Kona Brewfest 10K Run for Hops 2012

This morning we awoke to darkness, packed our drowsy children into the car, and went cruising down to Kona for the annual Brewfest Run for Hops! 

"Team Kadriane"

Last year we ran as a family, but this year Mr A is on the injury list.  So my marathon-buddy Adriane ran with me instead.  What an awesome race!

Ready, set, go!

Adriane is the ultimate running partner.  Her pace is just fast enough to be motivating and she has a dogged determination that is beyond my comprehension.  She's cool with long stretches of silence and doesn't try to jog and drink water at the same time (ie. she actually stops at aid stations).

Chillin' with daddy during the race: eatin' a sandwich, wavin' the shaka.

I've never run a 10K before.  Ever.  Not even for fun.  When we passed the halfway mark, I could see the 5K-ers heading toward the finish line and I thought oh jeez...we've got such a long way to go. 
That's when my friend looked at me with a huge smile and said "Just look at how many people are walking already!  Dude!  We are rocking this!"  Just like that, my cup was filled. 
The last 200 yards I kept saying to myself "theres a keg at the end...run to the keg...mmm cold beer..."

Ikaika cheered me on down the chute then came running in for a hug.

So we finished.  We didn't finish at the top, but 10K is for serious athlete runners ;P

My time was 1:03:50 (woohoo!)

Overall: 121 of 166
Females: 53 of 80
Division (20-29): 15 of 22 
Pace: 10:17/mile

And at the end of the race I was spent, but I was wasn't dead.  I still need to put some road under my feet in order to be ready for the marathon in June, but after today it seems within my reach.


Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take a nap.