Honolulu Marathon

Here are some pics from the Honolulu Marathon. As good a reason as any to visit Honolulu and Oahu. I found the race itself to be tough, in part due to my fitness, but the course and running conditions are tough.

The race starts at 5 AM. To get to the start line, I had to catch a bus at the Honolulu Zoo between 2 AM and 3:45 AM. This was all a bit nuts for a marathon. Getting to the start so early was sort of project, forcing me to attempt going to bed in the early evening. The race finishes near the Zoo, which is also near where we were staying in Waikiki, and so that worked out really well at the end. I just walked back to the condo after the finish.

The 5 AM start is nice insofar as the first two hours are in the dark. There is a big fireworks show with the start, plus lots of music. 

The race had about 27,000 participants, I think. One of the five biggest in the US, I believe I heard. The race draws a strong contingent from Japan and is promoted by Japan Airlines. Honolulu is well aware of the tourist impact of the event--the race was a top news story in the days coming up to it, race day, and the day after, which was kind of fun.

The race is extremely welcoming to walkers. They say they do not close the course. Some people take more than 10 hours completing the course. 

Even though it is dark, it was warm at the start. I was sweating in the first few miles. The first six miles circle around Honolulu downtown, including by the palace, city lights, and down Waikiki's main drag. After that, the course is something of an out and back to east Honolulu, past Diamondhead. Many of the water stations are self-serve water systems, which I took full advantage of, dumping water over my head routinely. There's a tough climb at mile 24, but it was a walk for me, as well as most around me, I was basically back of the pack for the runners and ahead of the many, many walkers.

At the finish line, they promise a malsada (doughnut), but I skipped the lines on that, and picked up my finisher shirt. They have a great expo with all sort of aloha running products, but the race shirt is handed out at the finish. 

This race is scheduled near Pearl Harbor Day. We were able to see the parade on December 7th, which local schools, veterans, and others really turn out for. 

I found this race to be tough, both on the course (due to heat and course design) and as far as the start time. Glad I did it though--its a pretty cool event. I think what I liked most was how much the city comes out for it, and the absolutely zero pressure to finish before any deadline. 

Hawaii is of course beautiful. I'll probably add a post here of other things we did.

 

Kalakaua Merrie Mile

The Kalakaua Merrie Mile is part of the Honolulu Marathon weekend events. I did the marathon last weekend, but on the day before, my wife and I walked the "Merrie Mile".  

The Marathon is the big deal for the city on marathon weekend, with some 25k+ runners and walkers. It is one of the big ones. The Merrie Mile is a very cool event of its own. A one mile race--an out and back on the main drag of Waikiki, Kalakaua Avenue. This street parallels the beach and the big ticket hotels, as well as all sorts of restaurants and mid to high end retail stores. 

Good vibes, all the way, with lots of music. People can corral at the front and run their best mile, or hang at the back with the people in dinosaur and Pokemon costumes, and walk it out. We were in the latter crowd, and had a great time. At the finish line, medal, coconut water and malasadas, on the beach. 

After the regular crowd finishes, the event holds a prize money mile race for elites. The elite women are given a head start--29 seconds, I think. The elite men then chase. A man was the winner--the results are reported in the news, but they all flew. Matt Centrowitz, the gold medal 1500 winner, was in the group. Both sides of the street were lined with participants cheering. Good way to start the Saturday morning.