Youth runners revisit Hawaii

On December 6, 2000 the Ho-Chunk youth marathon team, "Runners Against Drunk Driving" traded the cold winds of Wisconsin for the warm breezes of Hawaii, preparing to run in the "Honolulu Marathon" on December 10th. In addition to running in the 26-mile event, the runners, coaches and parents held a memorial service honoring former team member Louella Blackdeer, killed in a car accident last spring. Louella’s mother, Lani submiited the following story detailing the trip.

After almost four months of training six days a week, the Ho-Chunk marathon "Runners Against Drunk Driving" finally arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii ready, eager and scared to participate in the "2000 Honolulu Marathon". We arrived three days early to get used to the climate change and attend some educational and cultural touring. Just about everywhere we went we were acknowledged and congratulated. Being on the front page of the "Honolulu Stat Bulletin" really helped to get out story out.

Prior to race day we had a memorial for Louella on the beach and placed a lei in the ocean for her. This was a hard time for some, but everyone felt light and happy when completed. She loved this place.

The morning of December 10th, race day, we awoke at 3:00 a.m. and had 30 minutes to get our eyes open, running shoes laced and meet in the hotel lobby. After about 20 minutes of stretching, we ventured out into the dark morning hour beginning our walk of about 10 blocks to the starting line. All the runners carried a balloon along the route in memory of Louella and the Ho-Chunk Flag was proudly accompanying us.

The runners stopped ½ mile before the starting line, continuing their stretching and receiving last minute reminders and instructions from the assistant coach. In unison their voices rang out "Be tough, be strong, with love" while releasing Louella’s balloon into the early morning sky. Traditional tobacco was handed out and a prayer was said minutes before the sky exploded with fireworks and the Marathon began. Over 26,000 runners started to make their way on their personal journey to complete this race. The Ho-Chunk Flag was carried for the first five miles for the "Mayor’s Walk" and was seen again at the finish line.

At this time, the parents made their way to the 4 ½ mile mark to encourage and cheer on our runners and then to their respective posts along the last three miles of the race.

Cody Murphy was the first of our runners in, finishing in four hours, 50 minutes. Awesome! Anxiously we all waited for a glimpse of the other Ho-Chunk RADD runners. Sighting Lena Funmaker at seven hours, 55 minutes was a relief and a feeling of accomplishment. We knew then that all of our runners had made it.

Following the race parents spent time taking care of the runner’s sore muscles and feeding them the hamburgers and sodas that had been from their diets throughout training.

Everyone waited for the final team member to finish, cheering on the incoming runners. After walking for 10 hours, four minutes, Cara Lee Murphy finished the journey. The team carried the flag and together brought the final runner home.

So much good has come out of this training. Those involved have learned to be a team, push themselves, help each other, reach for the impossible and try to teach others the result of driving drunk. We want people to think about what can happen to prevent any future deaths resulting from drunk driving.

I am so proud and touched by each of these runners, what they have accomplished and what they have done to help me. We did it together, the coach, the runners, the parents and everyone who supported us in any way.

Thank you.

The runners, their times and places are listed below: