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☰
Honolulu Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Honolulu Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.0 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 203 [displaying comments 31 to 41]
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M. H. from London, England
(1/4/2012)
"1st Marathon - brilliant experience" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was a brilliant experience for a first time marathoner as organisation is very good and has a very relaxed atmosphere. For a 5am start the spectators were amazing in number and noise, and an impressive fireworks display sets the runners off. Only slight negative for organisation is the number of walkers who managed to start at the front and subsequent requirement to dodge them for the first couple of miles. The course itself it pretty flat with the exception of Diamond Head at miles 9 and the 23 on the way back (the latter being a near killer for me). Temperature also not too bad, but I would advise traveling at least a week beforehand if you are not used to running in an average close to 25 degrees. The humidity is actually worse for the first few hours - i.e. if you will be around 4hrs race time then it will affect you worse than the temperature will. This being my first I set a PB, but I wouldn't expect to ever do so again at this race. Lots of water, (diluted) Gatorade and sponge stations after the first few miles - crucially these were nearly always ice cold. And remember, even if everything is horrible you still get to go to Hawai'i. | |
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Anabella Blanco from Buenos Aires, Argentina
(12/28/2011)
"Excellent Experience!!!" (about: 2011)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I really enjoyed this marathon! In spite of the climate, it was a succesfull experience for me!!! I would like to participate in it again!! | |
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S. L. from Williamstown, ON
(12/18/2011)
"Everything better than expected!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 After reading previous comments regarding the marathon, my friends and I were expecting to be elbowed off the course, lack for aide along the way and have little support after the race. What we did find was that the expo was well organized - we didn't need to speak Japanese - and there was a decent selection of clothing. The fireworks at the start of the race was impressive and the 5am start in the dark was fun. We didn't have any trouble with making our way under the street lights. Every water station served up icy cold water in large cups which was very refreshing. There were no gels but we were prepared for that. The course was mostly flat and Diamond Head was not a huge challenge. It seems that the organizers listened to previous suggestions because along with a seashell necklace, we also received a medal for our efforts. We also got more that a piece of fruit at the end. A big, warm donut awaited us at the finish. In our group there were 4 first-time marathoners and they all enjoyed their first marathon experience. No complaints in this group. | |
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T. S. from Massachusetts
(12/17/2011)
"Any race can be criticized" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Wonderful race, You do feel like you are running a race in Japan but what of it? Everyone added to the spirit of the race. Who could not be moved by the courage of the 11 year blind girl who finished. And lets not forget that JAL is the major sponsor. I had no difficulty entering the seeded coral despite it being unenforced. The sponges were the coldest I ever had and the shower at the finish line unmatched. Be prepared for one of the largest fields and plan ahead. My hat off to anyone that can attack that hill at mile 25! | |
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G. R. from Atlanta, GA
(12/15/2011)
"Good but needs improvement..." (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 For starts, many thanks to the countless volunteers that helped make this event happen. Overall I had an enjoyable experience, but there is lots of room for improvement. This marathon is way overpriced for what you get. I am not expecting a five meal course at the end of any marathon, but the food options for this event were pathetic. The start of the race could be better organized. Leaving seeding on the hands of runners when you have over 22K participants is pretty chaotic. The finish area wasnt all that great either. My biggest pet peeve was that overly diluted drink they were handing out as Gatorade and the fact that the volunteers were not wearing any gloves. To boot, the water/Gatorade was being dispensed from trash barrels that were not lined with a plastic bag. Pretty gross and very poor hygiene practiced at this race. Moreover, other than water and diluted Gatorade nothing else was provided on the course. Thankfully, there were some spectators handing out peices of bananas and oranges on the course. Also, for those of you traveling from the mainland be aware that this marathon is catering to Japanese runners. I felt like I was running in Japan and most of the spectators and signage were in Japanese. Not a bad thing, just something to be aware of when considering this race. | |
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Disa Johnson from Chicago
(12/14/2011)
"Beautiful Course of Course" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran Honolulu as my first marathon. I fared well and the course was fantastic. The weather was the only thing which wasn't perfect but I didn't mind a little wind and rain at the start, some rain at the finish when I flew in from snowy Chicago. I am glad I trained indoors to acclimate to the higher temps. There was water every 2.5 miles and fans had occasional snacks. The famous sponges were a nice treat. Watch out for the Diamond Head hill at mile 9, especially at mile 25 on the way back to the finish line. | |
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T. M. from Honolulu, Hawaii
(12/12/2011)
"Great Race . . . Poor Finish . . . Again!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Honolulu Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Don't get me wrong, I really love this race and have looked forward to it every year since moving here. My likes are far to numerous to mention, suffice it to say I love virtually everything about it with two glaring exceptions. 1. Finishers medal and T-shirt. The finish area is very poorly set up with finishers having to traverse quite a distance to recover their shirt and medal. It's been mentioned before, but apparently the race committee doesn't care. They keep doing it. 2. Lack of facilities for locals, specifically parking. Everything about this race is geared towards the tourists. A little concern for local runners, ie; providing some sort of parking would be of benefit. Having all the major parking areas within several miles of the start blocked off by police was a bit of a downer and a definite dissatisfier for this runner. Otherwise enjoyed it. | |
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S. W. from Hawaii
(12/11/2011)
"Should have a shuttle" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This was a great race and I would recommend it for anyone. I agree with many of the organization comments especially the post race chaos. The one comment I would add is that organizers should look at a shuttle bus concept to get people to the start line rather than making everyone making their way to the zoo (or the start). The last thing I want to do before a marathon is walk 2+ miles at 3am. | |
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June Blakely from Derby, Kansas
(12/11/2011)
"This run was the time of my life." (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The marathon course in Honolulu was spectacular. There were people cheering on the sidelines the entire way...I felt like a true athlete, which I am not. My husband, Michael Blakely, died six years after running this race with me, and I will always remember the slow pace and sacrifice he made to help me accomplish my dream of running a marathon. His average marathons were just under 3 hours, but for me he slowed down and we finished in 4:40. I could not have done this without Michael, and without the beauty and accommodations of the Honolulu Marathon. | |
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G. L. from Mississippi Gulf Coast
(7/16/2011)
"Will run it again but improvements are needed." (about: 2010)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Honolulu Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 I ran it in 1979 and 2010. I enjoyed the experience for the most part and will return. I did not like walking around the huge finishline area in my crippled, post run condition trying to sort out where the T shirts and medals were. But most of all, I should not have had to almost stop for JOE and his friend who were Marathon volunteer workers actually standing on the crowded finish line cutting up with the MC booth. I know his name because I could here the MC yaking at him in the video. A lot of us out there are giving a great amount of effort to do a marathon and the finish line is not where I expected to have to stop before I crossed. |
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