I ran the full marathon. It was humid, warm and hilly the second half with a headwind at times, but all this was as expected. The volunteers were helpful and enthusiast, as were the few spectators. However for what I paid, the finish line was disappointing. The massages were wonderful but by the time I finished, they were out of smoothies and all that was offered to eat was some fruit and potato chips-wow! There was beer and live music but some more food would have been nice. Then the 'after party' was just the bars usual happy hour but with more patrons due to the marathon. There were TV's-a video replay of the finish line or a marathon program/party would have been nice. Overall this is is a good and challenging marathon but nothing special.

Kauai is beautiful and this is a fun well organized race. That said, I wish I'd run the half instead of the full! Why? At mile 11 it heads straight up the hill for about 8 - a tiring climb in the heat and humidity. I walked a bunch. The half is pleasant, beautiful and totally manageable - if I ever go back, I'll just run that!

AMAZING!!! At the time this was only my second marathon. I had finished 7 half marathons that year and that training really helped! I read about the mountain so I trained on the StairMaster weekly. I race-walked the entire course with several other people and we finished in official time! I flew home that night and was tired and a bit sore but fine. Loved everything about the course!!! Even the mountain... without the mountain, you have no mountain top views. :) I see the views in my mind daily! The volunteers were amazing. By the time my group finished, the race was over - and let me tell you: I don't think one volunteer left early the whole course through. :) They loved on us for 26.2 miles and over 7 hours. The beautiful scenery is all around you!!! It's just amazing!!! I hope it's ok to say we stayed on the North Shore; the rates were so much better there and the drive was not bad at all. :)

To put it simply, participating in the Kauai Marathon was a day I will never forget. The course took my breath away, the people I ran along side were inspiring and fun, and the organization could not have been done better. I smile every time I think about this marathon and plan to go back to participate for years to come.

The island of Kauai is my home town, so when I heard about the inaugural race starting up in 2009, I decided it was time to get running. I had never run more than 2 miles prior to this, and I'm pretty sure I needed every one of the 600 or so miles of training I did in the 7 months leading up to this.

First off, when considering this race and the comments, please understand that there is indeed a night/day difference between the full- and half-marathon courses. In my opinion, the race does not truly begin until you take a right (the half marathoners go left) around mile 11. Once that climb starts up, you are in for a serious battle. Put it this way: when you see an ambulance hauling away the pair of world-class Kenyan runners (who were expected to break the 2:30 mark needed to claim the $10,000 prize), you know you're in for it. The biggest killer in 2010 was the combination of the heat and humidity. Meanwhile, 2009 saw cloudy skies and even light rain... godsends, really. Then 2010 flipped the switch. Like others have said, you should not expect to run a PR in this race.

The race starts at 6 a.m. Given the brutal conditions once the sun rises (around 7 a.m.), you'd think this race would start earlier (5 or 5:30). I emailed the race directors about this recently, and got a prompt response. The problem is that there are simply not enough streetlights along the course. It is literally pitch black. That's hard to fathom when you live in a big city, but anyone that has lived in the country knows what I mean. The logistics of setting up lights along the first 8 miles or so of the course are just not feasible (they researched it). I appreciated the response from the race director, and it made perfect sense.

Anyway, others have already voiced most of the positives that I would've mentioned; the volunteers, bands, dancers, and spectators along the way are AWESOME. The throb of taiko drums around mile 10 really get you cranking down that first hill. There was also this random guy with a huge PA system blasting classic rock songs near mile 13 (mile 22 on the way back). That gave me a HUGE boost ("Carry on my wayward sonnn...") as my legs were screaming at that point.

The food and drink offerings at the end were amazing both years. Granted, I was so out of it that I could barely sip the beer as I lay cramped in pain, but I appreciated how much effort was put into the finish area. My my lone criticism is that the finish area is not fully tented. There's a great grassy area for the runners right next to the food/drink/massage tents, but it was scorching hot. If you have family/friends waiting for you at the end, have them bring a big picnic umbrella to spike into the ground. That would've been a clutch move. Still, that's a very, very minor quibble.

If you like challenges, this race is for you. My advice if you choose to enlist in this battle: take leg weight training seriously. It will pay off hugely.

THE most beautiful place on the planet? The island of Kauai! THE most awesome race I've ever had the pleasure to run? The Kauai (Half) Marathon! I've run 20+ races, from 5K to half marathons (currently training for my 1st full). I ran the half in Kauai in 2009 and 2010... and I'm seriously considering going back to do the FULL next year! Wonderful course, organization/organizers, volunteers, other race weekend events, and absolutely amazing spirit of ALOHA! DO NOT MISS THIS RACE!! :-)

This was my 10th marathon, and was as exhilarating as excruciating. The half course is super mild compared to the hills in the full. The ascents in the full were steep and sustained, and the descents were particularly painful. It was great training, though, as I did another marathon later that month and cut 40 minutes off my time. And, anyway, I think the raw beauty in any race is extant in the challenge it presents. Meeting Dean Karnazes, Bart Yasso, JT Service and Rich Hanna was a real treat. The host hotel housed the start, finish and expo, so logistics were a breeze. The volunteers make up in heart what the course lacked in volume of spectators; they were magnificent. I was never hot due to the ice sponge baths every mile in the second half. I always thought you had to take whatever weather conditions were given to you, but Kaua'i perfectly demonstrated how race directors can beat the heat. It was stunning. I can't imagine a better course or event anywhere in Hawaii.

This race has it all: superb organization, wonderful people, a beautiful and very, very challenging course - but for those who truly appreciate marathons you know it all comes down to the people and the memories. Kauai and organizer Jeff S understand this concept perfectly.

My friends at the 50 State Club - Paula/Steve Boone - guided me to Kauai. "Pick a nice, small race for your 50th so we can make some noise for you." And it worked - thanks to Jeff and his staff.

Imagine my pleasant surprise when my BIB number was # 50; and of the way the volunteer Betty went way out of her way to help get me written directions of the route and how staff Deb makes sure I know where to go all along the drive; and how they both almost enlisted JT - there to protect his last year win - to drive the course with me (and he almost did)!!

The fun run and chance to meet Dean K and Bart Y was great....

The luau offers great insight to the culture of the people and the MC is perfect and becomes part of the overall race.

Then, where else do you have a start with great music, a sound system that works, tiki torches, the great MC again, such a full breakfast with all of the right foods, a high-five with Dean K, and a local blessing that brings tears to your eyes?

The prep panel provides inspiration and the info needed to get me to first in my age group; know that the hills DO start at mile 11 and go through 19... but know also that the last 3 are welcomed.

The post-race party has immediate results, great announcers at the finish line and the draft beers keep flowing... and then to have Deb take pictures and video for me and Race Director Rob just happen to pick me up and drive me to my car... the entire event and the people involved made this my favorite marathon ever.

As a guy who spent a lot of the past 4 years focusing on this finish line, Jeff and Kauai exceeded every expectation... and I WILL be back next year.

I ran the 1/2 marathon and what a beautiful race. This race is a great reason to visit this gorgeous state. The hospitality was incredible. The race organizers are very passionate about the race.

I ran the full marathon last year and the half marathon this year, and both courses are excellent! The course is well staffed, with plenty of support and extremely friendly staff. I would highly recommend either race! The staff is top notch, from registration to the post-race. This is a must-do race!