The Kauai Marathon - Race Reviews

This was only my 3rd full marathon (I started running when I turned 50) but my first since having open heart surgery last year. I've gotten in better shape but not as strong as I was when I ran Baltimore in 2010. I chose Kaua'i because I have been to the island many times and LOVE it dearly...it was great motivation to getting better after surgery. Some thoughts: - I learned afterwards that the Full Marathon is ranked nationally as the 4th most difficult marathon in the US. Boy, I see why and while I might not have changed my mind and still run it, my expectations would have been set differently. In many ways, it combined the hills of Baltimore (but worse) with the heat I faced in Chicago (but worse). Not for the faint of heart. - Like comments about the R&R Phoenix, it is geared much more to the Half than the Full. 2000+ runners in the Half and only about 250 in the Full. - Definitely bring your own gear and supplies. Nothing available on the island but I sort of knew that. I did expect more items at the expo but really only just shirts for sale. - Make sure you have your camera/phone because the vistas of this course are amazing, as you would expect. Cuts down on time but you won't get your PR in this run anyway! There was almost a full hour between the first and third place finishers.

The mechanical logistics of this race are fine. They have both a half marathon and a full marathon that start together. They run together for the first 11 miles, until they split apart. The marathon rejoins the half marathon course with 2 miles to go. The course is hilly with over 2000' of climbing. And expect the weather to be hot and humid. September is Kauai's warmest month. The course was accurately measured with mile markers every mile, but it is not USATF certified. Aid stations just had water and blue Poweraide. No type of energy gels, etc. Entrants received a nice sling bag for your packet, along with a mint green short sleeve tech shirt. The finisher's medal was nice. There were sufficient portajons at the start and at every aid station. Here's what I liked about the race: - It was on Kauai - Race management did their job. Here's what I didn't like about the race: - Ridiculously expensive. $200 if you register a year in advance. And they charge non-military and non-Hawaiian entrants 33% more than local residents. - My other gripe is that the the faster marathoners run into the back of the slow half marathoners in the last two miles. My wife who was a top-10 female had to squeeze her way across the finish line because four half marathoners were walking abreast of each other blocking the entire way. - For $200+ a gel or two would be nice.

The ideal marathon is supposed to be challenging, scenic, organized and well supported. And it might not hurt too if it is on a tropical island. The Kauai Marathon delivers all that with spades. Let's start with "Challenging." Every Hawaiian Marathon I have done requires a certain tolerance to heat and humidity. This state is a chain of tropical island after all, and warm, humid conditions are constant year round. No problem for a guy like me who trained all summer in the Southern US. We have all the heat and humidity anyone could ever wish for. For those who live in cooler and drier climates (for instance, Coastal Californians), the weather absolutely will take a toll. Don't expect a PR. Sweat and shade offer poor relief from hot and humid air. Fortunately aide stations are plentiful and stocked with ice, water and electrolyte solution (oddly no salt tabs however.) I am a slow runner, and all the stations were completely stocked and fully manned for the duration. Amazing! It also helped that the locals came out in force to supply oranges, watermelons, bananas and various drinks independently of the race. I wanted for nothing. The route was ultra scenic, but only the finish was anywhere near the coastline. Oddly for a Hawaiian Marathon, everything other than the beach was a focus. Several old plantations, the tunnel of trees, cloud clad mountains and tropical forests all graced the course. And there were hills! About 3000 feet of elevation change must be conquered in the marathon, with long, long sustained and steep ups and downs. This is a demanding course! As for a few thing that might be done better, parking is unorganized and street closures start at 0530 and only make things worse for those who commute in. Budget a very early arrival on race day. The expo was easy, but there are no supplies for sale ANYWHERE on the whole island, Be very careful to bring everything you need with you or be prepared to go without. No gels, lubes, shoe supplies... nothing. Overall, an awesome but very, very difficult race. You will likely suffer, probably a lot. You will very likely go slower than you are used to. But the vistas verge on poetic. It's clear the locals look be and support this race. Having now run it for myself, I understand why. They are proud, and deservedly so. I highly recommend this race to you. Definitely in my top 10.

I knew going into this race that it would be difficult: temperatures in the 80's, humidity about the same, and lots and lots of hills. But the gorgeous scenery trumped any negatives, from starting before dawn with flaming torches at the start line, running through the Tunnel of Trees, seeing the mist-covered mountains in the distance, catching my first glimpse of the Pacific, and the colorful plants that cover just about every inch of the island. The volunteers are superb and the race staff helpful and enthusiastic. The ice-cold water at the water stops and extra ice to stuff down my shirt kept me going. Mahalo! We stayed at the Kiahuna Plantation and loved the comfort of the condo, wonderful sand beach, and location - right across the street from the race start and one beach away from the finish.

Wifey and I walked the half in 2013, and it was great. The scenery is beautiful, the race is small enough to where it still has a 'small town' feel to it, and the shirts were great...so what's not to like? Leading up to the race we were toying with walking the full, not just the half. Someone heard us talking about that and said 'You might want to go out and look at the second half of the marathon course...' We did, and wow, am I glad!! I seem to recall there is something like 4000 feet of 'vertical' in the back half alone. So we WISELY chose to stick with the half (we're in our 60's). Still glad we made that decision! This is a VERY WELL RUN race in a truly beautiful destination...recommend it highly!!! Aloha to all!!

Kauai is three hours behind us, in the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone, so if you have changed your watch, you end up looking at the time and wanting to go to bed about 7:30. The upside to that is that you are also up three hours early. So the next day we were up early for an informal pre-race 3-mile run, with dignitaries Bart Yasso, the Chief Running Officer of Runners World, J.T. Service, the winner of the inaugural 2009 Kauai Marathon, and Tyler McCandless, the 2014 winner of the Kauai Half Marathon. Also accompanying us on our backroads run through the lush foliage of Kauai, but dressed in grass skirts, leis, and coconut tops, were inspirational spirits Stephanie Freeman of Share Your Strong, a nonprofit organization designed to bring awareness of brain trauma, and a woman from the Bahamas named Natalie D. who was celebrating her twenty-something birthday. The unusual nature of the event, with personalities I had only read about, made the beginning of this whole adventure very intriguing. From there we went to the Keiki Run, a run for kids that has the best swag ever. Winners of each age group get a years supply of milk from Wilcox Farms. Racers run distances of 100 yards to a half mile, led by Tyler McCandless in a yellow chicken suit. The Mayor of Kauai, Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. was also in attendance, formally marking the significance of the event. Our race day began at 5:30 the next morning, when I met my running buddy in the lobby of the Grand Hyatt, race headquarters for the Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon, to jog to the starting line. It was still dark, but it was 78 degrees and there was a stillness to the air, like the breath you take in when you dont know what is going to happen next. We jogged through the darkness toward the light in the distance, which turned out to be the spotlights and tiki torches at the start. We found 1,650 racers toeing the line, all pensively stretching and anxiously waiting for the starting gun. After an emotional National Anthem sung by a Hawaiian woman, we took off into the darkness, filmed by a drone in the air. As we made our way out of the town of Poipu, I could feel the current of runners all around me, and I felt a camaraderie with them as we took on this challenge together. About half an hour into our run, the sun came up and we could see the mountains and lush tropical countryside rise up out of the darkness around us. Hula dancers in red sarongs danced to the music as we ran by at mile 4, and we made our way through a tunnel of eucalyptus trees at mile 6. At mile 10 we started down into a valley with the ominous sound of beating drums somewhere on the other side. We started seeing more and more people lining the course, cheering us on as they drank their morning coffee from the Kauai Coffee Company! Finally we could see the ocean as we made our way back down towards Poipu, just past mile 11. The finish line would be rewarding enough, but it was right along the water where we could see the splash of the waves, and feel the aloha of the Hawaiians encouraging us to finish. As I fist-bumped Hawaiians in traditional garb who handed me my finishers medal, I had to acknowledge that this was one of the most unique races I had ever done!

I just wanted to specifically thank the all the volunteers and residents of Kauai. I had a very difficult struggle during the marathon and felt comforted to know that the volunteers on the scooters were looking after me. Particularly, I need to thank the lady on the scooter as I had some extremely difficult issues starting at mile 19.5 and nearly not finishing but she helped me through the difficult times. Also want to thank one of the residents who helped her at around the 19.5 mark with a towel and ice. She was with me again at mile 22 water tent. At mile 25 I needed additional help from and Aid van. They helped me with ice and encouragement after being sick again. I was 2.5 hours later than my normal marathon times but this being my 50th state marathon, I could not give up and I have never DNFed in 88 marathons. I thank your team, volunteers and the residents of Kauai for helping me achieve this milestone. It is one not to forget for sure. I knew Kauai was going to be difficult and is partly the reason I saved it for last as it has been a challenging 15 year journey. It was a wonderful 10 day vacation and I would highly recommend this marathon to anyone. I also loved the merchandise. It is the most I have even spent at an expo. The Grand Hyatt was truly amazing and we felt comfort of everywhere on the property. The organization was exceptional. I particularly loved the ice on the course. It was nice to see native entertainment as well, hula dancers everywhere. Well done Jeff, Bob, amazing volunteers and residents! Also, stay and enjoy the island for at least a week.

I am so glad I didn't drive the route the day before or I would not have slept. It truly is a spectacularly beautiful, and yes challenging, run. Prior to the o-dark-thirty start (I'm an Army guy) I spent two days at the expo in The Grand Hyatt. What a resort! Palacial surroundings to say the least. The marathon merchandise was awesome. An extensive selection in many colors and styles, absolutely perfect. I got a little carried away but could not resist how everything captured the essence of Kauai beauty. I saw their booth at the Honolulu Marathon last year and was smitten by the Hawaiian floral designs. I ran the Kauai marathon just so I get the t and cool medal. Little did I know how much sweat it would take to get that medal & t! Seminars: Bart Yasso is a legend to many of us. To meet a running rock star like him in person was icing on the cake. Despite his lifetime accomplishments he came across as a regular guy, readily posing for pictures, talking story, and just hanging out. His running prowess is surpassed only by his wonderful sense of humour. The Marathon Goddess, Julie Weiss, was a pleasant surprise and tremendous inspiration. Again, photos with her, DVDs for my kids. She was even at the finish line to greet us slow pokes and more photos. The course session was new to me and I was more than a little concerned about the talk of 15 degree slopes, massive elevation gains/losses, and road camber. Physical therapists next so I just resigned myself to the fact that the course was a beast and injuries inevitable. I opted for a killer massage with one vendor that lasted a couple of hours. The masseuse claimed to be 79 but her hands and strength were those of a college kid. Every single vendor there had something to offer all of us. Both days ended by basking in the setting sun on the Hyatt ocean front lanai, serenaded by soft Hawaiian tunes, the evening breeze and sounds of crashing surf. Race day came soon enough. We gathered in the dark full of hope and trepidation. Plenty of free grinds and Kauai Coffee for all. A group stretching session to get the kinks out then we shuffled to the start. A huge drone hovered overhead to capture the moment. We took off before the sun could zap us and rushed into the dawn, hoping to beat the heat and wishing for rain. Those of us running the full shared the road with the halfers for 11 miles. The dreaded hills started early enough but everyone kept chugging along. The Tunnel of Trees was an ethereal experience. After a short highway stretch we entered the rural residential neighborhoods. Plenty water stops and spectator hui that cheered us along the way dousing us with hoses. The halfers split off and we full fools headed off to punish ourselves like never before. Seriously, hill after hill after hill. Good grief, what evil came up with this torture? Well, maybe Im exaggerating a bit, but it was by far and away the hardest I've run. That being said, I denied my family the gift of life insurance payoff and finished relatively intact. You may be encouraged to learn I am a recreational runner. I'm 64 and in the Clydesdale Class (over 200lbs). I run for fun and despite the difficulty of this course, it was worth every painful step. I wasn't the only one cursing the course but we all kept going, refusing to quit. Many beautiful hula dancers took our minds off the pain. One aunty playing slack key guitar we got to hear twice, uphill and again downhill on the way back. Her soft tunes and warm smile stayed in my head for miles. Regular folk sat in their beach chairs and cheered us on. Another water stop had some CD blaring about some baby who had Bass that I had to stop. Not wanting to be a slacker I did bare knuckle push-ups in the street. The scenery absolutely helped lessen the agony of the hills. Sweet plumeria fragrance was a constant all along the course. Once we wrapped around one mountain section and could see the ocean, then the trades kicked in and helped cool us down. I was so inspired that when I got to the next water stop I threw down more bare knuckle push-ups, this time in the rocks/gravel. Plenty of energy and hope still left. I will survive! Unfortunately the trades died as we wrapped around and headed back down the long stretch. All the good runners had long since pulled away from us pokeys yet the neighborhood support crews faithfully remained. This carried our weary spirits down, down, down, and up, up, up those blasted hills. At the end of one long stretch I dawdled at a water stop and thanked them with more bare knuckle push-ups. Such a waste of energy but still fun! After hours of ground pounding the ocean side finish line was in sight. The announcer greeted me by name as I dropped for the final finish line bare knuckle push-ups, forgetting the scorching hot pavement. I met Robin the race director when I got my gear bag. She saw I was near death and cheerily gave me a ride back to my car. What a sweetheart! With all she had to deal with she still had that beautiful Aloha spirit for this geezer. Bless her! The next morning I was at the aeroport and met a couple in their 70s who came from Sweden to run! Wow! Many others traveled great distances. Me? Back to hotter than Hades Guam where we run races in the rain and still sweat due to horrid humidity. Not sure if I'll come back next year. Dont know if I can get away with cheating death twice. Then again, no shame in doing half.

That line about sums it up. This is a world class marathon with a small town feel. Almost want to keep it a secret Too many events sell out in a day now and are run more like a business event than a running event. This is running in its purest form. Being from canada the heat and humidity are hard on you. But honestly I have ran in minus 40 before. I will take 40 above with the humidity any day over that. The people were amazing no matter where you go during and after the marathon. Thank you and I plan to be back

I ran the half marathon this year. This is a beautiful countryside course. Challenging hills and nice declines through forests. Nice finish along the beach. Great crowd, volunteers and organizers. MAHALO

I've run the Kauai marathon 3x previously, so 2014 is #4. The course is a continuous windy uphill climb that can not be underestimated. Be prepared to train for serious hills and the heat will beat you up. Temperatures were at an all time high this year, but usually it's not. The Kauai marathon course features the lush scenery of south Kauai, with rural communities and scenic landscapes. Very well managed and nice finisher's medal.

The organizers, volunteers, police, spectators were incredible..Above and beyond. I had so much fun. Everyone was so supportive, I could not quit smiling even on the hills! Challenging course, keeps me coming back for more. This was my 3rd Kauai Marathon and I will run it again next year. Mahalo

For as small as this race was, it was amazingly well supported with volunteers who stuck it out through the slow folks like myself (granted, I only did the half marathon). There were not a lot of spectators, but the ones who were there were great. Organization was wonderful overall. It was like a small town race in a gorgeous setting with big town organization. I think the secret is out about how great this race is and I worry it will fill up fast in the future. Granted, the cost of travel and lodging for most folks off the islands might be prohibitive. I entered a week before the race with no difficulty this year. Packet pick up was easy and there were plenty of hotel rooms (for a price). As I'm from Hawaii, acclimatization was not an issue, but fair warning to the mainlandersthis is a HOT race. As soon as that sun comes up, shade becomes limited. Wear sunscreen and stay hydrated!!

Hands down the best race I have ever done. The course was beautiful, the race was very organized and the volunteers were awesome. I ran the half this year and plan on running the full marathon next time. I have nothing but positive remarks about this race.

It was like a walk in Jurassic Park and I think most people survived it. Everyone has commented on the heat, humidity, and the hills. It is certainly a course that needs to be respected and well managed if you are going to finish. I really liked that there was a local flavour to it, lots of aid stations with great volunteers. I also liked that many of the spectators were kids. The local music was much appreciated. After the race I wore my shirt and there was a good awareness about the event on the island. Many people were very impressed that I finished the full marathon and knew how difficult it was. I stayed at the Sheraton and really liked that the finish line was just steps away from an awaiting ice bath in my hotel room. Being from Canada, it was also a nice touch that they recognized us at the start and as we finished. It is a challenging marathon and that challenge is rewarded by it being in such a beautiful setting. I am very happy to have done this event! I invite you all to the Trapline Marathon in Labrador for some cooler, fresh, crisp air :-).

Kauai is magic and I knew 4 years ago Id be back to run my 50th State marathon there. Its hot, its humid and its amazingly hilly BUT totally do-able. You'll have to think a little more about nutrition and hydration and run smart once the sun is up&Keeping your body temp down is no problem with aid stations every mile and the volunteers are happy to give you an 'ice bath' and you'll need it!!! The scenery is spectacular, the volunteers are wonderful, there are medical units at several locations, and lots of folks on Vespas up and down the course checking on the runners& There are many more half marathoners than marathoners so once they veer off, the crowd thins out. The finish line goodies are great and there are outdoor showers and a pretty big ocean where you can cool off!!

This was my third full marathon, fifth if you count two ultramarathons, I ran it yesterday after having run the Kauai Half in 2012. The hills were grueling, challenging, and downright brutal...but the views, the beauty, and the support made it more tolerable. The support rivals that of honolulu marathon (but without the crazy crowd) and the views...they are the best. This was well organized, plenty of aid, and just amazing. Beware, it gets HOT!!! Wish it would start at 5 instead of 6. That is my only complaint. And for all of you considering just running the half...you are missing out on the real beauty of this course! Do the full if you can!

2014 was my first time running this half marathon. Yes, it was humid and hilly, but the beauty completely made up for it! The organizers were awesome and the event was VERY well-run. And the merchandise was super cute! I came in third in my age group and I just love my little plate!

The vibe for the entire event from Expo to race day was very low key and the attitude from organizers, guest speakers and participants all around made it feel like a big family get together. Also being able to spend some quality one on one time with icons Bart Yasso, Dean Karnazes and former/current winners of the race at the expo was a real highlight. As many have said the race itself is very tough going (admittedly this is my first full marathon) with the combination of heat and hills but the scenery and passionate support from volunteers and local spectators makes it all worthwhile. Choosing this to be our first ever marathon was the best decision my wife has ever made, after several hours of intense physical workout we got to spend a week in paradise to recover and the island of Kauai is the perfect place to kick back and relax.

I can not wait to run the Kauai Marathon again. I found the Kauai Marathon course to be the most beautiful, fun course I have run (I have run marathons on Oahu, Big Island of Hawaii, and Maui). Running through neighborhoods, the local support was fantastic. Whether an official aid station run by a non-profit organization, local families cheering from their carports, or elementary school hula dancers expressing their enthusiasm, the course was full of joy. Yes, there are hills, but you can train on hills. Yes, it was hot, but you can train for heat. What you can't train for is a community event that made me proud to live on Kauai. This is a marathon not to be missed!

This course was simply spectacular, there was never a dull moment. The hills, rain and heat made it quite an adventure and I must say I really enjoyed it all. The support & unique entertainment along the course was excellent, thank you to all the people who came out to encourage us. Ice at the water stations was greatly appreciated as were the cold cloth and bag of ice near the end after the sun came out full force. (Oh, and the brownies up on Pu'u road were magnificent). The speaker series & guest meet-and-greets at the Expo were remarkable for a small race. We were able to walk to/from the start/finish easily, no overcrowding, no line ups anywhere. I'm so glad we chose this as our first marathon, we will never forget it. Mahalo to the organizers!

4400 ft elevation change and warm weather means it is not a race to PR in. However, the beautiful scenery and friendly residents help to distract you from the pain. My previous 2 marathons were the Honolulu Marathons, so it is nice to not run with 29000 of your closest friends.

This course has the most severe, and most numerous, hills I have encountered in a marathon. The humidity, which I am not used to, made running up them much more difficult. Luckily it was mostly cloudy when I was running because when the sun came out, it was brutal. On the plus side, apart from a brief stretch along a highway, the course runs through lush, tropical countryside with a few ocean views. The spectators, though few, seemed very supportive and there were some hula dancers to remind you where you were. The refreshment stations seemed to appear when I needed them most and generally had ice, though I sometimes had to ask for it in my water. The last part of the course runs right along the ocean, with waves crashing against nearby rocks. The beauty of it compensates for the hell of the hills. I found the food in the finishers area to be generous, though it should be considering the high cost of registration. This marathon is a sufferfest but possible for the persistent, average runner.

If you are looking for throngs of urban crowds, this is not the race for you. On the other hand, if you value a stunningly scenic route with an occasional spectator there are none better. The course is hilly, as everyone notes, but just come ready for that and enjoy yourself. The organization is phenomenal - everything you'd want for a quality event, especially the finish line hospitality.

see my post - hopefully right above this - but forgot these deserving mentions: Highly recommend the condos at sponsor Suite Paradise, the Start Line breakfast is THE most bountiful anywhere; and here's Bob C paying attention to details - extra rolls of TP in the start line porta potties!!!!!!

Now 2 hours after my first 'almost' DNF..let's start with the positives - which may take much more than 1,000 words. How many marathons almost always guarantee Rainbows? and local kids abound for hours of hula / native Hawaiian dancing for support? and a majestic Tree Tunnel from mile 3-5? The heart of this race is found with founder Jeff Sacchini (and wife Liz deserves much more credit for all she and her sisters do as well!) and Race Director Bob Craver - If there is a marathon hall of fame - HE belongs there as these two attend to every detail (Jeff so wants to do the half again, but so much more wants to attend to every detail to ensure safety and entertainment and stories; Bob is just masterful at every point in the registration ( as I see a 50stater finishing here and they ensure he gets Bib # 50, just as they did for me 4 years ago) such great work with Sponsors (and I think kudos here to JT) such motivational contact and access to wonders like Dean K and Bart Yasso and the new 'Running makes you smarter' talk...not to mention the personalized bibs and towels - kudos Bob. Now to the secret of this successful story - the California Contingent - friends of Jeff and Liz who come over from CA for a week to help prep, volunteer, register, ride the Vespas and find old guys like me at mile 23 ready to pass out and call it a day - but attend so patiently that I recover and walk it in to indeed FINISH and not be a DNF - SPECIAL thanx Pete!! in 92 races so far I have never encountered such a Friend and Family spirit of support. and the enthusiasm locally is infectious - Thank you Larry and Betty for making me feel sooooo welcomed. Do this race for you, for the stories, to meet some wonderful people, to enjoy the Running Community that BartY talks about all the time, to enjoy the Aloha spirit, to maybe be as strong as Lisa on the bus - her first marathon and 3rd in her age group!! It is a one of a kind and I am soo thankful for the experience and the memory and the stories and the Friendships!!!

The course is a beautiful challenge in paradise. The hills are relentless and the sun is hot. The atmosphere created by the cheering, singing, and hula-ing locals made the abuse bearable. My disappointment in the organization can not be understated. The packets were meager for the fee. The shirt is decent, though I'd prefer one that didn't turn me into a walking billboard. But the crushing blow came at the finish line. I finished in just over five hours and there were two hotel pans of fruit sitting out and maybe a few other snacks, but EVERYONE except the massage booth apparently had hot dates to get to. All of this is fantastic if you are closing the course at 5 or I could even see 6 hours. But the course was SUPPOSEDLY OPEN FOR 8 HOURS. By the time the six hour mark hit, there was NO FOOD LEFT. Guess what? Slow runners and walkers still travel 26.2. THIS IS NOT A WALKER-FRIENDLY MARATHON EVEN THOUGH THE COURSE STAYS OPEN.

I completed my 50 states marathon quest in Kaua'i and I had the time of my life from the start all the way to the finish. Kudos to Jeff and Bob for securing Bib #50 for me. Great set-up at the start line to get the runners pumped up. We headed off into the dark for 26.2 miles. The hills are tough, true. The tree tunnel is not to be missed, also true. Views of the ocean bring the runners out of the mountains back to the finish line. Besides myself, my wife (her 33rd) and 16 year old daughter (her first) finished this race. I'm glad I picked this race to finish 50 states. I celebrated after the race with another week of Aloha around the island with my family.

It is doubtful I will ever run a more beautiful marathon.  The 'garden isle' surrounded the course with thick, green vegetation that swayed and waved to the gentle trade wind.  That sentence could only be the start of a book I could write about this glorious marathon.  But you really have to experience it for yourself.  Kauai marathon is one of the hilliest, and even though I live in flat Florida I trained in areas where there are some hills.  I also trained in the Florida heat and humidity, which was necessary to run well in Kauai.  The marathon organization, the course support, the fans all created aloha spirit that  turned an extremely difficult course into one I breezed through and enjoyed more than any.

Starting with the inaugural year in 2009 until now, 4 years in a row.. I can honestly say that this marathon, it creators, directors, supporters and runners are what the Aloha spirit is ALL About! The course doesn't change, the elements do. Having a great support network of voulnteers from water stations to hula dances and fans on the course make this race Aloha awesome! For me it isn't just the event, it't the friendships I've made along the way! I love the south shore and the people from the island, the race and others from across the mainland! Pure Awesomeness! Jeff and Bob are such wonderful people and are greatly appreciated. I will keep my word and contiune to run this marathon and give it my best every time, until I no longer am able. Mahalo!

This was my second year running in the Kauai Marathon and both years the days I spent on the island were some of the best days of my life. The organizers of the Kauai marathon live and breath the 'aloha spirit.' I've learned so many life lessons from this event due to the positive people that 'run' the event. This is a race that I'll have on my calendar every year to try and run faster. Sure, the heat, humidity, hills, headwind, and pouring rain can slow down your time...but it doesn't stop you from putting down the best effort you can. Running down the final half-mile with waves crashing 100ft from you and people cheering is unlike any other race finish in the country.

I've run this all 4 years and I'll be back next year as well! For those used to big city runs this can seem pretty sparse on spectators, but the locals are out cheering and sharing aloha...lots of smiles, waves and good vibes along the course. They have more aid stations than usual (every mile later in the course) which is very welcome as it gets hot. Very enthusiastic volunteers, and there are lots of them. Love the hula troops and the Taiko. From a trail runner who usually can't be dragged onto a road this is a petty course. The 4 H's (hills, heat, humidity, headwinds) can make this course tougher than it seems at first look. The run thru the tree tunnel can't be missed, and finishing along the ocean is outstanding. in short... The bad: if you are looking for a big expo look elsewhere. Spectators can be sparse. Neither of these bother me but I felt they should be mentioned. The good: Pretty, varied, challenging course...tree tunnel, mountain views, ocean finish. Massage right along the beach afterward. Very well organized. Lots of aid stations. Torchlight start and who could forget the finish line.

Kauai marathon is the reason I started running 2 1/2 years ago and have never looked back since! It was my first and I have completed it 3 times since, as well as several other races on the mainland. I keep going back because I love the location, people, and organization of this race. It sets the bar for all others!

Wow, what can one say about this race? Plenty. Best small event I have ever had the pleasure to be part of. A very, very small expo, but I came to run not shop, so not an issue. The organization was first rate and made every runner feel as if it was all being done for them alone. The course, while very, VERY hilly, was absolutely spectacular! Not designed for PR's, but with this scenery, who cares! By far my most enjoyable marathon experience so far as well as the toughest race I have ever run. It's the full package. I hope to be back for more events in the future.

I cannot explain how beautiful this course was! I was distracted for most of the race because I was looking at the scenery. Even as the course got a little bit hilly, it was still beautiful. The finish line at the ocean is spectacular and made for some great post-race photos. This event was very well-organized and well-staffed. I felt like the aid stations were well-stocked and the support at each one was great! there were a lot of locals who set up next to the course to cheer as well. I was able to obtain good medical care at the first aid tent at the end and get some great, healthy post-race snacks. The other thing that made this race was that Bob volunteered to mail my boyfriend and I our t-shirts all the way at our home in California. We were unable to pick them up at the pre-race expo due to our travel plans, but Bob went out of his way to make sure that we received our souvenirs! I would love to run this again! Well worth the trip!

One of the hardest things I have ever done, but so worth it! The Island is one big hill, I swear. It is hot, humid, at times rainy. Not one for trying to beat your PB, but the scenery is breathtaking, the volunteers and residents encouraging and enthusiastic and the race was incredibly well-organized. I'll be back!

The Kauai Marathon/Half-Marathon is the best organized, most scenic event we have encountered. We first entered the half-distance two years ago. As with that delightful experience, this year's event was the absolute highlight of a three-week vacation on Kauai. Every aspect of the race, from picking up our race numbers on Friday, to the way the organizers anticipated needs at the start, to the course itself, to the organization evident at the finish, was a '10.' This is a great race for folks who, like us, run for their 'amazement' (not to be confused with amusement). We will be back in two years! Don and Janice Larsen