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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 51 to 61]
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Alan Picard from Ka'imuki
(6/5/2010)
"It's a people's marathon, gang. Share the aloha!" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Honolulu Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is in response to all who grumbled about the 2009 Honolulu Marathon. I understand some of your frustrations, especially if you have not been here before. Believe me, I've shared them, having finished the race every year since 1977, when only 3,500 of us toed the start line. There have been many changes over the years, including '95, when over 34,000 of us made Honolulu the biggest marathon in the world. But there are things you should understand before giving this event a "thumbs down." First, it is a people's marathon. Anyone who wants to start and try to finish is welcome. The HMA is justifiably proud that everyone who is not in danger can finish, no matter how long it takes. So you will encounter many first-timers. One reason for the large number of Japanese participants is that they can't enter a marathon in Japan without qualifying first . Some come to Honolulu to make a qualifying time, but for many it is their first, and only, marathon experience. As for the signs in Japanese, and the private tents at the finish, most are provided by their own running clubs, not the HMA. The course may not be as scenic as you expected, but there are no alternatives that could start and finish near Waikiki, where the majority of visitors stay. It is laid out along streets where police can control traffic and keep the course safe. Also remember that we cause great inconvenience to people who live along the course, but they bear with it and show aloha every year. Don't come to Honolulu to grumble. Come to enjoy this event for what it is, and feel the aloha. Mahalo! | |
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H. T. from California
(5/5/2010)
"Boring course; poor support for non-Japanese." (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Anticipated a beautiful course at 5 a.m. start. Unorganized massive start. There was a beautiful sunrise at mile 9 through Diamond Head, but it boring the rest of the way, with very poor support. Another incline up to Diamond Head at mile 22-24. Very cruel and mean. Couldn't find the finisher's medal, I was about to give up when someone (another runner) pointed me in the right direction to collect the medal. Will never do this race again. The course support is great for the Japanese runners, though. I guess they deserve it. After all, it is "their" race. | |
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w. p. from Sacramento, CA
(2/6/2010)
"Honolulu pros and cons" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Honolulu Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The expo was very disappointing. I hoped to buy some eloctrolyte mix but there wasn't any. Fortunately there are 2 running stores near the Waikiki Beach hotels. For the race, it took 4 minutes for me to cross the start line after the gun. If you're going for a PR, get to the starting line VERY early. After the run I enjoyed talking to some Japanese exchange students. They were happy to practice their English. When I went to pick up my finisher's certificate, I was surprised to find Patrick Ivuti and Svetlana Zhakarova beneath a tree, signing autographs. They both signed my bib but the highlight of the entire marathon was Patrick Ivuti exchanging pleasantries with me - priceless! | |
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D. L. from Montreal Canada
(1/19/2010)
"Don't Run This One" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Expensive. No food at the finish. Bad expo. You have to walk a mile after finishing to get your medal and shirt in the blazing sun. RD talks and talks but says nothing. Start is slow, as walkers lead the way; then you have to pass them on dark, narrow roads. I was told not to do this race for my 50 States quest, but I ignored the advice. I should have listened. Hope this helps someone avoid being disappointed like I was. | |
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W. T. from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
(1/14/2010)
"Great experience for a fit senior." (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was the first marathon in which I have participated and it was well organized. Due to health reasons, I walked the whole distance and this was a great experience. I was not impressed with the port-a-potties (disgusting), which needed a lot more lighting than was provided. The carb loading luau was a joke - amateur night in Honolulu and poor food. Yes, it was a long hike to the finisher's tent but I understand the rationale behind it. I am extremely proud of finishing close to the pace I anticipated despite the heat and humidity. I really like the "no finish, no shirt" concept - keeps out the "shirt collectors" and shows your commitment to the marathon. The puka shell necklace, medallion and certificate were a bonus. Finish line refreshments - yuk! | |
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V. B. from Illinois
(1/8/2010)
"Horrific" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Honolulu Marathons
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 My 37th marathon. This race sucked. For the $135.00-entry fee and you get cheap beads, an apple, and a lousy key chain at the end. The shirt? If you do not finish this hot, humid, nightmare, you won't get a shirt! The course was narrow and congested. WALKER-friendly!! NIGHTMARE!! I just wanted to take a taxi back to the hotel and have a pina colada!! Never AGAIN!! I have run this race 3 times. Why? I have friends in Honolulu and it seemed like a good idea at the time. | |
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N. K. from California
(12/24/2009)
"The great and the not so great!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The great things about the Honolulu Marathon are: A) Hey, you're in Hawaii. B) The race starts at 5:00 a.m. C) The cold wet sponges along the course. D) The showers you walk through to cool down after crossing the finish line. The hills were not bad and the water/Gatorade stations were well stocked and organized. The 5:00 a.m. start was a must, with a low of 71 degrees, which quickly climbed to 80 degrees when the sun came up. The not so good things about this event: A) You can't read the signs at the expo, start, or along the course and finish line; and you can't understand the speaker or announcers unless you understand Japanese (which I did not). B) The finish line food - or shall I say, lack of finish line food - was a disappointment. After running 26.2 miles, I'd like a little more than an apple and a hard, old cookie. The entry fee was high and you don't get any kind of shirt unless you cross the finish line. Most races give shirts at the expo. Hawaii is a beautiful place to visit and I'll return to vacation again. But I'm not sure that I will run the marathon again. | |
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S. D. from Westchester, New York
(12/24/2009)
"Huge Event" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a mega marathon where English was not the language of choice. Japanesse runners rule this race, and for good reason. This is not the race to run if you want to get in the state of Hawaii. Choose one of the other islands for a more user-friendly, hospitable, and nicer course. I found the course to be an uninspiring out-and-back route along a highway, without much of the island's natural beauty to look at. Can you please find a nicer course. The early start time could not be helped, but the chaos at the start line could be helped. If you are going to have 25,000-plus runners, then have corrals or a wave start; but stop the choas that exists - it is not necessary any longer. The expo was much worse than I expected for a race of this size. A better job can be done. The finish line food was lacking - could you at least offer bananas? At least some people turned out to cheer the runners on. Nothing like other mega marathons I ran though. In fact the support was less than you'd get at Des Moines or other mid-size races. Where are the people to cheer you on? Generally this race was disappointing. Do one of the other marathons in the Hawaiian Islands because this race is to be avoided. | |
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C. D. from Yokohama, Japan
(12/23/2009)
"A fun marathon vacation!" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Course: The course was good, but there are portions of the course that are fairly mundane - especially the middle portion of the race where you are running through a residential area. Also, a good part of the course is out-and-back, which I didn't care for much, although it did provide an opportunity to see the elite runners during their home stretch. I enjoyed the start (with fireworks), running through downtown (seeing the Christmas lights), the main drag of Waikiki (filled with spectators), and the last few miles around Diamond Head. Organization: Fairly well organized, although the finish area is a bit confusing with the various tents set up. The expo was okay, not great. Picking up the packet for marathon runners was fairly easy, although my wife, who did the Mayor's Walk, had problems picking up her packet. The line for the walkers was long and disorganized, and after waiting for 30 minutes to pick up her packet, they tell her she was not registered. Come to find out, she was registered but in the wrong line - she should have gone to the other end of the table where they have the packets for U.S. residents. However, this was never explained and there were no signs directing people where to go. The buses from the park to the start line was very efficient, very well organized. Water, Gatorade, and cold sponges were provided every couple miles. The sponges were great toward the end of the marathon, since it was getting into the 80s. Refreshments at the end were very disappointing. Basically, you get two oatmeal cookies and an apple. Also, instead of a medal, you get a key chain. The finisher's t-shirt was nice - a Nike Dri-Fit technical shirt, although the color was unusual (bright fluorescent yellow). Spectators: I was surprised how many spectators were out given that the marathon started at 5 a.m. Very supportive along the entire course. Uniqueness: Over 60% of the runners are Japanese. Also, the marathon allows everyone to finish - no time cut-off. God bless them - believe that the last runners were coming in around 13 or 14 hours. The average finishing time is slower than most marathons, probably because there are a lot of first-time marathoners. Overall: If you are looking for a marathon vacation, you can't go wrong with the race. The weather was beautiful (dry and high 60s in the morning and evening, and in the low 80s in the afternoon) the entire week we were in Hawaii. This may have been an unusual week since it is Hawaii's rainy season. Most likely, if you choose to run this marathon, don't expect a PR. First, the marathon is huge - over 23,000 runners - so unless you squeeze yourself to the front (or want to waste tons of energy bobbing and weaving between runners), you won't have much breathing room for the first 5 to 7 miles. Also, if you are not a sub-3-hour marathoner, it gets warm very quickly (into the 80s) after the sun rises after 7 a.m. But it is an enjoyable marathon and I would highly recommend it. | |
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George Barksdale from Chicago area. (Roselle, Suburb)
(12/22/2009)
"Wet sponges were great." (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The weather was hot and humid. Wet sponges were wonderful. Organization was good. What a difference. |
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