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Maui Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Maui Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 3.2
Number of comments: 95 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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Grannie Annie Singer from Suffern, NY
(9/16/2008)
 "Aloha. Here today, gone to Maui." (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Maui Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The organization of this race was the best. Even though the actual marathon was run in 90+-degree weather with no trade winds and extreme humidity, we all got through with a "little help" from the never-ending chain of volunteers. There was an efficient bus ride out to the 5:30 a.m. start. The course along the ocean was beautiful. There were cold, wet, orange ice sponges and sunscreen-spraying at every aid station, as well as plenty of fluids. The announcer for this race is just a joy. There were many Japanese runners, and they had dual translation of everything that is being announced, which makes us all one this day. The expo, party afterward, beautiful, wooden, engraved awards, and nice medal all add to the pleasure of this marathon. Try the 5K day before for fun. This was Grannie Annie's 50th state marathon finish at age 65. | |
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J. T. from Edison, NJ
(9/16/2008)
 "Definitely improved over last year" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 Maui Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 More volunteers, better organized, and better overall than last year. Brought ice-sponges back, which were needed badly this year. Not sure if it was actually hotter, but felt hotter at the start than normal, and seemed to take its toll on people. A lot more volunteers at all spots this year. I will say - it is my 5th year running and I have become infamous for sending pictures with the beautiful hula girls that give out the medals. Unfortunately this year, there were nice volunteers but no hula girls for the medals - just some photos. Small complaint, but my e-mail distribution has come to expect it!! As always, the M.C. announcer is better than any other in the world. I could not believe how long he went and how much energy he had! The heat is brutal - but the sights (the sun was coming off Ma'alea Bay and the moon was full at the start over the mountains) are incredible. What better place to celebrate than Ka'anapali Beach?! The staff at the HQ hotel is awesome. A few more requests (if I might): Starbucks and Jamba Juice are sponsors, but I did not see them at the finish line with the smoothies and snacks thay used to have. Also, they used to have local high school cheer leading team at the finish to cheer people in, which was great. | |
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A. C. from Toronto
(9/14/2008)
 "A fabulous course" (about: 2008)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran the half today - what an amazing course. Starting under moonlight and then watching the sun come up over the crater was nothing short of spectacular. The fans along the course were great - lots of cheering and horn-honking. Aid stations were super - LOVED the sponges, the guy with the hose and the showers at the end. Expo left a bit to be desired and was not clearly marked as to the location (although I did manage to drop 70 bucks in there). I am disappointed that the results were not posted as of 6 p.m. on race day. All in all, it was worth the flight from Toronto. Super day - I'll be back for the full next year. | |
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Kevin Miguel from Wailuku, Maui
(9/14/2008)
 "It's going downhill. Be prepared..." (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Maui Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I've recently become and ultra runner. Since I've run longer events (the Maui Run To The Sun, a 36-miler to the top of Haleakala Mountain) and my own 60-miler around Maui's West Mountains, I thought this Maui Marathon was going to be an easy one. Without a thought, I put on brand-new sliders (I usually run in flip-flops), and by mile 12 my feet were covered in sore spots and blisters. At the halfway point (mile 13.1), I asked to drop out because I had run out of bandages, and the people at that point said they didn't know what to do with dropouts. This is the first time I had ever dropped out of a race (I've done a bunch and I've finished them all), and I was shocked at the answer, considering the Maui Marathon has been going for over 30 years. I don't blame the help - they're only as good as the race director - but I was appalled at the fact that in order to drop out, you had to drop to the ground. I saw only one ambulance operating the whole time I ran. It was a let-down, I assure you. Now, most Maui Marathon runners will strive to reach the end. It's an easy course, I assure you. I've done the 36-miler to the top of Haleakalala, and I've finished the Maui Marathon last year. So if you're new to Maui's events, this is a good run. If you're a worn-out veteran like me, get ready for unprepared volunteers. I was informed that the only aid stations were at the start and finish of the race. I was told to walk to the finish if I wanted to quit. I could have walked, believe me. But with all the blisters on my feet (I run with flip-flops), I was looking for some bandages. No one had them. I was at least looking for a way to quit. They didn't even know that. Low points to the race director. I picked up one guy's sunglasses off the road (before mile 6) and returned them to him, and he mentioned that he read my prior reviews of Hawaii's marathons. I hope you did well! Good luck to you and all the other Hawaii first-timers! I quit, and let that help make you stronger for your next running event! I have only this to say about Maui Marathon: It has the worst first-aid treatment of the Hawaii races, aside from the Hana Relay. With the Honolulu Marathon and the 1st annual Oceanfront Wailea-to-Lahaina run in January, this Maui Marathon comes in third place for race assistance. 'Nuff said. | |
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M. C. from California
(10/4/2007)
"Downhill - not the course, the organization" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Maui Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 3rd time I ran and was really sad to see what happened to the organization this year. First let me say that the race is still an awesome one. I love the aloha spirit the runners, spectators and locals have all weekend. The course is spectacular - seeing the top of Haleakala as the sunrises behind you provides a real view of heaven in my mind. Now the bad news - the organization was really poor this year. There were no mailings in advance with your bib number, so getting into the expo to pick stuff up was confusing. Then they actually did not have enough safety pins for the bibs! Others on this site have mentioned other shortcomings - and I do not wish to beat a dead horse - but I will be back and hope that some things come back so I will highlight a few items - bring back iced-sponges, bring back more sponsors for the expo and the finish line (especially jamba juice), bring back the cheerleaders for the finish line, bring back the radio station and the fun atmosphere at the start, and have an organized sorted bag drop at the start and finish. | |
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J. A. from Atlanta, GA
(9/28/2007)
"Great place to run!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Maui Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I actually just ran the half, but thought I'd contribute anyway. You could tell there was a change in the race director from last year. Some positives and many not-so-positives. Most has been covered below, but for me the things that stood out were: - Where was the Jamba Juice??? - Where were the iced sponges??? - Liked the new shirt(s) including the 5K shirt - Luau overpriced and food just so-so, but good for mingling - Great enthusiastic volunteers! Mahalo! - Minimal expo this year, but had the basics - Glad they had mile markers for the 5K this year - Top awards for 5K very nice. Disappointing awards compared to last year for other award levels. - Great free post-race massage Maui is one of my top two vacation spots and the course is beautiful! Worth the trip. | |
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Joy Sherwood from Santa Ana, CA
(9/27/2007)
"My First Marathon... Maui ROCKS!!!!" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon. Heard rumors of the heat, humidity and difficulty. It was a pleasant day. The America's Finest Half Marathon in San Diego was hotter! I loved all the spectators on Front Street, the smell of pulmarias, and the many water stops. On the downside, the mile markers during the first half were few and far between. No timing mat at the start and a 10-minute walk to start.... Did I run 27.2 miles?? | |
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J. M. from Michigan
(9/27/2007)
 "Beautiful, but terribly organized and hyped" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Maui Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 The course is beautiful. There are WAY worse places to run than Maui, that's for sure. The weather in 2007 was a blessing compared to other years. Start at 5, not 5:30 though. No signs showing people where the expo was and where the start was were HUGE minuses. We had to find the start line on our own from the porta-potties. The expo was a joke and the fact that there were no sponges, ice (I agreed with the person who wrote go buy some, there was a store across the street!), Coke, etc. and NO START MAT at the beginning or mile marker signs in places? Why did the mat at 30K not work (I heard it beep once, I have no recorded time though). It was just disorganized and inexcusably so; this is not a new race. Hardly any food at the end and next to no medical support. The course is beautiful but very challenging; I loved the bathroom availability and the keiki hula dancers. Deliver what you promise. I would not spend the money to run this race again after traveling 6,000 miles when there are so many well-organized marathons. No GU (we knew that, but still...). Beware, this race is not what it's advertised to be. Whoever calculated the pace needs to be trained in math; my pace at 29-minute miles would have resulted in a 13-hour marathon. No one's pace was right! | |
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T. W. from California
(9/25/2007)
"Why have a chip when there is no mat at the start?" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 2 Maui Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 The course and scenery were great. This was my 2nd time doing the Maui Marathon... and seems like it gets worse for organization and spectators. No ice sponges - a huge error by the new director - and having no mat at the start is another huge error by him. The expo was the worst I've ever seen. I did not see any medical personnel on the course at all except at one water stop. It was a little scary to think that if something did happen, nobody would be there to help. Very disappointing marathon! | |
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K. K. from Alameda, California
(9/25/2007)
"Beautiful place to run a half marathon" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Maui Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Definitely not a PR kind of race, due to the humidity, but who cares when it's so pretty. I thought the water stations were very organized and friendly. They had ice towards the end, perfect for filling up a bandanna and tying around the neck. There wasn't much cheering or "entertainment" on the 1/2 marathon course, with the exception of a local and his drum, and a pickup playing Beach Boys music. The mile markers were terrible and confusing with half and full markers being different. The expo was fair. They had tech. fiber shirts but really only men's sizes in dull gray. The 5K shirt was much nicer. Would I run the half again? You betcha! |
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