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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 31 to 41]

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C. T. from Chicago (6/30/2009) "Outstanding race management" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 My airline got me to the big island 2 hours after the start of the run. The race organizers let me run it anyway. They radioed ahead and let everyone know that there was one last runner on the course. They made sure I had plenty of water on a hot day. This one captured the spirit of the marathon and the spirit of aloha! Outstanding volunteers and organization! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to finish my Hawaiian marathon!
Robert Duenner from USA (6/27/2009) "It was awesome" (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Only about half of the runners finished because of heat (150). It was a great one for the record books. - The Duenner Team
b. S. from Nashville, TN (9/21/2008) "A Wonderful Marathon in Paradise!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is an absolute "must do" for any serious marathoner, as well as those just looking to do a good marathon at least once in a lifetime. It is hard to beat Hawaii anyway, but what makes this marathon unique is that it is the same course used in THE Ironman competition, so it carries with it a special distinction you won't find on any other course. I concur with everyone else that it is taxing, mostly due to the heat, and there are a few nice hills thrown into the mix; but if you prepare properly, you will do fine. As for the organization, it is second to none. Everything is very well laid out from start to finish and the organizers and volunteers couldn't be nicer. There are a few spots where the crowd does thin out (as with most marathons), and toward the last couple of miles, they let the cars back on the running path, which is a bit scary. Lastly, do try to stay at the Outrigger while you are there. The race starts and finishes right at the hotel, and it is perfectly located in the heart of Kona. By staying there, you can't beat the convenience of walking right out the door to start and going straight to your own room for a shower immediately afterward. Also, the hotel offers great services, such as tour scheduling, entertainment, a free shuttle bus that runs all day long every 20-30 minutes and a very good breakfast buffet every morning. My mother and I turned this into our vacation for the year, and we are both thankful to the great organizers of the Kona Marathon for making our first trip to Hawaii one we'll never forget. Much continued success!!
Chris Glatt from Overland Park, KS, USA (7/14/2008) "Good, hot-weather marathon" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was one of the most enjoyable races I've run recently. We were lucky in that skies were overcast the first half of the race - the heat and humidity were still a factor (dew point = 70 at the start) but it'd be much worse if the sun were out the whole time. Smart runners who pace themselves accordingly won't have any problems; the rest of us suffered some the last few miles. The race organizers did a great job - mile markers were pretty accurate according to my GPS; aid stations were plentiful, and lots of them had ice and most of them offered it without prompting; and individual results were available immediately after the finish. If you're looking for crowd support, do another race. But some of us like the peace and quiet, and enjoy those long conversations with ourselves, so it wasn't a factor for me. The scenery was awesome, especially the first and last 6 miles, even if you'd spent a few days in paradise beforehand and gotten used to running through botanical gardens and postcard landscapes. The middle half of the race was - by comparison - like running on the moon, but still interesting for us mainlanders. The course had enough turns and gentle hills to avoid monotony. If you're conditioned to high heat and humidity, you could run pretty fast here; the rest of us should plan on adding at least 10 minutes to our usual time. Thanks to Mr. Kunitake for supporting this race, and providing inspiration for those of who hope to run into our 70s and beyond. I'd highly recommend this race to anyone who's considering a tropical marathon.
David Terrill, Sr. from Tarentum, Pa. (7/10/2008) "Thoroughly enjoyed the experience." (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I'd run this thing again in a heartbeat, if I could. But I'll finish the campaign first. With 24 down, I can see the crest of the challenge dead-ahead. We get the opportunity to tread where ironmen have trod. The course has a tradition to it, was in excellent condition, and the weather cooperated with a low overcast, no real winds, and hospitable temps. It all added up to be a great day to run in Hawaii. I also had the rare privilege of enjoying my daughter's company from gun to finish. Her tour of duty in Hawaii has concluded, but not before we shared these moments. Okay, let me focus now. This course can be mentally taxing, as there aren't throngs of spectators throughout. If that is important, do Honolulu. But this is the perfect course to get "zoned" and really hammer out a good effort. There are gently undulating grades, as it stays relatively near the coastline. No gut crunchers. Over-dress during training for a month beforehand (non-Hawaii residents) and the climate shouldn't be much of a deterrent. Fluid stops were plentiful, were well staffed and stocked, and the water was iced. Get a cup of ice under your hat and you're good for another mile. The only negative thing I'll mention can be said about any 'thon where you don't have enough traffic control at the intersections. As Shelley and I turned off Palani onto Ali'i for the home stretch, cars pulled out into the runner's lane twice. You find doofuses everywhere. The finish line announcer was multilingual, possessed a radio/TV quality voice, and was as enthusiastic as any I have ever heard. Special thanks to Mr. Jon Kunitake for his generosity in support of this event, and also for having run a heck of a marathon. I will cherish this one till my last day.
S. P. from Hawaii (7/2/2008) "Great scenery, but hot and humid" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Great course - mostly flat, some hills, but otherwise okay. Weather was overcast, but still hot and humid.
C. C. from Booneville, MS (7/1/2008) "hot race on the island" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This should not be a tough race, but the heat makes it tougher than you might think. The people do an excellent job with the race, the aid stations, and control of the course. And the finish line is wonderful with a great announcer. The only bad think about the course is that you are out there in the sun without any shade for a long time, but hey, you are running in Hawai'i.
Charles Buckner from Nebraska (7/4/2007) "26.2 in Paradise" (about: 2007) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 What I liked... -It's Hawai'i!!!!!! -5:30 a.m. starting time. -Plenty of aid/water stations. -Plenty of recovery food & drinks. -Same course that the Ironman is run on. -Finisher's medal and shirt. -Outrigger Hotel accommodations. -The sunset the night before. -Friendly people. -It's Hawai'i!!!!!!!! What I didn't care for... -Cost of transportation between airport and hotel ($35 each way). -Bikes and cars on the course. -The odor at mile 13. If you can, stay at the Outrigger the night before the race. Train in the heat and be sure to drink often and early. All in all, it was an excellent experience - one I will always remember.
B. E. from Atlanta, GA (5/9/2007) "It's JUNE in HAWAII!" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Great race, well-organized, wonderfully friendly and supportive people, awe-inspiring course, but DO NOT TRY TO PR! Enjoy the ambience, not the challenge... Ok, so you're on the mainland thinking about running Kona and you want to ignore the PR advice. You've run a few marathons before, you think you understand your physiology and limits. You look at the course map and see it's nicely rolling with a net downhill finish. You live in a warm climate, so training mid-day in May and June should give you a feel for what the potential demands of finishing a marathon as temps climb might be like. The race starts, the sun isn't up, the weather is great, the pace feels comfortable, so you go for it. DON'T BE FOOLED! The downhill section before the turnaround (at a 3:25 pace) comes just as temps begin to climb so you are lulled into a false sense of what you can do. Youve been climbing a slow grade for a few miles and the switch from up to down feels so good you just let it roll down to the turnaround. The climb back up to the course high point is a killer (and I train in the hills north of Atlanta) not because of the grade but because of the rapidly climbing temperatures. By mile 20 I was toast and reduced to a walk/run sequence. To top it off, I mistook fatigue for dehydration, guzzled water like a fiend at every opportunity and pushed myself to the edge of hyponatremia. At mile 25, cognitive dissonance set in and I wisely chose to let someone else decide whether I should attempt to finish. Its my only DNF in seven marathons and countless other half-marathons. So humbling, and such a great way to learn about yourself&.. Wonderful race, wonderful location, let yourself enjoy for what it is, not what you want it to be.
K. P. from Minneapolis, Minnesota (5/1/2007) "Challenge & Inspiration" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Kona Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The Kona Marathon is a tough, inspirational race in a fantastic place! The course follows much of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship course and it's The Big Island, so you gotta love it! The organization, water stops, and traffic control are very good. The weather is H-O-T - it's Hawaii in June after all - but we packed our Endurolyte capsules, hat, sunscreen and glasses, and we enjoyed it. We ran this race as part of the American Stroke Association program and I loved the community of runners in this event. Mr. Kunitake, owner of UCC Coffee, also runs the race, even though this man is in his eighties - talk about inspiration... imagine having a conversation with him in the middle of the lava fields and seeing the joy in his face. When asked how many marathons he has run he smiles and says, "Oh, too many to remember." At the finish we were met by an elderly lady who kissed my sweaty cheek and thanked me for coming as she hung a beautiful shell necklace and medal around my neck. This marathon is one of my favorites.

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