Kona Marathon - Race Reviews

I have run 30 plus full marathons and Kona marathon is worst organised. 1. The course is NOT USATF certified and not for BQ. 2. Timing chip was NOT functional and there was no Gun time recorded. I finished the full marathon and crossed the finish line and received my medal in 2019. I still do not have my finish time. 3. Organizer never returns the email or inquiry. 4. Majority course is along the Highway under scorching sun of 90 degree. 5. Poor organised as they ran out medals for half and quarter marathons, so they gave full marathon medals to all late finishers.

I believe every marathon is set up and conducted by GREAT people who make it happen so typically, I have good things to say: It was put together well (for the most part), nice medals, friendly Hawaiian staff and very nice t-shirt design. Downside: It was my last 'state' marathon (to finish all 50 and DC) and NO mention of it when I finished, in fact, they never said my name when I finished. Family told me it was like they only said 'every other' name; There were 'amateur' MC's at the finish which was disappointing, I mean what was this, a HS Cross Country event? Somebody 'lost' my finish time information? 'I' had to go up to the MC's and have 'them' make an announcement about my finishing all of the states and DC and that, too, was frustrating because it seemed like I was trying to pull teeth to do it? Not exactly a 'nice finish' to my accomplishment of my 62nd marathon and to RUNNING A MARATHON IN ALL 50 STATES AND DC in a course of 19 1/4 years. Also, this marathon SHOULD START at 5:00 instead of 5:30. The 2nd half, for anybody who was out there past 7:30'ish was SWELTERING!

I've read comments here and elsewhere about this race, and it's apparent that people who are complaining didn't do their homework. This is a *very* difficult race. It's HAWAII. It's very hot, the sun is very powerful, and, yes, you're going to run through lava fields instead of beautiful green scenery. Expect that, prepare for it, and you won't be disappointed. Though it's true for all marathons, this race is not for the faint of heart. The heat is brutal as you're not all that far away from the equator here, but I was surprised by how strong the wind was as well. There is very little crowd support because, well, who wants to be out there next to a lava field that's emanating heat cheering you on? I was told there were between 300 and 400 registrants, but only 262 finished! The good news is the course, while not flat, is relatively free of any challenging hills. My time was terrible, but I expected that due to the conditions. It was one half hour slower than my most previous marathon. However, my PRIDE was greater than usual because I ran a very difficult course. If you're looking for a beast of a race that is going to be a huge challenge, then sign up for this one. Things I would comment on: 1) the water stations were understaffed and there weren't enough individuals to hand out water/Gatorade to runners in multiple races coming from both directions. I do not want to stop running, and I always want more than 1 cup of water. 2) the expo was also understaffed. I had to wait in an unnecessarily long line to buy memorabilia. 3) the PA at the start line was poor. I couldn't even hear the national anthem, yet there I was standing around with my hat on like a disrespectful jerk. 4) nice tshirt and medal 5) volunteers generally nice and friendly

This is a brand new course/double loop around Hilton Waikoloa Resort for marathoners this year.Course is flatter from what I heard. It is HOT and you are running against strong headwind most of the time. Course support is great, with plenty of ice for the marathoners towards the end. They staggered the different races, so the marathoners have plenty of space. Packet pickup, start and finish have plenty of parking. Family/supporters can hang around the same area and cheer you on multiple times. Since start and finish are at the Hilton resort, there are lots of shops/restaurants for people to hang around while waiting for you.

The volunters on the course were great. It was a hot race, but that was to be expected. The spectators who were out were also encouraging. The finish area, however, was horrible. I ran this in 2016 and waited until now because I had hoped I would calm down, but this information needs to be available. There was NO shade set up for the runners at the finish. The only tents were for volunteers who had the food/water/medical. These volunteers were kind enough to let the runners share their shade, but all could not fit. The only thing set up to cool us was a water hose, with holes punched in it, tied to a tree. As previously mentioned, the wait for awards was 2 hours! I saw people leaving because they had to check out of their hotel or had to catch a plane. When I asked, I was told that someone might still finish ahead of me in my age group (Really? I had been finished for over an hour, and this was not a staggered start).

This marathon has a lot to offer. It is a looped course which allows racers to see their friends/family multiple times during the race and it also gives a good idea of how much further there is to go. The major downside of the course is that it gets very hot and large portions of the race are run on a highway through a lava field which just radiates heat. Due to the highway being busy there are also no spectators there which can get lonely. The race coordinators and volunteers were all pretty organized and helpful. The water stops were great and volunteers would rush to get you everything you needed which was appreciated! The postrace could have been better. It would been nice to have more tents set up for shade, especially since it was a very hot day. It was also frustrating to have to wait 2 hours to get age group awards. I understand wanting to wait for everyone but when the top runners have finished it seems unnecessary to wait for those who are walking the course. At that point it's nice to be able to leave to shower and get food. Overall, a good marathon but it is difficult.

Pros: You are in Hawaii Good organization at packet pick up Neat awards for those who won them Free photos after race (but they closed early and many marathoners did not get them) Ice water was offered along the course Cons: More than half the course was along a very busy highway with lava fields on both sides. Blistering hot day with no shade. No coastal views. No start mat Only three porta-potties on the course (that I counted) Gel on one place on course. I had to hunt for it. No one was offering as runners went by. Medal was the same for the half and full Finish line refreshments only offered melon and fruit. No schedule advertised for buses back to hotel (I gave up and walked over a mile back to hotel).I figured out later that hotel did run buses, but I had no idea where they picked up.

My husband & I decided to run it since we were going to be there for vacation anyway. Pros: Fluid stations were at every mile out on the (Ironman bike course, which was from about mile 8-9 until about 22-23 of the marathon). They had ice at a lot of the stations. We weren't racing it since it wouldn't have been a PR course (or PR weather) for us but we were surprised at how great we felt & we owe it to the awesome volunteers. Cons: We got to the Expo about 2 hours before it closed on Sat. They were completely out of Men's shirts & no Women's smalls. We were told to come back at 5am to pick them up at the start line. That didn't sit well with me. If it looks like you're going to run out of shirts, bring them to the Expo. Don't make people who come in early come get them. That defeats the purpose of coming early. Overall a great experience, the finish line was awesome & I got a great shout out from being from Tennessee.

Course - 3 stars (It's not a flat, fast BQ type course but it is Hawaii!) Org - 3 stars (Waterstops plentiful. Not great expo experience) Spectators - 2 stars (Very few but couldn't give it a one as the volunteers were great on the course) Didn't have any race shirts in our sizes left at the expo so we were advised to get to start extra early to get them at registration. Came thousands of miles for the race and it's the first race of any kind where I've had issues getting the shirt. We got them but shouldn't have had to go through the extra trouble. The race itself was challenging as one would expect. Treated it as a long training run and it was definitely the most difficult marathon I've run when healthy (conditions in the mid 70's with high humidity). The out and back on the highway from miles 9-22 were the most difficult miles. No shade, just the asphalt and volcanic rock as far as one can see. Not many spectators but the fluid stops were frequent and the volunteers were great - especially those on the highway as it had to be hot for them as well.

If you like running 3 loops in a resort (and no view of ocean) and 13 miles on the shoulder of unshaded highway with black lava fields on either side (and one section with ocean view in the distance). If you like running in 'feels like' 86 to 92 temps. If you like walking back over a mile to the Hilton (host hotel) from the finish (race people had no communication about that, and someone after the race told me about a $2 shuttle, but I didn't have $), if you like asking a dozen race crew members where gear check is before finding it, if you like a 300-person line for the porta-potties before the race, if you like paying $254 for the host hotel (the advertised $179 balloons to $254 with obligatory resort fee and parking charge), if you like asking many hotel people what time their tram starts in the morning to get you to the shuttle and everyone has a different answer, if you like barely getting to the race on time even when you leave 40 minutes early because of tram/shuttle waits, if you like aid stations running out of Gatorade on the VERY HOT day, if you like only pretzels and fruit at end (at least for slower people), if you like being on a resort 30 miles from the nearest town! On the plus side  aid stations every mile or so; plenty of water and ice; VERY FRIENDLY volunteers; EVERYONE was cheered in at end no matter how slow.

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!

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!

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.

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?...

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.

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!!!!

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.

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.

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!

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.

I ran the 20th edition of the Kona Marathon and was hoping for more. This was my 48th marathon, and it would rank in the bottom five for the following reasons: **Shuttles never showed up to take runners to the start. We were told to either find rides (at 5:00am for a 5:30 scheduled start) or walk the mile+ to the line. The start was eventually delayed 15 minutes. **Of the first 4 aid stations, one was not ready and one had no water. **Mile markers were not consistantly displayed. **The last mile included the toughest hills on the course, a set of stairs going up and another going down, and multiple turns on a single lane path to the finish. **Results were not posted, instead finishers had to look through stacks of cards on one table for their name. **Results changed at least once as the day went on, making it confusing as to who the age group place winners were. **Fan support was minimal. Few people - locals and tourists - seemed to know a race was going on. In suppoort of Kona, the pre-race meal, host hotel, and expo were very nice. However, the main event was not what I expected for the effort to get to the island. You cannot control fans and a contracted bus company, but these are the things that a marathon of 20 years should have a better handle on.

Great volunteers and well run aid stations, but that's about it. Where do I start? Some kind of mix up left hundreds stranded with no shuttles to the start, many (myself) had to run a couple miles to the late start. No start mat, not sure if there was supposed to be, but the start was late, unorganized, and frustrating. Less than half of the checkpoint mats functioned and the online timing and tracking was down for the entire event. The course had been changed to make the last mile or so a rocky dirt road (no signage) and a gauntlet across the Sheraton grounds (and down a staircase?) with no signs, and no one to direct runners. The finish line had multiple things going on with multiple people talking into multiple PA systems, so really just amounted to no one hearing anything but lots of loud noise. A great and historic venue ruined by shoddy planning and event management. Not worth a long distance travel, but probably a fun day if you're local.

I ran the Kona full Marathon in 2013. They changed the course by starting the race on Ali'i drive just below the Keauhou shopping center, and finishing at the Sheraton resort. Most of the course remained unchanged, except that we did not run on the road to the natural energy center around the halfway, but instead stayed on the Highway for the turnaround. The race is run in warm conditions, but my feeling is that it wasn't as hot this year as it had been on previous years, as there was some decent cloud cover for the first 2h30 of the race, and also some light wind. Much of the race has already been described in older posts. A few more comments: - I stayed at the Kona Coast Resort, which was very convenient as it was just a few steps away from the start. - The race switched to chip timing, but there was no mat at the start, so the starting time was gun time for everyone. In addition, some timing mats malfunctioned (I had no split at the half/finish) and I had to call the timing company to get my results entered in the system. - There was a 15min delay at the start. Not a big deal usually, but when you know how hot it can get later in the day, it made a difference for slower runners. Apparently this was due to problems with shuttles that transported runners from the Sheraton to the start but never showed up. - aid stations were well stocked with water, Ultima, coke, and ice cubes at some of them. I don't care for ultima and coke, but it was useful to have some ice to put in my shirt, which really helped to cool-down. Also, make sure you douse yourself with water, it really helps against the heat. Finally, a couple of aid stations had water showers, which was also welcome. - there were very few spectators; so don't count on crowd support to help you finish - the course is gently undulating for the most part, except for a steep hill, which you descend at the start, and climb up at the end of M25. That hill is not long, but at that point of the race it is a real killer. It made my pace drop from 7:30 to 7:54 for that mile. - the last mile is one of the most bizarre I have ever run for a road marathon. There is a ~0.5M long cross-country section on dirt/gravel with rocks, which is really not something you want to deal with at that point of the race when you have signed up for a road marathon. Then they made us run through the lawn of the Sheraton resort, through a hallway inside the hotel (yes you read that correctly), and then we had to go down 3 steps of stairs before more lawn action to the finish. This felt like one of these dreams where you have to run inside buildings and staircases...They clearly need to change the way that last mile is run as I did not feel that this was acceptable or safe at that point of the race. - the AG awards ceremony was scheduled for 10:30AM but did not start until noon for the marathoners. This was really too late and there wasn't many people left at that point. Also frustrating was the fact that as a 3rd place finisher I got a plastic bottle, while 2nd and 1st place got very nice plaques. Granted, I should have kicked my butt and run faster, but it was disappointing. Why not give a plaque to all three, or just to the first one if they wanted to save money? - It is the same medal and shirt for the half and the full. The medal is beautiful, but it does not seem fair, as running the full distance here is so much more challenging than doing the half marathon. Since they also have a 5k/10k, I would suggest making one medal.shirt for 5k/10k/half, and another for the marathon. So because of the course change, there are some organizational issues that need to be fixed for 2014. It is still a great race, and running a marathon in Hawaii is a unique experience, but things need to change for this race to become a first class marathon.

I want to emphasize that I ran the HALF marathon only. I was considering the full, but am so glad I settled for the half. The course for the half was awesome. With the early start time, there was some shade and breeze. But I would have dreaded going past the half turnaround for the full. The course then goes on the highway with no shade. It would have been a scorcher. I want to give kudos to the organization. The volunteers at the aid station were excellent indicating either water or electrolytes, which was extremely helpful. I met the RD briefly to ask a question. She was very considerate. I placed in my age group and received a beautiful tile, so much nicer than another medal. Given another opportunity to run this again, I most certainly would.

the 2011 kona marathon was a wonderful experience! I live on Oahu so the heat was kind of what i expected. the cloud cover was nice for more than half the race but it does get pretty hot when the sun starts heating up the lava field. this race is an out and back run, not the most exciting thing to be running through the lava fields, but this is a really nice small intimate race and everyone is super friendly. if you are used to the bigger races (new york, chicago, honolulu) you will be disappointed with the crowds here, but the volunteers were all super motivating and the thought of a nice cold kona brewing company wailua wheat beer was enough to keep the pace up through until the end. i had heard this is not a good course to try and attempt and set a PR, but once you are out on the lava field see how you feel and pace accordingly. this was my fastest marathon at 3:52 but i did have to stop once and throw up, i ignored the golden rule of dont eat anything you dont use while training and threw up all the optima sports drink along the way. good thing i had drank gallons of pedialite prior to this race or the heat would of been too much. i would love to come back to run this race again but next time i think i will book early so i can stay at the host hotel, whitch is where the start and finish is located and dont have to hitch hike to the start of the race because i could not find a taxi to take me to the start of the race. go a few days early and explore the island, kona is such a cool town worth checking out

Kona 2011 was my wife's #49 in her quest for 50 states plus DC. I ran the Rock in 2001. Marlene was also signed up that year but fractured her foot 10 days before the race. As luck would have it, Frank Shorter had recent foot surgery that year and was wearing the same removable cast as Marlene. He helped make lemonade from lemons with Marlene by swapping stories of their healing processes. AND.. we were all back in 2011, Marlene to run the Marathon, Me to run my 12 y/o daughters first 10K with her and Frank to run his first 1/2 marathon since his hip surgery (and, of course to lend his legendary presence to us mere mortals). My whole family extend our gratitude to all of the race staff and the many WONDERFUL volunteers who make this Race GREAT. Kona Marathon Weekend exudes the Aloha spirit and goes beyond to include OHANA as everyone is family here. The course is tough so don't come here not being prepared, but I promise you will LOVE every difficult moment as you conquer the ROCK !!!

First marathon. I thought I had prepared properly, but I got hammered by 20 miles of direct sun. The temp was OK (~83F), but the sun just baked me! Ran the first half in 1:48 but hit the wall at mile 16 and limped home in 4:18. Very well organzied and very well supported for such a small event!

I found the heat to be very tough, and I am from GA and used to running in the heat of summer - just not a marathon distance. The course, while not particularly hilly, is challenging for its long, easy grades uphill on the Queen and OTEC Road. This is not a course for spectator support - even the people walking about in downtown Kailua Village during the last 5 miles acted oblivious to our being there. The volunteers, however, were GREAT! And the race is very well organized and went off without a hitch. I would like to see an earlier start, but no matter what you'll still hit the heat at the worst time - while out on that highway with no shade. And this year the wind was behind you after the turnaround. A great, small race in a great location, but know what you are getting into; hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and dont expect to run a PR.

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.