Camp Smith Grueler 5K

I know it's a little crazy, but I always check out races when I'm on vacation. It's a way to see things that are not on the tourist websites. I decided to sign up for the Camp Smith Grueler 5K. It was put on by the Marine Base and the marines always do a great job with races. Great support. Lots of fun. Why not? I didn't really think about what the name meant. I thought maybe it was someone's name, or something like that. I told a friend who works at Camp Smith I was doing the race, she chuckled and said "Are you running the hill?" What hill I asked. She said I would figure it out. Just so you know . . .when the Marines call a race a "grueler," they mean "grueling." 

Friday, I went to sign up for the race. Saturday morning, I dressed in blue camo, picked up my bib and T-shirt. I think I was number 107 signed up.  Four more people signed up after me. It was a beautiful morning. Took some pictures and heard the "safety briefing."  That's when I realized I should be worried. They reversed the route this year to make it more challenging.WHAT?!?!?!

After a mile running uphill, the trail started. What? I am too clumsy for trail runs. Mile 2 was all trail. I heard . . .and saw . . .the first finishers coming back down. They were pounding hard. I'll tell you what that means later. The trail was straight up. I would like to say the blurry picture is because I was moving so fast. Nope, my hands were trembling with fear about how I was going to finish this. I was already barely breathing. Yes, those are roots in the trail. Nope, I didn't trip and hurt myself.

I know you can't tell, but the run was on the
edge of a ridge-line.

 After 2 miles uphill, it was 1 mile down. Before the downhill, the base commander's wife was cheering us on with her golden retriever. Nice doggie. Like a 5-year-old, I had to stop to pet her. I was too bedraggled for a picture. Straight down. All those fast folks pounding, I don't know what was harder. Uphill gasping for air, or downhill trying to spare my aching knees . . .and praying I didn't fall flat on my face. That was a steep hill. The views from the top were spectacular.

I was so relieved to find myself back at the track for the final 100 meters. Yes, it was a grueler. Lesson learned.  It was really awesome to see how everyone stuck around and cheered on the final finisher. She was so happy to finish that she laid down after crossing. Big achievement for her. 

I suppose it all could have been worse. And, I will admit, it was a good way to start a Saturday morning on Oahu. My division was the second largest, so no surprise I didn't place. But I wasn't last either. The Marines were amazing as usual. Lots of guys and gals out there giving directions, playing some music, and just giving encouraging support. Would I do it again, yep, probably. Would I know what I was signing up for . . .absolutely.

I was not joking about the elevation . . .UP UP UP, and then DOWN!

Judd Trail

The Judd Trail is supposed to be a pretty easy trail on Oahu. Not a ridge hike by any means. Just a creek crossing and a loop. Last time we tried this, it was super muddy and we hadn't really read about what to expect. There are lots and lots and lots of offshoots, so for us ... easy to get lost.  This time we read ahead.

Cut-out entrance to Judd Trail ... nicely mark

We drove up the Pali and onto Nu'uanu Drive. We knew to look for the cut-out in the trees and found it. We pulled over and parked on a widened part of the road and slathered on the insect repellant. Totally necessary.




The trail is easily marked on packed pine needles. It's nicely shaded with the very tall Cook Pines which I find really beautiful and fascinating.They make an amazing canopy

After about 3-5 minutes, we heard the trickling water and came across the stream crossing. It can get slippery when wet.















After crossing the stream, the path splits. You can choose either direction, but we had read advice to follow right to go counterclockwise ... or was it left and go clockwise around the loop? I can't remember. It's a loop, so no matter what it all leads back to the same place. But, based on advice we had read, if you go one direction, right? left? the back-side of the loop can be confusing. We knew that heading left there was an offshoot trail that is longer and more complex...the Nu'uanu Pali Trail. We weren't gearing for that today ... just a short 2-mile loop. We went right and followed the stream. Still pretty easily marked. Along the way, there were some off-shoot trails that go down to the stream and the Ginger Pool, which is a common hang-out spot for locals. We decided to climb down and follow the stream a little while.









We came across beautiful small falls and pools. We had forgotten about Ginger Pool and didn't follow that far. We weren't interested in a strenuous hike today and we could tell we were getting further and further down the hill from the main trail above us. So, after a bit, we climbed back up and continued following the trail.

Up an offshoot back to path

Path not as clear here, but not so bad. Why did we miss it?

Same here? Why couldn't we find the path?

 Then it got a bit tricky. We obviously chose the wrong direction. We were talking and following the path ... and then we lost the path. So, this is what the guides meant about it being easy to wander off trail if you go right, instead of left. I should have paid more attention. So, we climbed up because we saw the path above us. Then we climbed down because we saw the path below us. Then we went straight until we hit a dead-end. Up. Down, Ahead. Repeat. Where is the danged, wide, easily-marked, path? Got out the trusty phone and checked MapMyRun ... there it is, we're not far? Why am I getting farther away? OK, turn around, still seem to be going the wrong direction. Obviously, I can't read a map. Sigh!!! Ultimately, the phone died. Uploaded MapMyRun App to the Musician's phone and we're in business. Found the path ... or at least a path. Oh, look, the sign to the off-shoot to the start of the Nu'uanu Pali Trail, we're not lost! Now, I hear the stream on the right? Did we pass the split and stream crossing? Yup, we did. We just cut the hypotenuse and are starting lap 2. Turn around and backtrack to the split and the stream crossing. The Musician thinks we didn't complete the hike because we didn't follow the full loop. I think we completed the hike, we just took a slightly different route to get back to the top of the loop. Voting? Who is right? Did we finish the loop? Or not? It doesn't really matter. It was a beautiful day. We saw these pretty flowers. I don't know what they are, but I like them.

Part 1 ... before my phone batter died

We found our way out

Hanauma Bay Ridge and Hidden Bridge

Our friends in Hawaii love to hike and find all kinds of great places to go. This trip, they rewarded us with a hike along the Hanauma Bay Ridge.  There is no shade. There is wind. It is along a ridge line with fantastic views of the Bay. You can park at Hanauma Bay and take the paved road around the Bay to the ridge line. We took a different route and parked in a nearby neighborhood and entered from the road. 

Short uphill to get to the paved section, and then climb. Where the paved road ends near the power lines, you have to make a choice, stay along the ridge to the left or head inland to the right. Both get you where you are going . . . destination Hidden Bridge. We chose to follow the ridge line above the Bay. The views were spectacular. We got amazing views of the Bay and great views of Koko Head Train Path. (I am going to conquer that beast this time.) The path is red dirt with minimal shade and it goes down and up and down and up and down. 

We encountered this really beautiful plant that I couldn't resist taking pictures of.

We passed the ancestral home of the Ihi' Ihilauakea tribe. We paid respect to the elders. I felt we should be very quiet here. 

 

Eventually we came across an opening in some bushes . . .and that’s my best description. And then it was clambering down a steep dusty hill with very irregular footing and rocks and crevices. Then, wham!!! 

There it was. The Hidden Bridge. Years of water power against a wall of lava rock formed a bridge. The waves were incredible and you could feel the power continuing to erode the ground beneath us. Today, I did not venture to stand on the bridge. The waves were high and rough. Someone had already been swept off earlier that day and I didn’t really want to be taken out by helicopter. Honestly, I think I could have sat there all day and been mesmerized by the power and beauty of the ocean.

But, it was getting hot and I was hungry. As we headed back, we took the inland route. It was steeper than the way in. It was scrubby and barren and really, I could have been on the moon, because it surely doesn’t look like the postcards of lush and green Hawaii. Again some amazing views, this time of Waikiki and Diamond Head. Back to the power plant and thank goodness, downhill on the paved portion and back to the car.  Next stop, LUNCH!!!

Sadly, later this evening, we had to drop the Hawaiians at the airport and we were on our own the next few weeks.

The pace is off, but the map and elevation seems pretty accurate. It was beautiful. I would do it again.