There might not have been any classrooms within sight, but two high school teachers decided to put on a Running 101 lesson at Saturday’s 5th Rainforest Runs, proving that patience and preparation are keys to a great race. ADVERTISING There
There might not have been any classrooms within sight, but two high school teachers decided to put on a Running 101 lesson at Saturday’s 5th Rainforest Runs, proving that patience and preparation are keys to a great race.
Volcano’s Billy Barnett, who teaches English and social studies at Pahoa High School, said pacing himself from the beginning helped him to capture his fourth half-marathon in 1 hour, 18 minutes and 41 seconds.
“What I’ve learned most from teaching is learning to be patient,” Barnett said. “I’m constantly learning in the classroom from kids. That’s the great thing about teaching, learning never ends.”
Barnett holds the course record in a steamy 1:16 and said he wore a watch for the first time so that he wouldn’t go out too hard – though it didn’t help him to run any faster. But that hardly bothered Barnett as he did what he knows best and that is to turn anything into a fun adventure whether it’s in a classroom or outside.
A smiling Barnett whistled and hollered encouragement to other participants as he cruised to victory. What he enjoyed most about the race was the crisp air and incredible views of Mauna Loa.
“I’ve been running for 11 years,” the 30-year old said. “I love running, it keeps me sane, helps me to decompress, and I love being outside.”
Barnett added that his name was also recently drawn from the lottery to compete at the grueling Hawaii Ultra Running Team’s 100-mile endurance run scheduled for January of next year, an event that he participated 10-years ago but was disappointed when he did not finish.
“I bonked hard after 27 hours,” he said. “I got disoriented and I definitely went out way too fast. But I feel that after 10 years of running since that last one, I’m better prepared now.”
In preparation for the ultra endurance event, Barnett has been trying to find the steepest hills on the island to run on. With wins at Kaloko’s Run Till Ya Ralph 6.5-mile hill climb earlier this month and Saturday’s Volcano half-marathon, Barnett is feeling confident and looking forward to a better performance come Jan. 17.
“It would be awesome just to finish,” he said. “It’s a crazy course with 27,000 feet of climbing. Although I feel more prepared, knowing it and doing it are two different things and I feel pretty excited.”
In the women’s race, Oahu’s Kathleen O’Neil, who teaches science at Mid-Pacific Institute and coaches the girls and boys cross country teams, was second overall and the first female to cross the finish line in a fabulous time of 1:25:09.
“It was awesome,” O’Neil said. “I wasn’t sure how I would feel due to the elevation change but the weather was perfect. And the finish line was perfect being lined with all of the ginger (flowers). I’m glad I came, it did not disappoint.”
Like Barnett, O’Neil’s ability to transition her mindset from the classroom to running has lead her to great performances starting with wins at the Johnny Faerber 10K in February, and the Hilo half-marathon in March.
O’Neil said that she is also preparing for this year’s New York City Marathon slated for Nov. 2, and Oahu’s Waikiki Rough Water swim in two weeks.
“I like swimming and I think it helps me with my running,” O’Neil said. “But I enjoy running in these kinds of races especially living in Hawaii. You can’t beat the weather.”
Following Barnett in the men’s race was Pahoa’s Jon-Erik Jardine in 1:26:21 and Honolulu’s Mackenzie Lau in 1:28:04.
Your’s truly finished second to O’Neil in 1:28:13, with Oahu’s Molly Ashkenas in third at 1:41:44.
The Volcano Rainforest 1⁄2 marathon also capped off the third event in the Triple Crown half-marathon series, following the Hilo half-marathon in March and the Kona half-marathon in June. Sixty-five participants completed all three and were awarded medals, a certificate of completion and a BioAstin bag filled with goodies.
In the 10K race, Hilo’s Stephen Hunter quickly separated himself from the field to win with the only sub-40 minute time of the race, 38:57. Volcano’s Greg Hatch was second in 40:13, and Hilo’s Zah Mermel rounded out the men’s top three in 42:03.
For a second weekend in a row, Hilo’s Carmen Garson-Shumway won a women race with a stellar time of 44:43. Kailua-Kona’s Maria Oka outsprinted Cecilia Viljoen for second place, 48:59 to 49:07 respectively.
The 5K event drew the largest field of 227 participants and witnessed an exciting battle for first between Keaau’s Louie Ondo and River Brown of Mountain View. With the finish line made up of yellow ginger flowers well in sight, Ondo outpaced Brown to win in a speedy time of 17:51 to Brown’s 17:59. Third place went to Volcano’s Todd Marohnic in 19:58.
Oahu’s Eri Macdonald, a former Hawaii high school cross-country and track standout, easily claimed victory in the women’s division with a time of 19:34. In a distant second was Marissa Kunsch of Virginia in 21:05 and Hilo’s Crystal-Lynn Baysa in 23:24.
