November 20, 2006

BACK IN BUSINESS …

Photo by Paul Morrison.

Opening day at Whistler-Blackcomb. Our mountains are back in the business of winter. And tonight — another snowfall warning.

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Honolulu Marathon — 18 days to go!! I had one of my toughest training days today — conditions conspired against me, and I arrived home looking like the abominable snowman re-incarnate Tomorrow I think I’d better crack out those snowshoes. I’ll let you know how it goes …

***

And an interesting sidebar to the Honolulu race :

Honolulu Marathon plans third race in war zone

By Associated Press HONOLULU (AP)

For the third consecutive year, a Honolulu Marathon satellite race will be run in the Middle East war zone. Finishers in Iraq will receive the same T-shirt, medal, shell lei and official certificate as their Honolulu counterparts, and they have to send applications to be processed in Honolulu. The 105-dollar registration fee is waived for the Iraq race.

The Honolulu Marathon at a base in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle is scheduled for December 10th, the same date as the Honolulu race. The Iraq race will be held within Speicher, home of the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division. About five-thousand military personnel are stationed at the base, including units of the 82nd Airborne Division and Air Force and Marine Corps elements. Runners will do four laps of an unimproved road within the compound.

Because of the 13-hour time difference, the Iraq runners will get a head start on the big race in Hawaii. They’ll be starting their awards banquet at about the same time of the start of the Honolulu race.

Runners struggle up ‘mini-Diamond Head’ halfway around Forward Operating Base Ripley in southern Afghanistan during the 2004 “Honolulu” marathon. Image by Sgt. Jeremy Clawson.

That looks like some brutal terrain — I think I’m pretty lucky to be doing mine on the island itself.

Posted by Loreth @ 9:57 pm | THE RUNNING LIFE, THE WHISTLER LIFE, THE WRITING LIFE

10 Responses to “BACK IN BUSINESS …”

On November 21st, 2006 at 12:20 am
Ruby55 Says:

Quite a difference between these two scenes: from desert (pretty well) to snowy paths. I guess the terrain in Hawaii is sort of in between especially as far as vegetation goes. How many people are entered in this marathon?

A friend of mine used to do marathons as well. I’ve lost track of her. She got married and moved to Chicago or somewhere like that. So we lost track of each other especially since I’m such a good correspondent.

Can we send in pictures of us with each book? And the end date is Dec. 24? I think the dog one is adorable. He actually looks as if he’s reading.
On November 21st, 2006 at 9:12 am
Toni Anderson Says:

Oh my. I think I’d take Hawaii, but good on them for doing it anyway!! But why that marathon and not say the NY??
On November 21st, 2006 at 11:59 am
Kristen Says:

Wow, that looks pretty brutal… That’s amazing, for them doing that. And g’luck with the snowshoes!

I managed to get both of my cats to sit still for a book each. They even look like they’re reading, it’s amazing.
On November 21st, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Meretta ~ American Title Finalist Says:

You’re amazing Kristen. I can’t imagine getting my cats to sit still.

And wow. Snow to lush Hawaii to hot, hot Iraq. That’s a lot of terrain to cover in just one blog post!
On November 21st, 2006 at 4:48 pm
Kristen Says:

I’ll let you in on a little secret - they were half-asleep.
On November 21st, 2006 at 8:54 pm
Loreth Says:

YES, Ruby — each picture gets a seperate chance of winning. Thanks for asking
On November 21st, 2006 at 8:56 pm
Loreth Says:

Toni — the answer to that lies in this little snippet from the story above: “The Iraq race will be held within Speicher, home of the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division. About five-thousand military personnel are stationed at the base, including units of the 82nd Airborne Division and Air Force and Marine Corps elements” – It’s a home thing. Feeling linked with the base back on the island. Several military personnel from the Hawaii base run in Oahu as well.
On November 21st, 2006 at 8:59 pm
Loreth Says:

Kristen, thank you!!! I got the pics. And I’d swear you have Brunswick’s twin down there in Texas
On November 21st, 2006 at 10:04 pm
Kristen Says:

You’re welcome =) So would I…:P
On November 21st, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Loreth Says:

Oh, Ruby — forgot to answer your other question: In 2002, 26,477 runners particpated in the Honolulu, making it the fourth-largest marathon in the world (behind London, New York and Chicago). It’s come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1973, when the marathon debuted with 167 participants (including 151 finishers)

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SEDUCING THE MERCENRY earns Cata award