Should Children be drinking ENERGY Drinks???

Energy Drinks NOT for Kids

                 Energy drinks are big business, with more than a thousand distributors globally and annual sales expected to top the $9 billion mark this year.

Who’s buying them? Everyone!  

With average caffeine content equal to or exceeding a cup of coffee, the question can certainly be raised, should our children be consuming them?

Definitely not, according to a recent review of data published in Pediatrics Magazine.

 Although surveys show that 30-50 percent of teens and young adults drink energy beverages, the study, which analyzed scientific studies, government and media reports, and other data on energy drinks, concludes that the drinks “have no therapeutic benefit, and many ingredients are understudied and not regulated.” The study authors “discourage routine use” by children and teens.

So, does your child consume energy drinks, and if so, how many on a daily basis?

And what about soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages? Maybe it’s time to find out. Talk to your doctor for additional information.

Advertisement

Salute to Veterans 5K in Hilo – Vets honored

Marlene Hapai submitted the following:   The Hilo rains paused Saturday morning, June 18^th with welcome sunshine lighting the way for over a hundred participants  of the first annual “A Salute  to Our Veterans” Hilo Bay 5K.  Planned in conjunction with the VFW State Convention held at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel hosted by Pahoa’s VFW Post 3830, it launched the post’s “Growing and Showing” campaign to raise $250,000 by 2013 to expand its heavily used facilities and services.   Major sponsors of this year’s event were Aiona Cars, Business Services Hawaii, Creative Arts, Big Island Toyota, Hilo Mazda Subaru, DeLuz Chevrolet, Kona Mazda Hyundai, Kamaaina Nissan, Kamaaina Motors, Orchid Isle Auto Center and Hapai Enterprises.  Café 100 provided gift certificates for first place winners.  Big Island Road Runners also contributed their expertise, advice, a number of runners and were instrumental for run logistics.  Russ Roberts, local DJ and newscaster of Pacific Radio Group, also a veteran, served as MC for the event.  A major group of volunteers was the General Lyman Field Squadron Civil Air Patrol cadets.

This year’s Most Patriotically Dressed awards went to Post Commander George Kelly and Mabel De Silva.  Commander Kelly also garnered the Best Decorated Wheelchair award  and topped his evening off with the Governor proclaiming June 18, 2011 as George Kelly Day commending his outstanding leadership and service as Commander of Post 3830 for the past three years.  Legs for Liberty of Hawaiian Shores in Pahoa won the Largest Participating Group award with fourteen of their water aerobics class members moving their legs across land instead of below water for the day.  Participants came from as far away as Guam and the United Kingdom and ranged in age from 2 to 84 with Dr. Bobby Layman receiving the Most Senior Male Participant and Fastest Male in the Over 80 age group.   Barbara Ferraro captured the Most Senior Female award and jokingly announced,  “I’ll be back next year and maybe win this again.”

This year’s event included a Walk course that looped five times around Liliuokalani Gardens, allowing walkers, joggers and wheelchairs to complete the course and a Run course around the gardens, through Banyan Drive, toward Keaukaha and back to the gardens for a more diverse, scenic run.

“We have learned much this year” stated Marlene Hapai, event coordinator.  “The two courses is a good idea.   We ended up with almost an even split of runners to walkers, with 140 registered participants.  As this was our first time doing a run/walk event, this was a number we could handle.  Our hope is to increase the number of participants and sponsors each year and start much earlier in getting the word out.  Being new members of the post and finding out about June’s convention a the end of last year, it was not until March of this year that my husband Archie and I cemented the idea of a simultaneous fund raising campaign.  Having no advertising money, we reached out to the media for their support of our veterans to get the word out and the response was phenomenal with the Hawaii Tribune Herald writing two articles and announcing various stages of the event in its Community Calendar and Pacific Radio Group,  Mahalo Broadcasting and New West Broadcasting Corporation, which carry all our local radio stations, providing pubic service announcements and interviewing our Commander; Quartermaster, Vernon Gawith and myself.  We could not have done it without them, our sponsors, volunteers, and the many participants who chose to donate to the cause financially, as well as greet the sunrise over Hilo Bay that morning.”

Times for participants completing the event are listed below.  The Fastest Overall Male completing the race was Justin Pang and Fastest Overall Female, Bernice Hwang.  Each received cash awards.   Awards were also given for 1^st through 3rd place winners in each age group.

https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/vfw-pahoa-hilo-bay-5k-results-from-june-18/

Gillette wins 4th Kona Marathon – Top 50 Overall Results

The 18th Annual Kona Marathon
June 26, 2011 – Kona, Hawaii

TOP 50 Overall Results – Marathon     Plc Name                      Division     Residence            Time   

Justin Gillette

  1Justin Gillette #4        20 – 29      Berne, IN           2:34:41  05:54

 2 Hiroyuki Nishimura #317   40 – 49      Chiba, Japan        2:52:16  06:34

 3 Brian Hayes #75           30 – 39      Kaneohe, HI         2:58:37  06:49

 4 Tadashi Morishima #316    40 – 49      Kanagawa, Japan     3:01:11  06:54

 5 Douglas Stevenson #76     Military     Honolulu, HI        3:01:24  06:55

 6 Valeria Sesto #154        30 – 39    F Lymington, England  3:05:44  07:05

 7 Matthias Wulf #103        20 – 29      Hilo, HI            3:09:11  07:13

 8 Melissa Gillette #3       20 – 29    F Berne, IN           3:09:27  07:13

 9 Jake Gillette #5          20 – 29      Goshen, IN          3:11:04  07:17

10 Laura Gillette #6         20 – 29    F Goshen, IN          3:13:15  07:22

11 Satoshi Setoguchi #296    40 – 49      Chiba, Japan        3:13:17  07:22

12 Daniel Hodel #60          60 – 69      Kailua-Kona, HI     3:13:38  07:23

13 Kimura Yasuto #260        40 – 49      Chiyoda-Ku,tokyo,   3:15:17  07:27

14 Satoshi Takewaka #223     40 – 49      Tsukuba, Japan      3:19:34  07:37

15 Jorge Renjifo #220        Military     Kailua, HI          3:20:01  07:38

16 David Uri #262            40 – 49      Bend, OR            3:20:47  07:39

17 Jason Thorp #13           40 – 49      Waikoloa, HI        3:22:13  07:43

18 Derik Takai #359          40 – 49      Pearl City, HI      3:23:42  07:46

19 Lisa Fink #119            40 – 49    F Valencia, CA        3:24:55  07:49

 20 Rudolph Sanchez #168      40 – 49      Austin, TX          3:25:32  07:50

 21 Michael Miller #243       Military     Honolulu, HI        3:25:38  07:50

22 Melyn Vigilla #231        40 – 49      Keaau, HI           3:25:45  07:51

23 Johnny Landeza #12        40 – 49      Aiea, HI            3:25:52  07:51

24 Maria Clementi #244       20 – 29    F Chicago, IL         3:25:58  07:51

25 Jeffrey Fong #11          30 – 39      Honolulu, HI        3:26:49  07:53

26 Kyla Dickerson #213       30 – 39    F Sherman Oaks, CA    3:32:03  08:05

27 Tomotsugu Goto #351       30 – 39      Honolulu, HI        3:32:07  08:05

28 Nathan Skipper #47        40 – 49      Ellenwood, GA       3:33:18  08:08

29 Andrew Stenovich #340     30 – 39      Kapaa, HI           3:34:25  08:11

30 Michael Garrison #205     40 – 49      Honolulu, HI        3:34:39  08:11

31 Scott Roberts #338        40 – 49      Benton City, WA     3:35:36  08:13

32 Stefano Barbis #248       20 – 29      Hilo, HI            3:36:46  08:16

33 Herman Rafol #188         50 – 59      Kailua Kona, HI     3:37:48  08:18

34 Stephen Watson #112       30 – 39      Toowong, Australia  3:38:28  08:20

35 Angela Brunson #100       30 – 39    F Los Angeles, CA     3:40:33  08:25

36 Jonathan Phillips #185    30 – 39      Houston, TX         3:42:58  08:30

37 James Nies #82            Military     Fpo                 3:43:01  08:30

38 Joel Axler #212           40 – 49      Flagstaff, AZ       3:45:58  0:37

39 Mark Essenberg #228       Military     Pearl City, HI      3:46:00  08:37

40 Raj Patel #156            40 – 49      Tulsa, OK           3:46:05  08:37

41 Doug Andrews #199         30 – 39      Kailua Kona, HI     3:46:22  08:38

42 Chad Uyehara    #36          30 – 39      Honolulu, HI        3:47:52  08:41

43 Yuka Hagiwara #214        40 – 49    F Saitama-Shi, Japan  3:48:51  08:44

44 Nicholas Ah Yo ii #85     30 – 39      Pepeekeo, HI        3:49:11  08:44

45 Tanya Gusarchuk #25       20 – 29    F Kailua-Kona, HI     3:50:15  08:47

46 Lyle Balingit #204        30 – 39      Pepeekeo, HI        3:50:17  08:47

47 Mason Akers #211          30 – 39      Hilo, HI            3:50:53  08:4

 48 J Ashford #55             50 – 59      Waikoloa, HI        3:50:59 8:48

49 Nick Selway #27           20 – 29      Kailua Kona, HI     3:51:00  08:49

50 Yen Ong #26               20 – 29    F Boulder, CO         3:52:34  08:52

Jason Braswell and Bree Wee win Kona’s Half Marathon – top 50 Results

The 18th Annual Kona Marathon and Family Fun Runs

June 26, 2011 – Kona, Hawaii

TOP 50 Overall Results – Half Marathon

 Plc Name         

Jason Braswell

             Division     Residence            Time    Pace

 1 Jason Braswell #401       30 – 39      Kailua-Kona, HI     1:17:53  05:56

 2 Bree Wee #594             30 – 39    F Kailua-Kona, HI     1:20:53  06:10

 3 Thomas Meeker #536        1 – 19       Mattawan, MI        1:22:53  06:19

 4 Lyman Perry #976          40 – 49      Volcano, HI         1:23:01  06:20

 5 Mark Schlicting #977      30 – 39      Volcano, HI         1:23:06  06:20

 6 Iain Macdonald #923       20 – 29      Toronto, Canada     1:24:00  06:24

 7 Jano Soto #943            40 – 49      Kailua Kona, HI     1:25:32  06:31

 8 R Loch Macdonald #924     40 – 49      Toronto, Canada     1:25:53  06:33

 9 Joshua Haase #509         1 – 19       Green Bay, WI       1:26:03  06:34

10 Alan Ryan #565            40 – 49      Laupahoehoe, HI     1:27:26  06:40

11 Pete Loebach #880         30 – 39      Kailua-Kona, HI     1:31:38  06:59

12 Ferdinand Babas #868      30 – 39      Hilo, HI            1:31:44  07:00

13 Steven Pavao #864         50 – 59      Hilo, HI            1:33:01  07:06

14 Warren Hollinger #516     40 – 49      Kailua Kona, HI     1:33:35  07:08

15 Michael Akers #612        Military     Hilo, HI            1:33:54  07:10

16 Scott Olson #1010         50 – 59      Hanalei, HI         1:33:58  07:10

17 Kris Kiser #1008          40 – 49      Kailua Kona, HI     1:34:00  7:10

18 Melanie Aiona #473        30 – 39    F Kamuela, HI         1:34:06  07:10

19 Michael Cassineri #853    30 – 39      Deep River, CT      1:34:27  07:12

20 Michael Decarli #455      30 – 39      Kailua-Kona, HI     1:35:03  07:15

21 Troy Robinson #955        1 – 19       Kurtistown, HI      1:35:46  07:18

22 Brian Guest #950          Military     Kailua, HI          1:35:55  07:19

23 Kawika Singson #726       40 – 49      Kailua-Kona, HI     1:36:46  07:23

24 Brooke Myers #712         20 – 29    F Kailua-Kona, HI     1:36:56  07:23

25 Holly Byrd #664           30 – 39    F Kailua-Kona, HI     1:36:59  07:24

26 Jarle Nordstokka #713     30 – 39      Kailua-Kona, HI     1:37:13  07:25

27 Arturo Morales #941       30 – 39      Holualoa, HI        1:37:40  07:27

28 Joe Hyde #566             50 – 59      Waikoloa, HI        1:37:48  07:27

29 Michelle Tilley #431      30 – 39    F Kailua-Kona, HI     1:38:05  07:29

30 Miles Cannon #951         Clydesdale   Kailua-Kona, HI     1:38:24  07:30

31 Chris Prater #430         1 – 19       Kailua-Kona, HI     1:38:43  07:32

32 David Rihn #558           50 – 59      Madison, WI         1:39:01  07:33

33 Albert Serna #569         40 – 49      Phillips Ranch, CA  1:39:10  07:34

34 Brandt Mabuni #422        1 – 19       Kailua-Kona, HI     1:39:23  07:35

35 Bobby Sidney #1021        50 – 59      Falls Church, VA    1:39:41  07:36

36 Brooke Roenicke #1023     30 – 39    F San Diego, CA       1:40:20  07:39

37 Ryan Wetzel #968          30 – 39      Boston, MA          1:40:35  07:40

38 Sam Wilburn #651          30 – 39      Honokaa, HI         1:40:45  07:41

39 Douglas Leopold #998      40 – 49      Kailua-Kona, Unite  1:40:59  07:42

40 Jason Laponsey #1017      Military     Kapolei, HI         1:41:29  07:44

41 Christopher Dunaway #780  20 – 29      St Louis, MO        1:41:48  07:46

42 Korey Pulluaim #978       20 – 29      Kailua-Kona, HI     1:41:52  07:46

43 Deen Tsukamoto #432       50 – 59      Naalehu, HI         1:41:53  07:46

44 Rene Belmares #546        Military     Honolulu, HI        1:41:55  07:46

45 Sean Southey #834         20 – 29      San Diego, CA       1:42:01  07:47

46 Sean Batson #678          20 – 29      Kailua, HI          1:42:13  07:48

47 Stephen Cosgrove #947     40 – 49      Kailua Kona, HI     1:42:25  07:49

48 Allin Franco #879         1 – 19       Kailua-Kona, HI     1:42:30  07:49

49 Dj Blinn #449             60 – 69      Hilo, HI            1:42:47  07:50

50 Rachel Gillis #934        30 – 39    F Waikoloa, HI        1:43:13  07:52

Running while on vacation in Central Europe

Early morning jog in Prague

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – One of the best things about getting older is that I finally have the time to travel and visit those places far from home.

Each year, my wife Randee, and I take a month off during the summer to visit places both foreign and familiar.

Of course, everywhere we go we need to find a safe place to run and or a quiet place to walk.  While exploring the streets of Berlin, Warsaw and Budapest we were able to get in 70 minutes in the morning and another 70 minutes of exercise in the evenings.

Normally we’d worry about putting on weight during vacations, but with our committed resolution to walk/jog twice a day we are able to burn off all those calories from the fantastic foods of Central Europe.

When in an unfamiliar place we have a pattern to keep each other feeling safe and that is I will run down the block and take a left at every intersection and she will go in the opposite direction and take a right at every intersection, that way we pass each other during our 70 minute workouts.

In the process we are able to see what many tourists miss as we traverse the busy streets in each of the five countries that we are exploring.

Our journey through Central Europe has led us to the beautiful city of Prague, in the Czech Republic.

In exploring the surroundings we have logged 6 to 10 miles of walking or as they say here 10 to 15km each day.

On one of these walks we ran into a local by the name of Jiri Svech who’s English is very good and he recommends that we take a tram to Stromovka Park for our next early morning adventure.

Svech, 74 years young, is a retired government worker living on a modest income who enjoys a brisk walk on a daily basis and what’s even more remarkable is how friendly he and many of the other locals are with American tourist.

Born and raised in Czechoslovakia, now called the Czech Republic, Svech can recall the difficult times when travel was restricted and the Iron Curtain curtailed individual freedoms.

“I get to travel to the neighboring countries with my wife often,” Svech said.  “But we have never traveled outside of Europe as it is too expensive for us.”

Svech has heard wonderful things about Hawaii and can remember watching on the news about Kilauea Volcanoes eruption.

“Isn’t it dangerous living so close to a volcano?” Svech asks. 

His advice to go to Stromovka Park is a good one as this land bound island near in the middle of the city is well forested with nice, paved running trails.

Strom is the Czech word for trees and once you’re in Stromovka Park it is easy to see how this magical place got its name.  Wooded areas surround the beauty of the park with fresh water ponds scattered throughout.

Not many locals take advantage of the jogging idea as we seem to be a novelty in our light weight shorts and Hawaii running tee shirts.  But novelty or not this is an ideal location for a quiet, worry free jog at 7 in the morning.

The brisk morning air, even during the summer, makes me wonder why I didn’t bring more layers of running cloths, but after a couple of miles, a few kilometers, we begin to warm up.

If traveling to central Europe during the summer months I’d suggest bringing a few long sleeved tee shirts as the mornings can be quite cool with temperatures in the mid to low 50’s.

While visiting the Czech Republic bring along a few Coronas as this country, along with Poland and Hungary, did not join in the Euro monetary system.  The country is one of the least expensive places on this journey so you can find a lot of great deals.

This is the final leg of our journey and we’ll soon be home bound.

I don’t travel well and sleeping on an airplane has always been a problem for me, but one of my doctors recommended that I try the herbal over the counter sleep aid melatonin. It worked well to relax me enough so that I could get a few hours of sleep flying to and from Europe.

Randee’s secret comes from wearing compression socks that helps with circulation and leaves her feeling comfortable and relaxed.

You might even consider doing the combination of socks and melatonin to get the ultimate benefit of long distance traveling.

But the key to maintaining a healthy weight while enjoying the sights and foods of different cultures is to exercise daily.  With twice a day walks of 70 minutes or more Randee and I were able to see and appreciate our surrounding while eating the various ethnic foods and trying their local beverages.

Paul Dudley wrote “A vigorous five mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world.”

And the Big Dog says, “We all have two doctors, they are called our left and right legs.”

And someday should you happen to see a weary jogger trying to get acclimated to the time zone difference remember to “smile” say woof and never shy away from “Running with the Big Dog.”

Email the Big Dog at waiakeabigdog@aol.com.