A Grueling Hike up Koko Head - Hawaii

Hike #1 of 10 for my 101 in 1001 list...

After leaving the photowalk on the North Shore, I tackled the grueling hike up Koko Head afterward.  At around 4:30 p.m., I hiked and did not return until nearly two hours later. 

My friend mentioned that it can take up to half an hour or up to two hours, depending on your physical fitness level.  Honestly, I am not that out of shape, but this hike made me realize I am.  I will have to continue hiking this and other trails to build my endurance. 

I still have no idea how people can run up and down Koko Head and to hear that someone actually made it in 15 minutes - running - is unbelievable.  I struggled immensely as I hiked the steep, old rail road path in the hot sun.  I'm still amazed that children were hiking Koko Head too!  My mouth dropped, as I saw a 5 year old at the summit, as well as several other young chidren. As I was hiking, I remember thinking to myself, "I don't think this hike would be suitable for children," as I reluctantly climbed one section of the path.  I guess I was wrong.

There is one section of the path that is above ground.  I'm skinny, so if I was to fall, I could slip right between the rail road tracks and hit the ground below!  That's what I thought as I carefully hiked the area. I'm also scared of heights, so I had to use all four of my limbs to hike this particular section of the path, knowing that I would have a better chance of not falling if I held on to the rail road tracks as I climbed.  How in the world does anyone run Koko Head, especially on this path!?  I still haven't figured it out, but I'm completely amazed by it.  (For those of you who feel you will not be able to make it past the part of the hike I mentioned, there is an alternate path).

You wouldn't want to fall through these cracks ...

Thankfully, after passing the difficult part of the path, the rest of the train tracks were on the ground.  But the climb becomes steeper as you head towards the summit.  As you hike towards the top of Koko Head, you'll notice more and more hikers hanging out on the side of the path, taking breaks to catch their breath. 

After hitting the summit, however, it's the most exhilirating feeling in the world! Sit down, relax, and take in the view.  The wind feels incredible. It's nice and cool.  It's the perfect place to reward yourself after a tough hike.

The view is unbelievably incredible and worth every step to the top.  Not only will you get a glimpse into Koko Head Crater, but there's a 360 view of the surrounding area to include Hanauma Bay, Makapu'u, and more.

After taking the time to relax a top Koko Head, we finally hiked down the trail, which I thought was ten times easier!  However, I was getting a little nervous as a friend kept on slipping on the path behind me.  I didn't want him to get hurt, especially because it would be a terrifying fall.  But luckily, we made it down rather quickly and safely, although not as fast as the older woman running down the path! 

It was such a relief to have finished the hike.  My legs felt like jello as they wobbled after the hike, while I could tell I was extremely dehyrated from hiking in the sun.  In fact, I felt like hurling, as I asked the lady at the gas station if she had re-hydration packets for me to pour into my gatorade.  She instead offered a free Krispy Creme donut because she thought that something sweet would make me feel better since no rehydration packets were available.  Isn't that so sweet?

My advice to you is to make sure you are hydrated before you hike and to bring a lot of water with you a long the way! Learn from my experience or you'll truly suffer the consequences up until the next day. And let me tell you, it is one of the worst feelings ever to have a pounding headache, chills, and nausea as you try your best to rest, while waking up periodically with blurry vision.  You'll want to sleep endlessly and will wake up with an unrelentless headache until the next day.  Trust me.  Drink a lot of water!

The hike to Koko Head was a lot of fun and totally worth it.  The view was beautiful.  In fact, it was so beautiful that I want to make a copy of the aerial photos I took a top Koko Head to put into a picture frame or to hang on the wall as a memory.  I had an incredible time and I plan to return again.  It will test my endurance and push me to my limits.  Maybe one day, I'll be able to hike a little faster too.  An accomplishment I look forward to ... From what I hear, the more you hike Koko Head, the easier it gets!  Eventually, you may want to run it!

If you plan to hike Koko Head, bring a camera too!  It will be an incredible hike, so have fun and enjoy the moment.

My First 10K @ the Ford Island Bridge Run - Hawaii

I just finished running the Ford Island Bridge Run.  It was 10k (6.2 miles) of painful fun to help raise funds for Navy MWR.  Anyone can participate in the scenic run and there are prizes for winners too.  After registration, you are given a packet with a T-Shirt, a Number, and a chip to tie onto your shoe to track your run time.  It was my first 10k run and I am so happy to have finished it!

In the begining, it was a breeze to run ( since we were going down hill).  I ran, taking photos of all the people along the way.  It's not easy to take photos and run, but I'm glad I wasn't the only one.  And thank god my friend is so understanding because whenever we stopped, he waited for me to take a picture.  We both needed a quick break too.  A mile seems like forever when you are running.

My friend and I actually started late and ended up with all of the walkers and stroller participants, but slowly we weaved through people, at our own pace.  No doubt about it.  We took it quite easy, but at the same time, we were moving and getting a real workout.

 I noticed a lot of kids running! I can't believe kids run these days.  I don't ever remember running as a child, except for playing tag or some other sport outside.  It's insane.  I bet some of those kids could run faster than me.

While running, I took in all of my surroundings.  The scenery was beautiful. I had a chance to take photos of Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri!  I loved it and the energy of all the people pushes you to run harder and not give up.  By the 3 mile marker though my knees were killing me  I just bought a new pair of running shoes yesterday for the run today and didn't have time to break them in, so I paid for it during the run.  I'm glad to have survived. 

When I was running, I took a photo.  One of the runner's looked at me and said "cheese!" I love silly people.

I caught a rainbow!

For some odd reason, once we hit the 3 mile marker, I took off.  I had a burst of energy.

As soon as I passed the five mile marker though, it was painful.  Running up the Ford Island Bridge will make you want to walk.  I know I did.  It was a killer.  I had to  stop more than a few times, but I pushed myself to keep on going.  As I ran up the bridge, someone pinched me from behind, laughing.  I turned around. It was my co-worker.  I didn't even know I passed him until then, but it was too funny.

As you approach the finish line, some people gather the energy to sprint like crazy.  I don't know how they do it.  I was just about done running, thinking I might have a heart attack if I ran any faster.  I'm just thankful I crossed the finish line.  It was a great run and I can't wait to participate in more.

There's no greater feeling than seeing the finish line and passing through it. 

Afterward, I stood at the Finish Line, waiting for my friends or co-workers to come through, so I could get their pictures.  Fortunately, I got a photo of the friend I was runing with.

I now feel completely refreshed and can cross this off on my to do list for the year!  Yay.

Shape Magazine's - Shape Your Butt, Hips, & Thighs

 After attending a torturous fitness class yesterday, my body aches.  I had a blast and worked really hard though, so I'm taking it easy for the next couple of days.  I have bruises on my knees from having to get down on the ground to do pushups and the "superman," but it's been totally worth it.  I know my hardwork will pay off for my upcoming PT test.

Whenever your body is healing though, it's a good idea to work out with less intensity.  One of the latest videos I purchased is Shape  - Your Butt, Hips, and Thighs, inspired by Shape Magazine.  I particularly like the yoga and pilates portion of the video because I know the existing benefits will make a difference in my body.

When I was taking yoga and ballet, my body never felt as tight - ever.   In the video, they focus on ballet, yoga, and pilates to tone the body.  It's a great work out and it's easy to follow the steps too.  The cardio can be confusing, but as long as you are moving, you are working towards a better body.

Here's a clip:



For those of you wanting to be more fit, just go for it!  You'll feel great and it will make you want to take better care of yourself.  It's hard to take the first step, but once you do, you'll reap the benefits.

Ballroom Dancing

Yesterday, my husband and I went ballroom dancing again. We were really late since we had prior obligations elsewhere, but luckily we still had an hour left to learn how to do the Waltz and the Samba.

The teachers are very friendly and patient, so it's awesome. They encourage you to continue and seem to truly enjoy the company.

Since we have been taking the class because of my husband's anthropology project, we questioned some of the younger couples to see why they were interested in ballroom dancing. Most of the couples are much, much older. There were, however, quite a few young couples. They all seemed to be interested in learning ballroom dancing for fun or to have a great activity to do with their partners. I can see why they chose ballroom dancing because it's definitely good for both reasons.

There was one girl, however, who was quite frustrated. Hopefully, she'll feel better next time.

My husband and I are still very terrible at dancing, but with practice I know we can improve. We really love this new place we are at because they go step by step. You practice the moves quite a bit!

I get lost all the time and sometimes my head spins, but I never could've imagined how fun ballroom dancing could be. I definitely would like to continue. I want to learn other forms of dance too, such as Tahitian hula - if time permits!

After dance class, we went to Yogurt Land. It's such an awesome place! Most people may find the plain yogurt disgusting, but I think it's awesome. It has a natural, tart taste to it. You can add tons of different topings too. I also tried the toasted coconut yogurt. It was okay.

I can't wait till next week Thursday!

Ballroom Dancing

Last night, I went ballroom dancing! Actually, "I tried my best to learn" would be a better statement describing last night. It was a lot of fun and a whole lot of hard work, but totally worth it. I absolutely loved it!

My husband is taking an anthropology class and was assigned to try something out of the ordinary. He also had to choose a group of people who meet consistently, at least once a week. Initially, he chose martial arts, but there weren't enough consistent attendees. After his teacher suggested ballroom dancing, he decided to go for it because it's something out of his comfort zone, as well as something we could both do together for fun. I am pretty much open to try anything, so I went with him and I'm glad I did.

It took us forever to find the dance hall. In fact, we missed the first class! We were tired, hungry, and almost reconsidered attending. However, we gave it one last shot. We turned into a driveway and to our surprise, we found the palladium! We were so happy because after a while, we were getting quite frustrated. Once we found it though, we were the happiest people alive!

When we walked into the dance hall, there were students practicing the Rumba. Many of the dancers were well into their 60s, if not older. There were about 2 other young couples, suprisingly. The dance floor was huge! There was a dance instructor who had a microphone headset to guide all the students through each step. There were also teachers everywhere to help students, like my husband and I, who needed the most help.

Since the man is suppossed to lead, the instructors often danced with the men to help guide them. Help was everywhere and students even offered assistance. I was really happy, although nervous at the same time because I couldn't quite get the steps down. However, after practicing it a million times, my husband and I slowly started to get the hang of it. It was so much fun!

Many of the instructors have been dancing for several decades. The nice thing about the students and instructors was that they were so positive and helpful. The instructors seemed to enjoy our company and I noticed they encourage younger people to join because the majority of them are much, much older. The prices are also quite reasonable too.

I am glad we found the palladium and I definitely look forward to going back next week! We had the chance to learn basic steps for the Waltz and Samba. I can't wait to see what we'll learn next week! In the future, I hope to improve and I would also like to continue dancing because it's so much fun!