Scholarship 5K Run/Walk honors Barroga and Scully

The Big Island Road Runners and Big Dog Productions proudly presents the Scholarship 5k to be held in Hilo on Sunday, May 15th at 7:30am.  This fun run/walk is free to members and non-members.  We will be accepting donations to the Big Island Road Runner Scholarship Fund.

 Participants are asked to arrive early at the parking lot for Coconut Island (Moku Ola) to sign up and receive final instructions.  The course winds through Lili’uokalani Park and along the Bayfront towards downtown Hilo.  Post run refreshments will be offered.

Following the run we will recognize the male and female winners of the 2011 BIRR Scholarship Award. The male awardee is Keaau’s Rogelio Barroga and the female awardee is Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Hana Scully.

 Keith Aoki from Anheuser-Busch will provide Vidration Sports Drinks to the finishers, while supplies last.

For more information, pleasecall Dan Banks at (808) 989 – 5036 or visit www.bigislandroadrunners.org

Related Link:  https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/hpas-scully-keaaus-barroga-winners-of-running-scholarship/

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Marathon Finishers Tee Shirt a merit badge for Kuwana

Honolulu Marathon finisher Cindy Kuwana

Sometimes in life it takes a lot of pain and ill health before people get motivated enough to make changes to their lifestyle.

Such was the case for Cindy Kuwana who, after years of smoking, realized that making necessary changes would enhance her quality of life.

After 15 years of smoking cigarettes Kuwana found herself having horrible sinus infections and bronchitis occurring in her body every three months.

“I was in my late 20’s and I was so tired of being sick so often,” she said.  “With Doctor Melanie Arakaki telling me I should quit smoking I finally decided to listen and try since she said it would probably help my sinus problems.”

For the past 2.5 years Kuwana has been smoke free, but her quitting has been a tough and difficult process.

“I must admit that it was hard and I fell off the wagon a couple of times,” she said.  “But it didn’t discourage me as I was determined to kick the habit and improve my health.”

Born and raised in Hilo, Kuwana started playing sports in elementary school where she tried her hand at tennis before switching sports in high school. She is a 1994 graduate of Waiakea High School where she ran cross country for two years.

Currently Kuwana works as the office manager for Ululani Pharmacy and got involved with the running community since quitting smoking.

“I started walking on the treadmill just to get some exercise which led to running a couple of 5K (3.1 mile) races,” Kuwana said.

With the encouragement of Dr. Arakaki and her physical therapist, Guy Nakao, Kuwana decided to join a regular Sunday running group made up primarily of health care professionals in Hilo which did long distance training in preparation for the Honolulu Marathon.

“Guy and Melanie encouraged me and my Uncle Charles Sakoda inspired me to train for the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles),” Kuwana said.

“I give much credit to Guy from Nakao Physical Therapy who kept on telling me to get fit,” she said.  “Uncle Charles inspired me as he is a regular marathon finisher who keeps at it even with his injuries.  Dr. Arakaki and the Sunday running gang had given me the confidence and inner strength to take on something that big.”

Kuwana started training with the Sunday group in 2009 and was preparing to do her first marathon when she came down with a serious injury.

“I was doing too much too soon,” Kuwana said of her injury.  “I ended up with plantar fasciitis and tendonitis in my foot and could barely walk.”

But Kuwana, with her new found level of confidence, never gave up and trained again in 2010 by doing two short runs of 2 to 3 miles during the week and then added a long run on 7 to 8 miles with her running group on Sunday.

“I’ll do the Elliptical trainer and Bowflex weight training on other days and I also try to give myself at least one day of complete rest to allow myself and muscles a break and time to recover,” Kuwana said.

In June of 2010 Kuwana had another set back in trying to achieve her goal of running her first marathon when she got into an automobile accident that put a strain on her body.

“The car accident set me back on my training as my body needed time to heal from the injuries. The marathon training has been tough both mentally and physically,” she said.

Kuwana took an entire month off from running following the car accident to recuperate from her injuries.

“Taking a month off to recover from my injuries had to be the most frustrating, but humbling experience,” she said.

Kuwana never fully recovered from her car accident injuries and continues to see a physical therapist twice a week.

A few weeks prior to this past December’s Honolulu Marathon Kuwana was able to do her longest training run with her Sunday running group of 17 miles.

“With all that I had to deal with the past two years in trying to run my first marathon my only goal going into the December race was just to finish,” Kuwana said.  “I was hoping to finish around six hours or a little over, but just finishing was my main goal.”

And finish she did, in 8 hours and three minutes covering the 26.2 mile course in Honolulu.

“Call me crazy, but I took a huge gamble taking on marathon training only to have my body fail me on the big day.  None the less I’m happy that I got my finishers shirt, even though I needed to walk at the very end,” she said.

“I’m glad I could finish this race and am proud of my finisher tee shirt and medal,” Kuwana said.  “It was a good experience and I have lots of people to thank for their enormous amount of encouragement.

Kuwana is a great example of someone who, despite many obstacles, maintained a goal and worked at it until it was achieved.

Of course, her biggest achievement to all of her accomplishments was in quitting smoking, which was then followed by having a positive network of helpful and encouraging people.

Dr. Arakaki, Guy Nakao and Uncle Charles Sakoda, along with her Sunday running group all played an important role in her success to leading a more healthy and productive lifestyle.

Congratulations Cindy Kuwana and hopefully your story will inspire others to raise the bar on their health and fitness needs.

PAW PRINTS:

Coming up on Sunday, Feb 6 is Big Dogs Lovers Day 5K run/walk.  The event is a benefit for the Hawaii Island Food Basket and participants are encouraged to bring a non perishable food item to serve as their entry fee.

The 5K (3.1-mile) Run or Walk begins at 7:30 am from the parking area of Coconut Island in Hilo.

Post race refreshments provided by Marlene and Archie Hapai.   Just show up, sign in and have some fun.  Keith Aoki from Anheuser-Bush will give a Vidration sports drink to each finisher while supplies last.

There will be a special award recognition to couples that holds hands while running or walking the entire 3.1 mile distance. 

For more information contact Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph at 969-7400.

And someday should you happen to see a happy and healthy senior citizen jogging around Hilo remember to smile, say “woof” and never shy away from “Running with the Big Dog.”

Email the Big Dog at waiakeabigdog@aol.com.

Big Dog’s Lovers 5K run/walk on Feb. 6

Big Dog Family Hosting Lovers Day 5K

Entry fee for the event is one or more canned goods to be donated to the Hawaii Island Food Basket.

The 5K (3.1-mile) Run or Walk begins at 7:30 am from the parking area of Coconut Island in Hilo.

Post race refreshments provided by Marlene and Archie Hapai.   Just show up, sign in and have some fun.  Keith Aoki from Anheuser-Bush will give a Vidration sports drink to each finisher while supplies last.

For more information contact Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph at 969-7400 or email at waiakeabigdog@aol.com. 

Making Healthy New Year Resolutions

We’re almost done with 2010 and I can honestly say I am looking forward to 2011.  Health wise 2010 was one of the most difficult for me as I was hampered by a variety of age related problems.

I probably spent more time in the hospital this past year than I have in my entire 63 years.

I’ve been told that my electrical wiring has malfunctioned which created a few unexpected problems, the biggest coming with atrial fibrillation/flutter where my heart would get stuck at 140 beats per minute and not return to a normal rhythm.

Hilo Hospital performed a couple of electrical cardio versions to get the heart rate pumping normally, but it would return to abnormal levels following long runs or stressful situations.

This led to several months of sleepless nights and not being able to run, but I continued to walk to maintain my healthy weight.  And walk I did, seven miles a day at a brisk 15 minute per mile pace.

On Nov. 2nd I returned to Straub Hospital on Oahu for my second ablation with Dr. Hingson Chun and have now slowly begun the process of rebuilding my endurance so that I can once again run.

I know 2011 will be the best year ever for me because with all those elevens, I was born on 11/11, and married on 1/11 so 2011 will have significance and “will be my best year ever” according to my wife, Randee.

I have a simple resolution going into the New Year and that is to be able to run my first 5K (3.1 miles) race without walking.  I don’t care what time I do it in as long as I am able to jog the entire distance without pausing due to loss of breath.

Jan. 1, 2011 I will be at Coconut Island to host and run in the New Year’s Day Resolution Run/Walk which begins at 9 am.  The public is invited and all you need to do is sign in and be willing to have some fun.

Following the event Big Dog Productions will provide snacks and Keith Aoki from Anheuser-Busch will provide Vidration Sports Drinks, while supplies last.

The great thing about announcing Resolutions is that the chances of achieving a positive outcome is much higher than if you kept your resolution to yourself because you have others watching to see if you can conquer your dream. 

Doc Morita

Hilo Internist, Dr. Aaron Morita, had the following health and fitness resolutions for the upcoming New Year.

“My health related resolutions for 2011:  Eat less and more wisely.  Lose another 5 to 7 pounds so I can run better with less load on my legs and manage my metabolic risk factors with minimal or no medications for many more years, Doc Morita said.

“I’d like to work at managing stress better as our government, Medicare and health insurances in general are making it more and more difficult to practice medicine by having to follow oodles more regulations that make it harder (more red tape) to provide timely evaluation and management services to patients while at the same time avoiding financial hardships or trouble to the very complex business of medicine,” Morita said. 

Pete Hoffman

Hawaii County Council, Vice Chair, Pete Hoffmann just completed his 29^th Honolulu Marathon a few weeks ago also has a resolution for 2011.

“For me, I intend to make certain that I complete at least one 13 mile run each month during the New Year,” Hoffmann said.  “I’ve never been able to do that, but I feel I must get out of the comfortable rut in which I usually find myself and at my age I must do better.”

Hoffmann has promised himself to do at least one more marathon to reach number 30.

“My wife is threatening divorce if I go beyond doing my 30^th Honolulu Marathon,” Hoffmann said with a grin.  “Someone needs to remind me why I like this insanity.”

Jerry Chang

For State House Representative Jerry Chang his healthy resolution is a simple one.

“I’d like to run 3 miles at least four times per week,” Chang said.  “I would also like to cut down on oily foods while increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables that I eat.”

Making resolutions that are realistic are important and provide us with a reachable goal as well as a measuring stick into our progress.

Howard Ainsely

Howard Ainsley, Hilo Medical Center CEO, had the following resolution:

“My resolution for 2011 is to be more consistent in my wellness plan of improved health and life balance,” Ainsley said.  “I want to be more disciplined in workouts (tennis, body boarding, cycling), explore more of beautiful Hawaii with my wife, reduce my body fat while increasing stamina and endurance, make application for doctoral program, and to assist people in need without asking anything in return.”

Ainsley is also hoping to bring a greater value to the Hilo Medical Center team of employees and physicians as they try to improve and grow health care resources and outreach for our community.

Howard Ainsley, Pete Hoffmann, Aaron Morita, Jerry Chang and I are all looking to make positive contributions in a New Year that brings with it the opportunity of hope and the promise of knowing that all things are possible.

There is always room for improvement from being more patient with your children or more loving towards your spouse, positive change at a higher level is within our reach.

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man (person),” Benjamin Franklin wrote.

If you’re looking at starting the New Year out in a healthy way then join us at 9 am in the parking area of Coconut Island on Jan 1^st and let’s do as much as we are capable of doing with like minded people.

And someday should you happen to see a jogger trying to make the most of life’s blessings remember to smile, say “woof” and never shy away from “Running with the Big Dog.”

Email the Big Dog at waiakeabigdog@aol.com.

Vet Day 5K Reaps Benefit for the Hawaii Island Food Basket

Staff & Family of the Hawaii Island Food Basket

Big Dog’s Veterans Day 5K produces Big results for the Hawaii Island Food Basket

The Big Dog’s Veterans Day 5K, held at Coconut Island on Nov. 11 attracted 198 participants and 30 volunteers in what was one of the most successful running/walking events on the island in 2010.

The event raised 356 pounds of food and $293 in cash and checks for the Hawaii Island Food Basket.

Some of the Food Basket Helpers

Many thanks goes to the Hawaii Island Labor Alliance, who supported the event, which saw the Hawaii State Teachers Association win the “most participant award”.

To Jerry Chang and his large group of volunteer staff who supplied all the refreshments, bananas, papayas, cookies and the like.

To Keith Aoki from Anheuser-Busch who made the banners and supplied the sports drinks for the event.

To Mrs. Big Dog for her tireless energy in helping in the days leading up to the event.

And to the Veterans who came and participated.

Mahalo to all as the Big Dog looks forward to making 11-11-11 even bigger and better, with all of your help.

 see video of the event:  http://www.hawaii247.com/2010/11/11/big-dog-5k-race-honors-veterans-and-helps-the-hungry/