WOW, Hawaii's a dreamland...I could have stayed forever...The Temple, climate, food and kindness of the people what more could you ask for? After a lengthy 3 legged flight I arrived in a very warm and tropical environment with my thermal shirt and downed vest on...The security guards at the airport, just laughed as I immediately began shedding clothes...After finding my car, (I had to be driven by a sweet Hawaiian Girl to the enterprise car rental in Kona) I immediately went to the temple and did an endowment...I was so tired in this session, and then I realized that when I finished at 9:30PM, it was 12:30AM Utah time! I found a place to sleep by a local McDonald's and boy did I sleep...When I woke up the next morning I couldn't believe how beautiful everything was...I knew I had to get to Hilo, so I drove south to Hilo around the lower end of the island to Volcano...I was in amazement of the ocean, stopping to take pictures along my journey. I couldn't believe how blessed I was to be in Hawaii thinking of all my family at home.... I brought a suitcase full of food so I was good to go..When I arrived at Volcano I was surprised to learn that Mount Kilauea was an active volcano...They wouldn't let anyone hike to the volcano since it had just erupted on Monday taking out another house in it's path of lava flow...I did however hike under a lava tunnel in this subtropical rain forest...IT WAS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL and interesting! I also went down south to see where the road had been destroyed and had stopped all travel on it due to the many eruptions that had taken place over the years. Hardened Lava covered the once used road. I walked about a mile on it marveling at the destruction a volcano can do...Not a typical site in Utah...I then went up north and took a guided tour with Eddie a native Hawaiian around the petroglyphs in the park. I was amazed at how religious the petroglyphs were, and how many...INCREDIBLE! A cute returned missionary that taught the gospel principles class in the Hilo ward said that their people came from Hagoth. He is the name of the explorer in the book of Nephi that went and took people into the isles of the sea...I don't know about this for fact, but I do know the Hawaiian people knew God, and they knew how important the family was.
I then went to HILO. The elevation loss was dramatic, then I realized that I was driving the marathon course backwards...I didn't like thinking that I would be running this 32 mile course tomorrow, ALL UPHILL!...I never like to study the course before I run...It makes me nervous and here I was driving it! I stopped at the Mauna Loa Macadamia plant to partake of some very fattening but yummy macadamia's. I didn't feel too guilty since I would be running an Ultra the next day, so I enjoyed the taste of each nut.... I checked in for the race and received my packet. I questioned the race director why he didn't run the race going down from the Volcano....All he said was you will thank me the next day for running uphill....Downhill is hard on your feet and legs.... It was a very simple check in, with no expo. I then got everything ready for the early start the next morning....6AM! After walking around Coconut Beach I settled down I slept pretty soundly anticipating the run the next morning... I was up at 4:30, and was dressed and ready to go by 5:30...The race started at Coconut Beach...A cute girl name Amy and her equally cute and nice boyfriend Keu, supported me on this race...NO ONE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A SELF SUPPORTED RACE...I was very grateful to KEU...He set aside peeled oranges for us every 2 miles along with granola bars, gel, sport drinks, and water...I thanked him at each stop, I was so grateful for his service. He would always say NO WORRIES! The race was dark to start, and we had to wait for traffic lights climbing out of the city which didn't help any of our times...There was a lot of traffic on the road and could have been hazardous if I hadn't worn reflective clothing. We, (Sally, Amy and I) were running three abreast with the traffic. I was grateful for everyone's prayers during this portion of the race. The conversation from the three of us kept our minds busy and aloof from the task at hand, running uphill 32 miles...It was so hot to start, around 70 degrees...The natives were cold, but I felt I was in a giant sauna....I had to shed my shirt at 6 miles since I was used to 20 degree runs in Utah. I told the girls I was LDS, and the story of how I began running...I told the about our church, and also about my Andrew serving a mission in Salta Argentina...They were interested...Amy had recently separated from her husband and had found a new love in Keu. Sally was happily married to the RD that makes a mean Tofu soup....YUMMY! It was served at the finish line. They were both mothers and loved living in Hawaii...After 1/2 marathon, Amy began to get busy and run faster up the hill...She was like a nanny goat...Sally fell behind and I kept pushing forward the best I was able...Since I was running slowly I noticed how beautiful it was, but I also noticed how much trash there was on the roadways...I hope the Hawaiian people will take better care of their natural resources by not littering...Their land is incredible, I hope they realize this! The run did not get easier, in fact negative thoughts kept bounding into my mind...I considered quitting at 26.2 saying I am only supposed to do a marathon in every state, but not an ultra...Through the faith I have in my brother Jesus Christ and through the knowledge that I know he loves me and wants me succeed at this goal and complete the race I was able to endure to the end... Every time I felt like stopping I found new strength in my Saviors love....I give all glory to my Heavenly Father who created me...For I do not boast in my own strength. I was never so excited to see the finish line...I FINISHED THE RACE!!!! I was awarded with a crocheted lei, and a medal at the finish....It was hand made by a local older Hawaiian runner...I can't remember her name, but she was so cute and kind.. The food was divine even though I wasn't very hungry...Keu had kept me well fed through the race...Home grown oranges, tangerines and mandarins abounded as well as bananas. The local running club had made many batches of soups and breads...It hit the spot ...I won the masters grand champion with a time of 5:25. The prize was a bag of coffee beans and a graphic print...The coffee beans I gave away, and the graphic print of a Hawaiian running I will frame...It is awesome...Larry Macon was at the end, and was flying out to run Maui the next day. He's incredible...After the race I caught a ride back to start...I rode with a macadamia nut farmer named Sheila. She told me not to buy any nuts from Mauna Loa since their nuts are shipped in from the Philippines. SAD! She also told me to go to a local farmers market in HILO which I did and had a blast...I couldn't believe the yummy fruit and vegetables they had...WOW! I could live here...The locals told me where to find a shower. I showered for free at a local fitness center, they were so nice, and went back to the farmers market to buy more strawberry papaya, apple bananas, liches, pineapple and coconut water...MMMMMM...I met a local painter that was also a runner and told her about the LDS church, and also a father selling produce with his family...In fact they were the ones that told me where to find the local LDS Church for services the next day...I found the church then went to rainbow falls and seen the incredible beauty that Heavenly Father and Jesus created for us. I met a darling woman making baskets out of palm leaves there...Her last name was WATSON...We started talking about our families that both came from England, she was half English and Hawaiian and then the gospel just came into it. I told her I was LDS and asked if she wanted to attend church with me...She said no...It was all good...I then took her picture...SHe said I am so not pretty, and I said Yes, you are! Don't you realize you are a child of GOD? She was so kind...I wish I would have bought a basket from her...The next morning I attended church and found many opportunities to strengthen others testimonies in Gospel Principles class and in Relief Society...Everyone was so kind...I loved the ward...After church I went to a botanical garden, and then AKAKA FALLS...After sleeping overnight in Waimea, Monday morning I hiked to the bottom of Waimea Valley where an incredible black sand beach lies. You have to hike straight down for a mile and then straight up on the return... On the way down, I had a cute Korean boy pick me up...He had a kayak on his truck, and as we were going down this steep hill the kayak slipped forward blocked the vision of this boy...He slammed on his brakes just before we went over the cliff! YIKES he quickly put on the emergency brake and pulled the kayak back on the truck...He was so kind and offered me water and iodine tablets for my hike ahead since I wasn't prepared...I hiked the kings trail, which was incredibly beautiful...I found huge oranges, bananas and cocoa growing wildly throughout the trail. A VERY HIKEABLE TRAIL...Getting out of the valley was very easy...I was asked if I wanted a ride by some other kind folks driving a 4-wheel drive... It was easy to say yes to them looking at the steep trail that loomed ahead...Monday turned out to be a great day...Tuesday I did some temple work for Nicholas' family he had sent to the temple...It was an enjoyable temple session. I then traversed the city of Kona and saw where the ironman started...MAYBE SOMEDAY? The swimming in the ocean part freaks me out..Wednesday I also attended the temple, and went over the pass to Hilo for some more farmers market fun...Thursday morning I got lost running and almost didn't make it to the temple. Only by the tender mercies of the Lord, I was able to hitch a ride back to the condo where the Thomas' so graciously let me stay at for three nights... The rescuer was a crazy chinese man that wore a neck brace and said the F word in every sentence...I thought thanks for the rescue but why with this man? After the temple I sat at the resort Clay and Janet are members of...The resort was very beautiful...I watched the whales, the ocean and the people...It was peaceful and calm...Hawaii is incredible, I knew I would miss this part of the world when I bid farewell to the Thomas's and left for the airport...It was a sad time for all her were leaving Hawaii on this 9:45PM airflight...No one wanted to leave especially when one had a three legged airflight home...I slept all the way to LAX, also to SEATTLE, but flying back to SLC I had a lively conversation with a cute 30 year old called NICHOLAS...GO FIGURE...NOW IT'S TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK...SAY GOODBYE TO PARADISE....
