What a week... What a weekend... WHEW!

So... this will be a three part post.  We'll start with the week's events, then move into Sunday's race report, and finally yesterday's monstrous hike.  So, bear with me, this might be a long one.

-Part I-
(the week)

The Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) change of command was on thursday.  So, all week, in addition to my regular work related duties I've had the pleasure of standing in formation as the company guide (that means I hold the company standard called a guidon) for a General's retirement ceremony.  For those that don't know what this means it was two and a half to three hours of standing at attention, marching, and executing various drill movements in the heat of the afternoon sun.  So, my plate was stacked high during the work week.  The ceremony was Thursday afternoon at 1600 so it was a late workday for me that night for sure.  Everybody was there, from foreign dignitaries to the commandant of the Marine Corps.  The Ceremony lasted a full 2 and a half hours.  To give you an idea of the scope of something like this when I was on my way back home I saw Marine scout snipers climbing down from the roof I'm sure they were there for security.  Also, there was a Marine company guide for another company that "fell out".  He literally ate pavement, face first, into the concrete!  OUCH!  There were times when I was afraid that would be me.

-Part II-
(The Race)

Well,  I had some friends over for dinner Saturday night.  I was just a little concerned that the very large meal of home made lasagna that I ate and the couple glasses of wine that I drank would negatively affect me.  Strangely enough, this was what I would call a "breakthrough" race.  I had no GI issues and I was able to maintain a nice pace the entire race.  I had kind of a strange breakfast, but based on what I had been experimenting with, I thought it would work.  I ate toast with blackberry jam and banana pineapple baby food.  Strange, I know, but whatever works right?  Only a couple of issues this race, funny enough they all had to do with the bathroom.  Just before the race I was in line for the port o' john and the gun sounded!  Oh CRAP!  well, I guess it's time to run.  Also, I made the mistake of drinking too much water too close to the start of the race.  So, I had to run off the course and pee... twice.  I imagine I will definitely be able to really pick up the pace on the next race.

-Part III-
(Mt Olympus)

I wish I had all the photos already, but I will post them as soon as I get them emailed from my friends.  We started the day at 0330 with the hopes of scaling the Haiku stairs or stairway to heaven.  We left the house at 0430 to arrive at the entrance to the "off limits" area at 0500.  After wandering around the the network of utility roads and being generally lost for an hour and a half we found the actual trail head only to be turned away by the security guard.  Well, at least we know where to go for next time.  My crew of friends was already in hiking clothes and only slightly deterred by our early morning fiasco.  So, we stopped by Safeway for some more provisions (to include a bottle of Chardonay!) and regrouped at Ray's house.  After googling the most intense hike on Oahu we set out for "Mount Olympus" or The upper Wa'ahila ridge trail.  Wow, a full five hours of hiking later we reached the beautiful summit.  Where we unpacked the picnic that Ray and I hauled up the mountain in our assault packs and ate sandwiches and drank our wine.  We relaxed at the top for about an hour and a half.  Then we started our joyous descent!

And today, a much needed rest day.