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Apr 30, 2024

Kona Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 3.6

Organization 4.0

Spectators 3.1

Number of comments: 74 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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George Blackwood from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada (7/30/2014) "Great race and wonderful challenging course" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For a geologist visiting from Canada, this was a wonderful experience; both from running through a volcanic landscape and over a challenging route. Planning to come back in 2016, and bring a couple of friends!
J. R. from Big Island, Hawaii (7/1/2014) "POST CARD PERFECT- out and back on Alii Drive!!!!!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Kona Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Lets get the obvious out... YES, there is a hill. YES, the last 1.5 miles are tough. YES, I LOVED it. This is Kona, Hawaii... It's suppose to be HARD!!! This is the meca of endurance sports/home of the Ironman World Championship. Bring your A Game or walk the hill in shame. The out and back course on Alii Drive was POST CARD PERFECT. Rolling hills with picture perfect secenry. The out and back made for great spectator viewing and placement counting on the way back. Mahalo nui loa Kona Marathon. See you next year!
James Grant from Kailua Kona (6/24/2014) "DANGEROUS COURSE ATT THE FINISH" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Kona Marathons COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course was changed a year ago and it is super dangerous at the finish. There is a treacherous lava/gravel road that is about 100 yds long. If you aren't VERY careful you will end up a bloody pulp. The course then takes you through the resort property, which contains a number of pinch points and other hazards. Who in the world would run at full speed through a resort? One of those hazards is a short and steep up/down ramp. I heard that the male winner fell. Don't know BUT I fell HARD AND FAST on the asphalt path shortly after the ramp as a result of bulge in the path from, I presume, a tree root. I still have so many lacerations and road rash, I can't touch anything and am bleeding at numerous spots. As runners, we assume the normal risks of running, but we do NOT want risks created by the Race Director, who asked me about detouring around the gravel road. Are you kidding? Of course, detour the gravel road and avoid the pinball machine resort while you're at it. If the course isn't changed, I will not run again.
E. O. from Hawaii (11/21/2013) "My favorite half EVER!" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 6+ Kona Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've done several Kona halfs and it is by far my favorite! I tell people if you can go under 2 hours you'll beat the heat and get back just as they're tapping the first keg of kona brew pub beer! Beautiful course! Awesome fans! Very organized!... and did I mention the cold beer?...
B. S. from Phoenix, AZ (11/20/2013) "The Island of Aloha" (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 What everyone is saying is true in terms of there were issues. However, it is a race and things happen, even in Vegas this past weekend things happened and were not perfect, like running in the dark. The Kona Marathon was a great experience and one I would not ever want to give back no matter if the bus driver did not show up (not that they were not contracted) and the finish area was not perfect. However, I gave up on a PR long before I hit the finish and just enjoyed the beautiful view and the great friends I made. This is definately a place I would want to return to and run again, near the beach and with happy spirit. One of the coolest things to think about when it came to the busses, is how strangers banded together and got people to the start line, and the race only started 15 minutes late. Doesn't that mean it started on time in Hawaii? Take a deep breath, remember, the view, remember you ran where Ironpeople run, you may have seen a dolphin, or just enjoyed the spirit of Aloha. I know I did and I would do it again.
T. K. from Cincinnati, OH (7/2/2013) "Logistic Issues but Still Worthwhile!" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The Kona Marathon provides a nice option for a summer marathon in Hawaii. Sure there were logistic issues but these could all be blamed on having to adjust to a new course route which required the organizers to: 1) Employ a bus for shuttling 2) Come up with a new finish area for the Finish Line. Based on the past history of these organizers, I'm optimistic that they will learn from this experience and ensure they have reliable shuttles and realize it is not advisable to be running up and down hotel stairs at mile 26. Besides I think we runners should accept that we are not running Boston and that we are indeed in Hawaii and embrace the 'Hang Loose' mentality and give the organizers some slack. Here are some real positives about this race: 1) You will get to brag that you have run a large part of the same marathon that the Ironman Triathalon athletes run AND that you did it in the heat of summer whereas those wussy triathletes do it in the relative coolness of October! 2) The finisher's medal is the most beautiful of the 34 marathon medals I've received so far - it should be rated in the top 10 of Marathon and Beyond's Top Finishing Medals 3) The pasta dinner is well done - outside with Hawaiian entertainment, cloth tablecloths, delicious array of food 4) The volunteers are awesome 5) Water stations that were consistently supplied with a tremendous amount of ice - a rare finding for a marathon 6) You're running in Hawaii!!!!
Kathy Thomas from Newmanstown, Pennsylvania (6/30/2013) "Beautiful Island, glad I did it, poor event plan" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 I am grateful to have the ability to travel to this beautiful island, celebrate with my family, but was very surprised that after 20 years there were problems that normally would crop up on a first year event. Poor bus planning. No mat at starting line? Start 15 minutes late. Poor spectator support. No water at finish??? Had to search for water. Had to search small cards for race times. Running through a hotel property at the end, poorly marked (ran 3/10 of a mile out of my way!) Positives: Sheraton was nice. We loved the accommodations. Scenery was beautiful!! Runners were friendly. Volunteers were great.
A. L. from Southern California (6/30/2013) "Rough start and finish logistics but worthwhile" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Ran the marathon in Kona for the first time (my 15th marathon) and survived the heat and humidity. I live in Southern CA so I am spoiled with running in 70 degree temps with low humidity. Temps were low to mid 80's with high humidity.Had luxury of cloud cover to the turnaround on the highway. Finished in 4 hours flat, 15 minutes slower than my normal time. Heat takes a toll on you, so if you are going to run the rock, here are a few tips: 1) wear a white hat, toss ice in it at the aid stations, 2)as the heat rises on the last 7 miles be sure to get a cup of ice and hold it closed, put some in your mouth and also hold a cube in your palm, it will make you feel cooler, 3)be sure to drink at every stop and get your electrolytes in. I use Hammer endurolytes and had no problems with dehaydration. Yes, the start was disorganized as the shuttle buses never showed up and the last mile on the gravel path and running on hotel property was not ideal but course through town is very scenic and aid station volunteers were friendly and very helpful. I arrived a few days early and did some running along the course route to acclimate. Small race field for the marathon (less than 400) and stretches along highway made it feel like a long training run but overall I enjoyed it and hopefully will be able to return to run Kona again.
T. D. from Ohio, USA (6/29/2013) "Not acceptable" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 The quantity of water/hydration stops and the quality of the volunteers at them were excellent and the finisher's medal was one of the nicest I've seen. And that concludes the positive comments. Negatives: -The disaster at the start/delay of race...I'm still waiting for an official announcement on what exactly happened causing the late start. I know shuttles didn't run, but at the start we were given a different excuse for the late start. That just shouldn't happen for a race that's been around for 20 years. -As mentioned above, water stops were a-plenty during the course...however I did see one major collision between runners and quite a few near misses because of the out and back nature of course...some sort of traffic control at the stops should be considered. -It took me quite awhile to find water at the conclusion of the race...none was offered. Eventually I found some not too far away, but I guess I would expect it to be available right away (not after picture taking, etc, etc.) -The end of the race...I share the concerns of all the other commenters and won't repeat. It's hard to believe that someone actually looked at the last mile and said 'Yes, this is a good idea.' -No clocks, sporadic mile markers, no 1/2 split time. Not everyone runs races with their GPS watch!
R. C. from Honolulu, HI (6/27/2013) "A final 1/2 mile like I was in the Twilight Zone" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Kona Marathons COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was my 37th full marathon and my 4th Kona marathon. The positives - cute UCC Coffee Queen and gentleman in the old-fashion Royal Hawaiian Guard uniform at the start; gentle breeze for morning hours (rare for Kona), cloud cover in the morning, most beautiful Finisher's medal I every received, and good watermelon at the Finish. The negatives - HOT and loss of cloud cover after 10am, no crowd support except at aid stations, the persistent vog, turning an ankle on the gravel, rocky road at 25 miles, then cramping on the stairs at the last 1/4 mile. Biggest question in my mind - why the hodge-podge routing on hotel grounds at the end? Evidently not to make up any lack of distance for the modified course. The turn-around out on the highway could have just been moved further out. Obviously the hotel decided on the garden space where the Finish Line and festivities would be held. The runner's safety, even diginity, was only secondary in the haphazard routing over lawn, stairs, poolside sunbathers (I felt like I was intruding on tourists' peace and quiet), to get to the party finish. But I still love the Big Island. Except next time I'll stick to the Hilo Marathon.

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