socks. I take the tags off my running vest, which had sat unused for a year, and fill it with water, energy chews, gummy bears, gum, socks, body glide and spare earbuds. I charge up my two aging smart watches, hoping that thier batteries can still survive the 26.2 miles (one did not). Sunday morning, race day, I didn't sleep nearly enough. Woke up before 1 am to final prep and get down to the start for the 5am race. By 3:15 I am at the start and the crowd is building. I find a place in the start area, that was back way too far, for my planned run at the beginning. It takes 25 minutes to reach the starting line. The zig zag around the walkers adds extra distance to my first few miles, and requires me to run faster than I want. Since I have water in my vest I skip the mess of the first few water stops, other than kissing my wife and saying hi to my Lacrosse Club at water station one. I am feeling good and make it to mile 7 running. Longer than I have ran in years, and still feeling good but know there is a long race ahead. I transition to speed walk, keeping about a 14min/mile pace, and break open the first pack of energy chews. Make it up the hill and run down. Stopped to use the bathroom and get gator aid from the aid station at the bottom of the first hill. Get back into a slow run and reach the highway. Closing in on 13 miles, my first half marathon I mostly run with some speed walking 2 hours and 38 minutes. If I was better trained a sub 5 might still be possible, but I know I've been going too fast this far. I commit to walking the next 4 miles, and then see if I can still run. I mostly can't and run only to pass slower walkers. By mile 22 I can't even run to pass any more. Mile 24 starts the hill up and I chug along a little slower than before. I reach the down hill and my legs are too stiff even to run down hill. We reach the park and the finish line is in sight, most of the people around me start to run in a final push. I keep walking, until the last 100 meters I run for the finish line camera and almost regret it as I can feel my calves are about to cramp. 6 hour and 10 minutes after I crossed the start line I have completed my first and maybe last marathon (36.7 miles), and without any injuries or even cramps. I get my medal, t shirt, banana and malasada, then find a place to lay down in the shade. I remained there for about an hour drinking, eating and wanting to cool off. It was too hot and humid, cooling off didn't really work, if my legs still worked I could have crossed the street and jumped in the ocean. Headed home for more water a long cool shower and a nap. Woke up feeling even hotter and stiffer, turns out my AC stopped working. Fixed the AC and took in more fluids. All in all I had a good marathon experience. I have no regrets about under training, but it may not be right for everyone. https://strava.app.link/JSMMJakLdPb

Mountain-biking Skyline Trail, Big Bear, CA

During my week of camping at Big Bear, I was able to take advantage of the new Skyline Trail. This trail is amazing. The trail crew did a great job, the whole trail has great flow. Most of the trail is along the ridge with great views of the Santa Anna River Valley.
One of the best parts the trail is the variety of terrain. On one end you are climbing through pine forest, then riding the ridge, before dipping into a bowl of berms, and where I turned around the trail was high desert scrub and weaved through large boulders.

I encountered as many animals as people. At one part I was chasing a group of deer down the trail. The few people I did see, mostly hikers, near the view points were all very friendly.


-James

Lele Kawa

Summer Bike at Snow Summit, Big Bear, CA

My summer trip to Big Bear wouldn't be complete without hitting the Snow Summit Mountain Bike park.

I started the day riding alone and just getting a feel for the trails. I was still riding my XC bike and did not have much desire to hit the jumps or push the limits of my abilities. "Going Green", the easy trail was not open, so I headed to Westridge and rode most of the branches of that trail. Most of the obstacles had bypasses so the jumps could be skipped.
My bike seemed to handle these trails well. After Lunch, I joined up with two other bikers who had spent the summer up at Big Bear. Because now we had a group, we were able to get the below follow video.


My confidence began to exceed my abilities and I ended up "supermanning" over one of the larger table tops, landing right on my chest mounted GoPro.




Overall, It was a great day of biking. Next time I hit a mountain bike park, I will take a downhill bike and wear my armor. My XC bike did ok on the trails but it does not have the same performance that more suspension would offer.

-James

Lele Kawa

Burundi's German Cliffs

One of Burundi's limited Tourism attractions are the German Cliffs or Failles Des Allemands. These cliffs are formed by a riff valley that cuts south through the plateau towards Tanzania. What is most impressive about the cliffs are how shear vertical side, resulting in a beautiful near vertical waterfall, reminiscent of Yosemite.

Beautiful waterfall, around 300 feet tall.

Panoramic view of the valley

The Park Ranger leads you through three viewpoints along the West edge of the rift valley. The first one with has the waterfall is the most spectacular, with its waterfall and view all the way down the valley. The middle view point is also good because it lets you see the spur that you see from the first view point.

Unfortunately because of the distance from Bujumbura, and because we were only doing a day trip, there was not a lot of opportunity to explore. I would have liked to wander around more, beyond the three view points that our guide took us through.

Burundi's Chutes de la Karera

One of Burundi's few tourism locations are the Chutes de la Karera or Karera Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the same part of Burundi as the German Cliffs, this park is under better control.

A tourism fee of aprox $12 was collected at the gate before we could drive to the parking area. From the parking lot you get an immediate view of the largest (widest) of the collection of waterfalls in the area. On the guided tour we started by hiking a trial that takes you down stream to the lower falls. If you cross the the base of the falls you get to feel the wind caused by the falling water and spray.

From there we were guided back along the trail up to the top of this lower falls. This provides one of the best views of the trip.

View of the Main falls, nearest the parking lot

After a quick stop back at the parking lot, then we moved up stream along the creek to a smallest falls. It seemed like the low slope of slick rock might make a good natural waterslide with higher water levels, as long as you could stop prior to the falls.

View of back up the stairs from the lower falls

The view approaching the lower falls.

From there you travel north along the rim of the falls to another falls on a different stream.

As a late bonus we spotted a few wild monkeys crossing the road as we drove out.

View of the two upper falls among the trees from the upper plateu

Hiking PCT past Eagle Rock

Kayaking Big Bear Lake

I have been to Big Bear a handful of times now, but this is first time I have every spent any time on the lake itself. This was also a good chance to see just how low the lakes water level was.

I got on the lake in town and decided to head east over to the dam. The wind was in my face so I hugged the shoreline and checked out a few of the harbors along the way. I was curious to see the effects of the low water on Big Bear Lake Cable Wake Park, because every time I go to Big Bear this is one of the things I want to do that never seems to work out.

The next place I went to was China Islands, where I did some cliff jumping last summer. I debated jumping again but decided against it, based on the lower water levels and because there was nobody else there. At China Islands I was pretty much at the dam, so I went the rest of the way. From the dam I headed back through the straitest route, strait through the middle of the lake. This was pretty easy with the wind at my back.

-James

Lele Kawa

Hiking Bear Canyon "7 falls" near Tuson, AZ

This was my second visit to Sabino Canyon. My first visit was during the summer and the heat limited me to short hikes. This second trip in January offered much better weather to hike in. It was also an exceptionally wet and snowy January so the water was really flowing.

We hike just over 9 miles out to the Falls and back, requiring us to cross the very cold stream 14 times.

Visitor Center at the parks entrance

From the parks entrance you hike (or take the tram) east through a large field of Saguaro Cactus and other high desert plants. 



The Saguaros cactus fields on the way to the trail

As you approach the edge of the field, you cross a bridge that takes you over the stream from Sabino canyon. The rain and snow that Tuscon had been receiving meant that the bridge was flooded, just high enough that it couldn't be crossed without getting wet. We removed our shoes and socks and made our way across.

High water was this bridge just before the start of Bear Canyon Trail

Once off the road and onto Bear Canyon trail, the stream crossings did not stop. The high water levels made it so there was no way to cross without getting wet, and so it was once again time to take off the shoes and socks and wade across the cold knee deep water. The bottom of the stream was mostly sand and small rocks which were painful to walk across with your feet so cold. On the way back we decided that taking the shoes off each time wasn't worth it and just hiked barefoot. I wish I had brought my Tevas on this trip.



Just one of the knee deep water crossing of the near freezing water (14 total)

The falls proved to be beautiful and worth the 4.5 mile hike it took to reach them. The combination of cold water and slick rocks meant that I didn't play on the falls as much as I do at other falls (no lele kawa).

The Seven falls at the end of the hike.

Tonto natural bridge

Tree rope climbing in Big Bear, CA

I stumbled upon tree rope climbing accidentally while searching the internet for a new ax. An arborist web site I came across included a bunch of rope climbing info. This lead down a YouTube rabbit hole about tree climbing techniques. Living in the desert I haven't been thinking much about it, until my trip to Big Bear. Tree rope climbing happens to be one of the newer tours offered by Action Tours in Big Bear, CA. It didn't hurt that there was a GROUPON available for this tour.

Pirate Steve was my guide for the day. He had a few ropes set up among two trees in a park in the town of Fawnskin on the lakes north shore. The technique we were using was the double rope tree climbing technique. This method is safe and easy to do, the down side is it can be slow. I caught on pretty quick and made it to the top of the training rope quickly.

-James

Lele Kawa

Mountain-bike Fern Trail, Big Bear, CA

My first downhill ride in Big Bear was a little loop near my camp site. I followed somebody's Strava Segment that lead across Bristlecone and down Fern trail.

My legs were still sore from the race, so my up hill was slow and painful. The little downhill down Fern trail was enough of an award for pushing myself up the hill.



-James

Lele Kawa

Camp Tahquitz 6 hour Challenge 2014

Having been a recreational Mountain Biker for a few year, I decided to go all out for my first Mountain Bike race. I signed up for a solo 6 hour endurance race with hopes I could find some friends to join me. Because I had spent most of the year leading up to the race traveling over seas, I was a little under prepared for the race. In all I had about a month of riding in the summer heat of Arizona, and for about half of this time my bike was in the shop for various repairs. To include a last minute replacing of the crank, two days before I departed for the race, because I stripped out a pedal because I didn't realize it was coming loose on a trail ride.

I arrived at BSA Camp Tahquitz early Friday evening, shortly after registration opened. I quickly set up my camp and then took off for a pre ride of the course. Upon hearing that this would be my first race, one of the event organizers offered this advice. "Start slow, and then slow down." On the pre ride, I started to understand how unprepared I was. The course was a loop of around 6 miles, that included a 1,200 foot climb and a loose and dusty down hill of switch backs through the pines. Also the camp lay at around 7,000 feet ASL, much higher elevation than my flat training grounds in Yuma (200 feet ASL). Despite its difficulty the ride was undoubtably beautiful. Riding through pine and sunny meadows in near perfect weather.

When I returned to camp, the rest of the campers had arrived. Most of them from Jenson USA, a title sponsor of the event, riding in the team event and running a maintenance tent for the race. The combination of a ban on alcohol from being on a BSA camp and the early race start in the morning made it an early night in camp.

With my registration done and my bike already set up, I was able to stay in my tent until the race was about to start. When I pulled back my tent flap, I was surprised by all the activity. A few hundred people were now buzzing around ready to race. I grabbed a light breakfast and prepared my aid station.

I took my place at the back of the pack for the mass start. I held no illusions of competing against any of the riders beside myself. The first lap felt pretty good. I kept up with the pack on the flats and even passed a few people on the down hill. At the bottom of the hill I dropped back to the rear of the pack. The second lap went a lot like the first. By the climb of my second lap, many of the leaders were working on their third, I gave way to the leaders as they easily passed me. I made a stop at my aid station to grab some food and top up on water. Once I got started on the third lap exhaustion was already setting in. I took advantage of the Aid station at the base of the climb drinking a few cups of HEED electrolyte and cookies. Once I started the climb my legs were spent and I found myself having to dismount to allow people to pass, especially in the technical sections. The fourth lap even the down hills were a struggle when my legs began to cramp. I made an even longer stop at the Aid Station at the bottom of the hill. Laying down while eating cookies and drinking more HEED, in hopes of curing the cramps before the climb. I crawled up the climb and made it back to the start, suffering the worst of the leg cramps within site of the finish line. I crossed the line at 5:33, relieved that I could stop without worrying that I could still finish one more lap. This race had a hard finish at 6 hours, so any lap that doesn't cross the finish before that time doesn't count, as opposed to races where any lap started before that time will count. I finished 6th of 7 in my age group.

Obstacle at the bottom of the Ravine

Lower Meadow

After grabbing a snack I crashed in my hammock to recover while waiting for the award ceremony. Laying around was exactly what I needed right then. I spent the rest of the day lounging around camp with the Jenson USA guys. Many of them were competing in day two of racing, the inaugural Endure race. In retrospect this is the race I should have done, and if I had anything left in my legs I would have signed up.

-James

Lele Kawa

2014 SART Hell Ride

Bike for Bender host a 35 mile ride from South Fork down to Redlands at the end of every October. This ride covers one of southern CAs longest runs of single track, mostly all of it down hill.

I recruited a friend to make the journey with me, and split the cost of travel and lodging.

I we did not manage to secure one of the shuttle seats that guarantee a ride up the hill, so we arrived early to try and work out transportation. We managed to get a ride in one of the last trucks heading up the hill.

Grand Canyon Rim to Rim

Before leaving Arizona I made sure to check this life list hike off of my list. The rim to rim day hike. Down Kabab trail across the Colorado and up Bright Angel, 18 miles all in one day.

The plan was to camp in the park to help get an early start, unfortunately only one loop of the campground remains open (walk ins only) through the winter so by the time we arrived Saturday night it was full. Fortunately there are national forest that offer dispersed camping just outside the park. While looking in the park wasted about 2 hours, we ended up with a nice secluded camp off FR9xx.

 We got an early start at sunrise and headed to Bright Angel Lodge. As we drove into the park we pasted deer and elk grazing in the dawn sun. The park web site insist that hikers should only use the "hiker express" from Bright Angel Lodge to Kabab Trail head, this is poor advice, the park busses run as normal and while it requires a transfer at the visitor center, any of the busses will take you. 

The trailhead was empty as we made our way directly there while other hikers took the opportunity to use the bathrooms. While the rim had a good amount of snow the snow on the trail was limited to the first few hundred yards, and the crampons quickly came off. It wasn't much longer before most of the warming layers were also shed. We managed to hike in mostly solitude, passing one group of mules on their way back up.

Back up Bright Angel started much like the down, in solitude until reaching the camp. At this point we had to share the trail with many more hikers traveling in both directions. By the time we hit the two mile stop the trail was filled with both snow and hikers. Crampons were re applies and we continues up to the lodge.

Victory beers were enjoyed at the lodge.

Niagara River drift S.C.U.B.A. dive

After a few years of missing this dive, I took part in a favorite summer shore dive in Buffalo. Many Buffalo divers are familiar with this, Wednesday evening Niagara River Drift dive. I managed to make it twice this year. You get in the water at the west end of Isle View Park and drift east to the boat launches at the other end of the park

My first dive kept to the shallower waters where the grass and fish lurk. I even managed to find a fin that somebody from the dive shop had lost earlier in the week. The visibility was was above average for this dive at about 15-20 feet. This was also my first attempt at using the GoPro for diving. Unfortunately it froze up right after I went under.

 Post dive gear pile

Post dive Hotdog BBQ

The second time I did this dive we went a little deeper where the water runs faster. The rain leading up to this dive made the visibility much lower than the previous Wednesday. There was less life to see but about the same trash. The GoPro worked better this time, but the poor visibility and lack of fish made for poorer video quality that I would gotten had the camera worked the previous week.

-James

Lele Kawa

Hiking Niagara Gorge

My favorite cardio hike in Western New York, the Niagara River Gorge is a mini Grand Canyon. From Whirlpool State Park down to the rocks along the Whirlpool is a mile and a half with a 1,500 foot elevation change. The majority of that elevation change occurs in about a tenth of a mile.

Other than its cardio benefits the up close views of the Niagara River and it's Class V rapids are pretty amazing. You get a real sense of how much power the river has.

-James

Lele Kawa

Buffalo Wing Fest 2013

I was lucky enough to attend the 2013 Buffalo Wing Festival in my home town of Buffalo. It was a good opportunity to spend too much to sample a variety of wings, most of them from the local area.

We happened to be there for the Competitive Eating Championship Buffalo wing eating contest. Watched a bunch of large men get their buts kicked by some little girls. Miki Sudo destroyed everyone with 178 wings in 12 minutes.

It just so happened that she was leaving at the same time I was so she stopped for this photo.

-James

Lele Kawa

SUP Buffalo River

BFLO Harbor Kayak has made Stand Up Paddle Boards available in Buffalo's Inner Harbor. This means that without dragging my board across the country I was able to get some SUP in Buffalo over the summer.

The day I rented my SUP their was some crazy wind about 12mph, so the lake was not looking very inviting. This was fine with me because I was more interested in the river. The river had little wind and has little current so it made for easy paddling. From the rental dock under the skyway, I made my way about a mile and a half upstream just past Ohio St.

Setting off from BFLO Harbor Kayak with the Little Rock in the background

 Buffalo Skyline from the river

Turn around point

On the way back down stream I was facing the wind. Hugging the shore helped avoid the worst of it in my face but standing on the board was making a sail out of my body. Near the Naval Park the wind was strong enough to make some good size rolling waves, maybe a one to two feet. The was were just a little two small and not breaking for me to surf them upstream to the dock.

I'm not sure if it is legal but I think it would be fun to ride a SUP down the Niagara river. There is a whole lot of current and no shortage of place to get out. Maybe next time.

-James

Lele Kawa

Potato Chip Rock Mt. Woodson, Poway, CA

It seem like at some point everyone in San Diego needs to make the trip up to Potato Chip Rock for an (insert social media platform here) photo. Well I am no different. I was surprised to find that it is a pretty demanding hike almost 8 miles round trip and 2k feet of elevation gain. Now knowing how demanding the hike is I have a new appreciation for all those photos.

It seems like this is the Saturday morning cardio hike for a lot of San Diego's fitness minded residents. There was certainly no shortage of yoga pants and sports bras.

Past Potato Chip at the empty summit, I made a number of failed attempts to boulder and reach the true peak of Mt Woodson.

-James

Lele Kawa