Back in June I officially signed up for the 2010 Honolulu Marathon. The special early registration discount for local runners was too good to pass up. As I get older I become more of a sucker for "a good deal". Save about $100 by signing up early? You got me. Uncle. Unfortunately, I am still on the fence about whether I am actually gonna run this year. So I decided to make a pro and con list. Here it is:
Pro: The feeling of accomplishment after running 26.2.
Con: Porta potties
Pro: The starting line. Feeling the nervous excitement of all the runners. Hearing the gun sound and the explosion of the fireworks.
Con: Blisters
Pro: Early morning downtown Honolulu in all of its Christmas time glory. The giant Christmas tree at Honolulu Hale and festive Bishop Square (they decorate the trees with red, white and green lights, which turns the square into a forest of giant cauliflower, broccoli and evil broccoli).
Con: Having to run almost every day from here to the end of November to get where I need to be.
Pro: The crowd of people lining the streets and cheering you on. These people did not have to wake up at 5:00 to stand on the side lines to encourage you. But they did. Because they are that nice.
Con: The heat. My god, the heat.
Pro: Ice cold Gatorade and water soaked sponges right when you need it.
Con: Finding out they serve the Gatorade by scooping it out of what looks to be a giant trash can. And that the sponges are used.
Pro: Playlists! And skipping to Eminem's Lose Yourself to get you through a rough patch.
Con: Ipod dead. Silence.
Pro: The final 200 meter stretch.
Con: The final 2 miles leading up to the 200 meter stretch.
Pro: Picking up the shirt given only to HM finishers.
Con: Picking up the BRIGHT NEON GREEN shirt given only to HM finishers.
Pro: The excitement of the night before.
Con: The feeling of the week after. The feeling immediately after the marathon reminds me of lyrics from the song Accidental Death by Rilo Kiley, "You're lying motionless on your back, And your legs aren't taking anymore requests".
Still undecided. Mainly, it's the porta potties that get me.