The first 6-7 miles were very nice, Kona is pretty and spectators were along the streets. The 2nd half with a long upgrade is challenging but fun! But those lava fields are hot and not that pretty to look at! But overall, with the well run aid stations and friendly volunteers and spectators plus the great finish area and 9 hr. time limit, it was a great choice for my 49th state plus my DC. Great overall!

-Randall W. Hansen, slow multi-colored marathoner and member of 50 and DC Marathon Group USA.(original club)

First 6 miles is through Kona following the ocean. Next 6-7 miles is through the lava fields and returning through same. Great fun, rolling hills. Hot sun, Wear a sun visor!! Then back along ocean for the final six. You will be competing againist the half-marathoners on the way back as the half folks go out 30 minutes later so a bit of dodging on the road. Not much in the way of crowd support, but I've learned running in Hawaii for 3 years you will not see huge crowds. But the charity runners were out in force and extremly vocal and supportive (even for us non-team folks). Thanks. Lots of good stuff for refreshments. Spent the afternoon snorkling next door to the finish line. Can't complain!! Thanks to the race directors.

Organization was efficient, but it's a family and fun orientated race and so things are a bit informal. I stayed 4 miles from the start in town and there's no shuttle to or from the race--so get ready to shell out about $25 for round trip transportation. You get your official time and stats almost right away on a small computer print out. Great fruit and Kona coffee after the race, though I would have liked a bagel or some other bread item. Ocean views are nice, though the landscape suffers overall from a proliferation of tacky commercial shops and time-share condos. Waikiki is also commercialized but somehow does a better job at it and retains a certain beauty and cleanliness that Kona lacks. Actually, I enjoyed more my training runs around the Diamond Head loop in Waikiki than the Kona course itself. But overall I had a good time.

I ran this as a half marathon shortly after finishining my first full marathon in San Diego so I can not help making comparisons.
The 1st half of the course is beautiful, plus you have the thrill of being on the famous iron man course. The second half of the course is NOT at all scenic. After the faster runners have finished they actually open the road to two way traffic which is not fun at all. Spirit and enthusiasm pale in comparison to San Diego. There is no chip timing so just look at your watch, everyone is on the honor system. Minutes before the start you will be asked to seed yourself- 'faster runners move to the front please.' I was told at the finish line 'sorry we don't have a shirt for you- we'll mail you one.' I heard many complaints about this at the hotel from other runners.
BUT this marathon, while not technically perfect, is much more personal than the mega marathons. It's organized by a few people who simply don't have as many resources as the mega marathons. That may also be the strength of this race. You WILL hear your name announced as you're cheered across the finish. Your family WILL see you cross that line and come right up and hug you. Then you will get wonderful Hawaiian refreshments and fun. Since the race is over when the last participant comes in it opens the event up for people who can't finish under time constraints (like stroke victims walking the course). What an inspiration and wonderfull addition to this experience. The best moment for me was watching the last finisher raise his cane in victory at the finish line with the whole crowd chanting his name.

The slower runners going out need to be guided to one side of the road so as not to inpede returning runners. The former women's winner cartwheeling at the finish was pretentious & obnoxious.

It was my first marathon, and I loved the scenery. However, I was surprised that it has as many hills as it does. In addition, our run was very warm (74 degrees at start of race) and that caused me to run much slower than I anticipated. The crowd and team spirit was awesome and I would recommend it but leave the thought of setting a personal best at home. Enjoy!

It's a great race to run as your first marathon or for a charity but if you're planning on competing you'll be disapointed with your results. This is an out and back race therefore you'll be able to count how many runners are in front of you as they turn at the 13.1 marker. There was no control to disqualify non serious runners who did not run the full distance or those registered for the full who changed their minds during the race and ran the half marathon instead. All of this could be avoided but organizers refuse to use the chip system.

For my first marathon I really couldn't have chose a more scenic place to run 26.2 miles. Coming from west Texas it's even more understandable. It was a prefect combination of ocean view, view of the down town area and residential area. The description of the route being semi flat was being a little vague. The hills were such a strain on my poor legs, that walking for two days following the run took much effort. My advice is plenty of hill training. The temperature the last 1/3 of the race was also a challenge for some. The team spirit was amazing, from both the Leukemia Society and Team Diabetes. It actually helped carry me for a couple of those grueling miles around #20. Not too many spectators but those present were great. The finish line was a major plus! Midland, TX Team Diabetes will return in 2001 with more eager runners! Thanks Jim!
Tracey

It was the first marathon I ever ran. I'd volunteered for a couple before this one, so I knew a thing or two about 'em. The Kona marathon spends plenty of time right along the ocean, where the views of the waves and a few sandy beaches were a tempting distraction... the cool water sure sounded like a good idea. It was a little hot during my last 10 miles or so, but faster runners were done by that time. There were NOT a huge number of spectators, but it's hard to drive over from neighboring states But the locals and runners' families and friends were quite encouraging. Part of the course was on the state highway and so cars did buzz-by pretty fast during that part.

I ran the half marathon and completely loved everything about the race. Aloha abounded in the post-race area. The women's winner did a cartwheel as she crossed the finish line (evidently, that's her 'thing'...well--COOL!) The half goes out and back along Ali'i Drive, a very pretty waterfront low-key commercial district. A nutso downhill at mile 2 was an even more insane uphill at mile 12, but it made for a neat race knowing all along it was coming up (and I mean UP). After finishing a satisfying effort, I schmoozed around the finish area for as long as I wished, stayed in the shade (it was around mid-80s at this point) got a massage, ate a bunch of fruit, drank a bunch of water, RaceDay drink, and some good Kona coffee (who can resist?) and then decided to head back to Kohala, where my hotel was about 40 minutes north. What did I see when I got on the highway? Runners! Hundreds of poor bastard runners still plugging away well over an hour after I had finished and done the whole sybaritic finish afterglow thing. I think it must have been an entirely different race for them. I talked to a couple of marathoners at my hotel later and learned that the course went from low-key 2-lane town road with water gracing the periphery to baked asphalt Interstate ambience just after the half marathon turn around. Also, I think the race went through some growing pains this year as the participants went from around 600 to nearly 2000. This was due in no small part to it being a Diabetes Team-In-Training race. That also made it terrific as the Diabetes cheerleaders were supportive of everyone out there, not just the people in Team-in-training red shirts.
I really liked this race and would do it again if I were in Hawaii at the same time, but I think I'd skip the full marathon unless they re-route it away from the main highway.