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...