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May 3, 2024

The Kauai Marathon Runner Comments

Back to The Kauai Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.7

Organization 4.8

Spectators 4.7

Number of comments: 79 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

S. W. from Calgary, Alberta (9/16/2013) "First marathon in paradise!" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This course was simply spectacular, there was never a dull moment. The hills, rain and heat made it quite an adventure and I must say I really enjoyed it all. The support & unique entertainment along the course was excellent, thank you to all the people who came out to encourage us. Ice at the water stations was greatly appreciated as were the cold cloth and bag of ice near the end after the sun came out full force. (Oh, and the brownies up on Pu'u road were magnificent). The speaker series & guest meet-and-greets at the Expo were remarkable for a small race. We were able to walk to/from the start/finish easily, no overcrowding, no line ups anywhere. I'm so glad we chose this as our first marathon, we will never forget it. Mahalo to the organizers!
Lawrence Sullivan from Honolulu, Hawaii (9/6/2013) "Spectacular Course" (about: 2013) 3 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 4400 ft elevation change and warm weather means it is not a race to PR in. However, the beautiful scenery and friendly residents help to distract you from the pain. My previous 2 marathons were the Honolulu Marathons, so it is nice to not run with 29000 of your closest friends.
Stuart Nurse from Vancouver, Canada (9/4/2013) "tough but rewarding" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This course has the most severe, and most numerous, hills I have encountered in a marathon. The humidity, which I am not used to, made running up them much more difficult. Luckily it was mostly cloudy when I was running because when the sun came out, it was brutal. On the plus side, apart from a brief stretch along a highway, the course runs through lush, tropical countryside with a few ocean views. The spectators, though few, seemed very supportive and there were some hula dancers to remind you where you were. The refreshment stations seemed to appear when I needed them most and generally had ice, though I sometimes had to ask for it in my water. The last part of the course runs right along the ocean, with waves crashing against nearby rocks. The beauty of it compensates for the hell of the hills. I found the food in the finishers area to be generous, though it should be considering the high cost of registration. This marathon is a sufferfest but possible for the persistent, average runner.
Michael Georgi from Honolulu (9/2/2013) "natural splendor" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you are looking for throngs of urban crowds, this is not the race for you. On the other hand, if you value a stunningly scenic route with an occasional spectator there are none better. The course is hilly, as everyone notes, but just come ready for that and enjoy yourself. The organization is phenomenal - everything you'd want for a quality event, especially the finish line hospitality.
jim miller from Orlando, FL (9/1/2013) "It's my favorite - why else travel from Orlando?" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 The Kauai Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 see my post - hopefully right above this - but forgot these deserving mentions: Highly recommend the condos at sponsor Suite Paradise, the Start Line breakfast is THE most bountiful anywhere; and here's Bob C paying attention to details - extra rolls of TP in the start line porta potties!!!!!!
Jim Miller from Orlando, FL (9/1/2013) "A very hard course - but wonderful pp all around" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 The Kauai Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Now 2 hours after my first 'almost' DNF..let's start with the positives - which may take much more than 1,000 words. How many marathons almost always guarantee Rainbows? and local kids abound for hours of hula / native Hawaiian dancing for support? and a majestic Tree Tunnel from mile 3-5? The heart of this race is found with founder Jeff Sacchini (and wife Liz deserves much more credit for all she and her sisters do as well!) and Race Director Bob Craver - If there is a marathon hall of fame - HE belongs there as these two attend to every detail (Jeff so wants to do the half again, but so much more wants to attend to every detail to ensure safety and entertainment and stories; Bob is just masterful at every point in the registration ( as I see a 50stater finishing here and they ensure he gets Bib # 50, just as they did for me 4 years ago) such great work with Sponsors (and I think kudos here to JT) such motivational contact and access to wonders like Dean K and Bart Yasso and the new 'Running makes you smarter' talk...not to mention the personalized bibs and towels - kudos Bob. Now to the secret of this successful story - the California Contingent - friends of Jeff and Liz who come over from CA for a week to help prep, volunteer, register, ride the Vespas and find old guys like me at mile 23 ready to pass out and call it a day - but attend so patiently that I recover and walk it in to indeed FINISH and not be a DNF - SPECIAL thanx Pete!! in 92 races so far I have never encountered such a Friend and Family spirit of support. and the enthusiasm locally is infectious - Thank you Larry and Betty for making me feel sooooo welcomed. Do this race for you, for the stories, to meet some wonderful people, to enjoy the Running Community that BartY talks about all the time, to enjoy the Aloha spirit, to maybe be as strong as Lisa on the bus - her first marathon and 3rd in her age group!! It is a one of a kind and I am soo thankful for the experience and the memory and the stories and the Friendships!!!
S. G. from Kilauea, Hawaii (11/19/2012) "Not walker-friendly" (about: 2012) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 The course is a beautiful challenge in paradise. The hills are relentless and the sun is hot. The atmosphere created by the cheering, singing, and hula-ing locals made the abuse bearable. My disappointment in the organization can not be understated. The packets were meager for the fee. The shirt is decent, though I'd prefer one that didn't turn me into a walking billboard. But the crushing blow came at the finish line. I finished in just over five hours and there were two hotel pans of fruit sitting out and maybe a few other snacks, but EVERYONE except the massage booth apparently had hot dates to get to. All of this is fantastic if you are closing the course at 5 or I could even see 6 hours. But the course was SUPPOSEDLY OPEN FOR 8 HOURS. By the time the six hour mark hit, there was NO FOOD LEFT. Guess what? Slow runners and walkers still travel 26.2. THIS IS NOT A WALKER-FRIENDLY MARATHON EVEN THOUGH THE COURSE STAYS OPEN.
B. G. from Glastonbury, CT (10/29/2012) "What a great experience!" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I completed my 50 states marathon quest in Kaua'i and I had the time of my life from the start all the way to the finish. Kudos to Jeff and Bob for securing Bib #50 for me. Great set-up at the start line to get the runners pumped up. We headed off into the dark for 26.2 miles. The hills are tough, true. The tree tunnel is not to be missed, also true. Views of the ocean bring the runners out of the mountains back to the finish line. Besides myself, my wife (her 33rd) and 16 year old daughter (her first) finished this race. I'm glad I picked this race to finish 50 states. I celebrated after the race with another week of Aloha around the island with my family.
Denny Pewsey from Apopka, Florida USA (10/2/2012) "The hills were a breeze" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 It is doubtful I will ever run a more beautiful marathon. The 'garden isle' surrounded the course with thick, green vegetation that swayed and waved to the gentle trade wind. That sentence could only be the start of a book I could write about this glorious marathon. But you really have to experience it for yourself. Kauai marathon is one of the hilliest, and even though I live in flat Florida I trained in areas where there are some hills. I also trained in the Florida heat and humidity, which was necessary to run well in Kauai. The marathon organization, the course support, the fans all created aloha spirit that turned an extremely difficult course into one I breezed through and enjoyed more than any.
Becki Lynn Lassley from Littleton, Colorado (9/23/2012) "Most Spectacular and Challenging Course!" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 The Kauai Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Starting with the inaugural year in 2009 until now, 4 years in a row.. I can honestly say that this marathon, it creators, directors, supporters and runners are what the Aloha spirit is ALL About! The course doesn't change, the elements do. Having a great support network of voulnteers from water stations to hula dances and fans on the course make this race Aloha awesome! For me it isn't just the event, it't the friendships I've made along the way! I love the south shore and the people from the island, the race and others from across the mainland! Pure Awesomeness! Jeff and Bob are such wonderful people and are greatly appreciated. I will keep my word and contiune to run this marathon and give it my best every time, until I no longer am able. Mahalo!

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