Runners & Walkers Make their New Year’s Resolutions

Isabel Camp, winner of the stroller division, was awarded the Big Dog perpetual trophy

Happy New Year!  Hope all of you are off to a great start on having a happy and healthy new year.

To start the year out right Big Dog Productions hosted the Resolution 5K (3.1-mile) run/walk on New Year’s morning.

I can’t think of a better way of celebrating the birth of a new year than to have 100 of your friends and acquaintances meet you for a jog along scenic Hilo Bayfront on a spectacularly beautiful Friday morning.

People of various ages, from toddlers to octogenarians, and physical abilities took part in the event as all wanted to get off to a healthy start on 2010.

Hilo Medical Center pharmacist, Gregg Davis, was on hand with his wife Wendy to take part in the morning event.  “Wendy and I want to get healthy and stay healthy for 2010,” he said.  “I’d like to also be able to lose 20 pounds and that’s my goal.”

Matthias, Ella and Malia

Matthias Kusch, a captain at the Honokaa Fire Department, showed up with his entire family which included infant Malia who was pushed in a stroller the entire way.

“I’d like to simmer down and take on fewer projects in 2010,” Kusch said.  “I need to concentrate on my family and on sports.  This past year was a big hectic year and in this New Year I’d like to spend more time recreating.”

Missy Keenan, who works as a skills trainer in Honokaa, would like to give up smoking this year.  “I smoked my last cigarette on New Year’s Eve and I plan on giving it up for good in 2010,” she said.

The half-pack a day smoker plans on making the New Year and all future years to come a smoke free one as she will take better care of her health by also increasing the amount of exercise she gets.  “I came here this morning to start the year out right.  I had fun and look forward to doing more events like this throughout the year,” Keenan said.

Big rig CDL driver, James Hank, was also hoping to get a jump start on the New Year by completing the 3.1 mile run with his family.  “We wanted to participate in something different,” Hank said.  “My family started walking about five months ago and a month later my wife, Marla, and I began running.”

For 2010 Marla Hank is hoping to be able to run 10-miles and husband, James, would also like to increase his distance and integrate some biking into his routine.

“This is the first time for Marla and me to take part in an organized running event and we had a lot of fun and look forward to doing it again soon.”

During the race it was former Christian Liberty harrier Justin Pang taking the early lead with former Pahoa High standout Louie Perry close behind.

Alan Ryan

Laupahoehoe resident, Alan Ryan, showed up two minutes before the start of the race and used the first mile as a warm up staying behind former Waiakea, Bryce Harada, and Keaau star Shannon White.

“I need time to get warmed up so I clocked the first mile in 6:14 and was in fifth place at that point,” Ryan said.

Between mile one and mile two Ryan ran at sizzling 5:33 pace and moved into third behind Pang and Perry.  “I passed Louie (Perry) and then ran down Justin (Pang) near the end,” Ryan said.  

Ryan’s became the first Big Island resident to win a race in 2010 and his winning time was 18 minutes and 25 seconds, with Pang, Perry, Harada and White rounding out the top five men.

“My New Year Resolution is to run more mileage and to cross train.  I’d like to increase my aerobic work in order to gain strength,” Ryan said.

For the women it was a battle between Hilo’s Lory Hunter and Kona’s Melissa Braswell.  Braswell, the co-owner of the Big Island Running Company with her husband Jason, took the early lead before being passed by Hunter during the second mile.

Hunter finished seventh overall in 22:25 with Braswell taking tenth overall and second for the women in 22:58.

“It wasn’t easy (winning), but it was a good day and it was nice that we started later in the morning,” Hunter said of the 9:30 am start.  “My fitness goal this New Year is to run my first marathon (26.2-miles) as I’ve registered for the Hilo Marathon in March.  I want to be able to finally say that I ran a marathon.”

At the end of the race Big Dog Productions presented Isabel Camp with the perpetual Big Dog stuffed animal trophy.  Isabel, 2-years old, was pushed the entire way by her father, Rick Camp, as the duo won the stroller division.

Several key volunteers made the Resolution Run/Walk possible.  A big mahalo goes out to Paul Okubo, Randee Arkin, Dano Banks, and Keith Aoki who make up the Big Dog Productions crew.

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