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When faced with the choice between training for a marathon or refining his golf game lo those many years ago, Blair Hoashi took the single step that began a journey of untold miles.
"I’d seen an ad in the paper for the Honolulu Marathon Clinic," Hoashi explains. "It was either that or golf lessons.
"I chose the harder one," he said, laughing.
Hoashi had participated in track and cross-country in high school and had run off and on through his college years. Yet, the prospect of taking on the marathon’s legendary 26.2-mile distance seemed daunting.
At the clinic, Hoashi was indoctrinated into Honolulu Marathon founder Jack Scaff’s time-tested, finisher’s-shirt-verified program of controlled, low-intensity distance training.
With the guidance of volunteer coaches like Norm Uyeda, Peter Garcia and others, Hoashi gradually built the strength and endurance needed to complete the race.
Perhaps more important, Hoashi became part of a close-knit community of runners whose friendship and mutual support made the miles pass with surprising ease.
Hoashi completed his first marathon with energy and enthusiasm to spare. The next year, he returned to the clinic — as many participants do — to share his newfound knowledge as a volunteer coach.
"It’s a way to give back," Hoashi says.
Scaff and fellow cardiologist John Wagner started the clinic in 1974 as a way to help runners prepare for the Honolulu Marathon.
While the marathon itself has evolved beyond its origins as a people’s race that promoted community health and fitness, the free weekly clinic has remained constant in its support and celebration of recreational runners.
Each Sunday at 7:30 a.m., over the course of several months, runners of all backgrounds and abilities gather for a brief educational talk by Scaff and group runs led by volunteer coaches like "Guru" Sam Usman, Rosie Adam-Terem, Alberto Olivas, Linnae Lee and Nelson Shingano (personal sponsor of the "Nelson’s Oasis" aid station at Kawaikui Beach Park).
Over the years, Hoashi and his fellow volunteers have helped thousands of everyday athletes fulfill their dream of running a marathon — from teens to octogenarians, fitness buffs to those living with serious chronic conditions or physical disabilities.
"The sense of accomplishment can be overwhelming," Hoashi says. "It’s very emotional for some people."
On Thursday, Hoashi and his fellow volunteers will be at Kapiolani Park for the clinic’s annual Turkey Trot — a holiday staple for many local runners.
The 10-mile race offers turkeys, pies and other toothsome prizes for runners who come closest to their predicted finish time.
Registration is available at goo.gl/Q1GCKu or on race day starting at 6:30 a.m. For more information, visit honolulumarathonclinic.org/turkey-trot.
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Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@staradvertiser.com.
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