thought a mini run would stimulate those brain cells a little.glad I went! Sometimes getting those running shoes on takes alot of motivation but the reward i feel after is so worth it!






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Can't seem to concentrate for my last finals this Wednesday because my brain is already on vacation..,Thursday I'm off to Manila for some shopping, dining, haircutting experience just for


the weekend! can't seem to get excited tho....I guess I'm just too stressed w/ finals....

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Location:Kuauli St,Mililani,United States

cant wait for the summer break....and looking forward for a little out of town trip next week! destination: Manila and Korea! my korean colleague wants to hit the big malls and i just want to eat anything and perhaps a cheap but good haircut too while im there....one day in seoul to eat some bibimbap and bugolgi will complete the trip.....

humbled and exhausted, i finished maui's valley-to-sea half marathon under 2:30...2:28:20 something seconds to be exact. not something to brag about, i know, but under my current circumstances, i felt blessed. Soon after picking up my running packet the day before, i realized this was going to be a different kind of race for me.....running with a small group of people (who are mostly true racers or elites!), was unexpected and worth worrying about (i guess i was used to seeing hundreds of runners participate on oahu)...because there was a definite chance i was going to reach the finish line LAST (given my lack of experience and motivation lately!)...about 200 of us gathered early saturday morning for the start in the grounds of the famous Iao Needle in Wailuku....as soon as the horn went off, everyone darted with passion..leaving me behind in a flash...so sure that i was running last among the crowd, i feared even looking back for i was afraid not to see other runners behind me, so i didn't. and i didnt stop either, except when to drink at the aid stations...At the 8th mile marker was probably the first time i took a glance behind me, reluctantly of course, but was relieved after knowing i wasn't running last anymore! somehow this gave me a second wind because i kept moving, even passing a couple. though it felt like and even probably looked like a penguin gliding slowly, i fought the urge to walk it.....Turning to the last mile on South Kihei Road where the beach is a short distance away, runners were directed to run the most difficult part: run on sandy beach where the finish line could be seen with all the decorations and elites now swimming and relaxing just waiting for novice racers like me.....Jogging on sand was hard, but running so that i didnt finish last was even harder to do.....another mission accomplished!

ive never appreciated spring break more until now...especially after having such a brutal week right before that...to know that those exams are behind me now..what a relief indeed!....tho there is no school, any good student will know this free time will be used for much needed catching up on tons of reading..even taking some of my homework to maui, where i will be racing (hardly) on an annual valley-to-sea half-marathon...

grateful...

i have waited for this day to finally come: the last of the finals is done! tomorrow morning when my alarm reminds me its 4am--i will hit the snooze button and go right back to sleep..until it's time to bring sis to the bus stop, of course...Not. i imagine getting up at four or 4:30 anyway, putting on the coffee machine, and just enjoy the quietness of the cool mauka morning and for once just sit at my table thanking my God for bringing me through yet another merci-full and amazing semester!

marathon is history!

i did it! among thousands of runners and alongside a dear friend, honolulu marathon is history! it's a relief to say the least...felt emotional at the end (perhaps it's the sore ankle but i doubt it). since 1997, it has become a personal event for me. Knowing it would be my last this year, finishing felt incredible. doing 13 marathons is more than i had hoped for, it created in me discipline, endurance, and to suck it up when pain is there!

i have decided that next week's honolulu marathon will indeed be my last.i've been prone to change my mind before, but after 13 straight years, it is time to take up another hobby.i can still remember marathon #1, how naive i was to think i could do it without running?!? Everything has its seasons, and it's time to start a new one!

the thanksgiving holiday just jumpstarted everything: i have a list that needs to get checked off within the next two weeks: exam,paper,exam,presentation,buy a x-mas tree,lab exam,decorate tree,car appointment,exam,honolulumarathon,exam.end of list.

it is crunch time--another 3 more weeks to go and semester is practically over! since i came back to school last fall 2009, i must say this gotta be the hardest one yet and i feel more of a student now too....maybe its the part where i force myself to be up before 4am? all i want is to sleep-in on the first day of winter break!

4 tests and a long run

what used to be a daily run turned to a weekly run which now turned to race day only run. Saddened, but at peace for the gradual change of events caused by my own choosing. and when it rains, it really pours. this week of midterms stole my fun weekend as i spent my precious hours memorizing the skeletal bones and reading up on bone tissues, formation, repair, etc...and that's only the first of four midterms happening this week alone. The end of the week will be highlighted by an 18 miler-run along kahala and hawaii kai this sunday, now considered a treat compared to the abuse my brain received in preparation for midterms.

running 15miles tomorrow....im happy if i finish in 3 hours! (i hope)

the school semester is in full swing now and the challenges every week just get more and more. This past week was a good indication of the kind of stress level i'll be exposed with for the rest of the semester or for the entire time until i graduate even....again, i remind myself that i'm training for something greater...i guess it's true that when you're older you also get wiser...i see in my young classmates the kind of student i was when i was their age attending college. I took almost everything for granted. if there's one thing i learn from this journey, it's going after your dreams..and oh maybe one more thing: running takes a backseat for now and it feels ok.

The summer break is ending so soon and im excited to begin a new experience this fall semester come monday! im officially back to school full-time during the day and work at most nights....the last two semesters have been sort of a trial period for me to see if i liked being back to school and so i've only taken two classes at most before this....so far, i LIKED it! The challenges to keep the grades competitive among other nursing aspirants have been many but keeping my eyes on the prize has not wavered...if anything, it has intensified!

im going to have to stick to a new routine come monday 6/7.....my job at the Honolulu Advertiser is officially ending...it's been 10 wonderful years.it's funny how things work out...have been contemplating ending my employment at the newspaper a year ago when i decided to go back to school, but im glad i waited until this moment when the company is closing its operations in Honolulu...will treasure my memories with the girls, the donuts from foodland every sunday morning, numerous potlucks, and the calling in sick on marathon day! Aloha 'oe THA!