What an experience for my first 26.2! I earned a grant from the Lilly Foundation to travel to Hawaii and participate in the Kona Marathon. Team Challenge, a charity group for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, was present at this race. Though I wasn't a member of their team, they gave me a singlet to wear due to my work with CCFA in Indiana and my status as a participant with Crohn's.

(It should be noted that I was a slow finisher [5:53], so my perspective might be a bit different from that of a fast runner.)

ACCOMMODATIONS & AREA
My husband and I stayed at the Keauhou Beach Resort, the host hotel. We had been there for a week. I recommend staying there, primarily because it was a nice resort, and also because it was nice to walk from my room to the start line, and from the finish line straight to my room. My husband and I arrived a week early to get acclimated to the area, the climate, and the jetlag. There's a lot to do in Kona, so we were never bored. I loved this area. I recommend a helicopter tour if you have time. The Big Island has several different climate zones that can all be seen from the air. You can even land and hike in an active lava zone.

START
Packet pick-up was the day before the race, and there were lots of interesting tents there. On race day, at 5:15 a.m., we walked 0.2 miles to the start. There were no chips or seeding, just a faster-runners-to-the-front-and-walkers-to-the-back designation. After some introductions of the elite runners, we were off.

PEOPLE
Though there were over 1,200 participants for the different races, only 221 people were running the marathon. I never felt congested, but that's coming from a girl whose only big race experience before this was the 500 Festival Mini Marathon, which always has 35,000 runners.

SCENERY
The first six and last six miles are run on Ali'i Drive by the ocean, and the middle 14 miles are mostly run on Highway 11/19, with a four-mile jaunt down the road by the power plant at the turn. While the ocean views are my preference, I can't complain about the views from the highway. Many have described this area as barren, but the ocean is still visible. Plus, I enjoyed looking at the mountain and all of the lava. This Indiana gal doesn't get to see things like that on a regular basis!

HILLS
I wouldn't classify the course as flat, but it's not extremely hilly either. The best way to say it is: there is hardly a flat spot on the course, but the hills, for the most part, are gentle. They keep things interesting. I found myself being thankful for every uphill on the way out on the out-and-back course, because that meant a downhill was waiting for me on the way back! There was a long, gradual uphill at the beginning of the highway. The toughest hill for me was the uphill at Miles 14 and 15 on the road that approaches the highway. It was a nice downhill on the way out, though! There was a course change this year around Mile 6.5 due to some new traffic lights, so a ramp was installed for runners to get from a shopping center's parking lot to the road. The ramp was very sturdy, so I felt safe. It was a bit precarious coming down the ramp at Mile 19.5 though. My legs were pretty shaky.

AID STATIONS
The aid stations were present every mile. Volunteers had Ultima, iced water, and ice. I shouted out what I wanted, and they provided. I recommend wearing a hat. It shields the sun, and you can toss some ice underneath it for an extended cool-down. The volunteers at the aid stations (and all along the course, for that matter), were cheerful and helpful.

HEAT
Hawaii in June is hot, obviously, but it wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be. We started the race before sunrise. While the sun rises at 5:45 a.m. in late June, it doesn't actually touch Kona until some time later due to the mountain. It was about 75 degrees at the beginning and 85 degrees near the end. Folks were talking about the humidity, but it didn't seem that bad to me. Again, I come from Indiana, where I'd been training in comparable temperatures and much higher humidity. The heat that bothered me most was the heat radiating from the freshly blacktopped road. The recommendations to beat the heat are obvious: light-colored, light-weight, wicking clothes; a light-colored, light-weight hat; plenty of sunscreen applied before you can sweat it off; and extra water at the aid stations to give yourself a nice splash. There were little PVC sprinklers under which runners could pass to get a nice soaking. However, they were a bit short. I hit my head on one, and I'm 5'3". It's also a bad idea to run under these if you have an iPod, as I discovered on Mile 7. Luckily, it started working again a few minutes later! Ha!

TRAFFIC
I felt safe in the south lane of Ali'i Drive and on the shoulder of the highway. However, when I was on Mile 22, the cones closing Ali'i's south lane were moved to the shoulder, allowing traffic back in the south lane. Granted, I was finishing slowly due to some hip issues, but I was suddenly very nervous. There was lots of traffic when the road was freshly opened, and here I was running WITH, not against, it! Scary! The shoulder is ample, but many surfers had their vehicles parked in the shoulder, so I had to do some clever choreography to squeeze my way through the course in some places.

FANS
There were fans here and there, mostly the charity groups and cheerleaders. Some folks near the shops on Ali'i Drive cheered, as well. On the way back through the shops on Ali'i Drive, many of the shoppers just looked at me like I was crazy. The real cheerleaders were the great volunteers and the runners passing by each other going different directions on the highway. I was lucky to have my husband, who would drive a few miles ahead of me, then stop to support me. If you like fan support, bring a friend to help you though the race. The stretch of the highway on the way back was most difficult for me, even though it was downhill. I was just tired of the highway. Having my husband there helped get me out of that funk.

FINISH
The bilingual announcer was quite good. He announced everyone's finish as if he/she was the winner. It made my accomplishment even more special to me. I received a shell lei, a medal, a T-shirt, instant individual results, and some great support from the volunteers and the medical staff. (They checked out the bump on my head from the sprinkler.)

Overall, I probably look at this marathon through rose-colored glasses since it was my first; but honestly, it was a great race. On the course, I chatted with a guy who was completing a marathon in his 50th state, and he told me that Kona was the hardest marathon he'd ever completed. The course is, after all, the Ironman course. The hills and the heat are a recipe for challenge. However, I didn't really notice it. It was tough, but I was enjoying myself SO much. All of my issues were personal (I was having some hip problems that forced me into a walk/run pattern for the last half of the marathon); and anytime it got hard, all I had to remember was, I'M IN HAWAII! One look at my surroundings brought it all into perspective. Thank you, Kona, for being part of the biggest accomplishment of my life. I recommend this marathon for anyone who can afford the travel and enjoys a challenge.

It's Hawaii. It's historic in that it follows the marathon trial of the famous Iron Man National Championship. Don't forget that it's hot and humid.

Those are the cornerstones of the UCC Coffee Marathon in Kona. First of all, it is a run that is in paradise! It was a great chance to take the family to a really cool place (figuratively of course!). The volcanoes and the Green Sand Beach and the snorkeling are all first-rate. Our trip to the top of Mt. Mona Kea was a must-do! While you are there, take time to DO the tourist thing!

This is also a run of history, where the feet of ironman competitors have all trod in your steps. The best of the best have been here and you get the chance to share that space with them. You feel them all around you only separated from you in time. It is a special place.

But don't forget about the twin H's of Heat and Humidity. The early pre-dawn race through town is awesome and invigorating. The sun makes its appearance over Mona Loa in spectacular form, and after that the whole race changes. The temperature goes up and up as the Lava Fields of solid black rock block out the ocean breezes. It gets HOT, and quick.

This is an out-and-back marathon, and the aid stations that seemed stacked on top of each other in the pre-dawn suddenly seemed a million miles apart. The heat sucks your soul dry. This is a two-part race (half through perfect conditions and the other half was a trip through Dante's Inferno). Be ready!

With proper training, this could be a great marathon. It's mostly flat and has scenery that is unrivaled among most races of its size. The locals are friendly and moderately enthusiastic. Don't, however, underestimate the heat of the Lava Fields. This makes this race a real challenge, even for veterans. The meek need not apply!

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!

Only about half of the runners finished because of heat (150). It was a great one for the record books.

- The Duenner Team

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!!

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.

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.

Great course - mostly flat, some hills, but otherwise okay. Weather was overcast, but still hot and humid.

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.

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.