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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 71 to 81]
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L. C. from Seattle, WA
(12/20/2008)
"Chaotic" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 The positives: 1. The fan support. Thank you for coming out and supporting us, especially in the rain. Thank you for those living along the route for being gracious and offering nuts/pretzels to those starving runners like me who miscalculated the amount of food support on the route. There was plenty of liquids/sponges to cool ourselves down, but no gel stands that I saw unless you're in one of the Japanese tour support groups. 3. Thanks for all of the volunteers. You were great and gave us plenty of encouragement. 4. The shuttle buses were great from the zoo to the start line. The Negatives: 1. The bag that we got at package pickup consisted entirely of ads for tourists attractions in Honolulu instead of the usual advertisements for future events and free samples. 2. There was no race etiquette. People were bunched up with their groups/friends rather than there estimated finishing time at the start line. This made for a lot of weaving around runners the first few miles. 4. As I mentioned before, there was no food support that I saw in the whole marathon. 5. The route was OK; it was not very scenic at 5 a.m. in the rain. The back and forth between miles 15-22 was a bit long and tedious. 6. The finish area was so disorganized. You finish in one area, and have to walk for what feels like miles after a marathon to get some food and your medal. You trek around all of those Japanese-sponsored tour tents in the muddy field to get your cookies and one apple. I don't begrudge the fact that the tour groups having support tents for their team, but does it all have to be right behind of the finish line? I honestly don't know whether I would do this race again, given the cost to fly and stay there for just the race. | |
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R. K. from Oregon
(12/17/2008)
"Once is enough" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This isn't much of a marathon; it is a tourist attraction for the Japanese. If you don't mind paying the $100 entry fee, plus airfare and hotel and expensive meals... and getting up at 2:30 a.m. to catch a shuttle to the start... and waiting in the rain for 2 hours for the race to start at 5 a.m... and running for a couple of hours in the dark while dodging puddles and walkers and being jostled by rude foreigners... and having only water and Gatorade at the aid stations... and getting just two cookies and an apple at the finish... then this is the run for you. Otherwise, pick another marathon in Hawaii. On the positive side: the shirt and medal were nice; there was plenty to see at the expo; check-in was well-organized; the fireworks at the start were cool; all of the volunteers were cheerful and supportive; you got to keep the chip; and it is in Hawaii. Eat at Smorgy's buffet on Kuhio - great value! | |
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K. W. from NY, NY
(12/16/2008)
"Tough conditions..." (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Honolulu was my first marathon, but I read the comments before the race, so I knew what to expect. It is kind of a drag that the walkers are not separated from the runners, so as a result, for the first few miles, I was behind many walkers who should not have started ahead of me. It poured for my first 10 miles and due to all the rain prior to the race, there were a lot of big puddles and some flooding. The fans and volunteers were fantastic, and there were a ton of porta-potties for those who needed them. The finish area was not very well organized. It was hard to find the finisher t-shirts and I never saw any post-race food. Expo was well organized, but the goody bag was terrible. Two stickers and a bunch of fliers and brochures, maybe a coupon or two. There was good energy throughout the race. Probably not a race if you are trying to run a PR. | |
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Osy Waye from London England
(12/16/2008)
"What? No Medal?" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Well, I should have looked at the small print, before traveling all the way from the UK to run this (not cheap) marathon. I arrived only to find no medal to add to my framed display of 109 other marathon medals from all over the world. WHY? This is a very large marathon, so why no medal? My other complaint was the foul taste of the water. it was a good job that I could mask the taste with Gatorade. Does Honolulu ever have medals? | |
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J. C. from Santa Rosa, CA
(12/15/2008)
"Good Overall - Lacked Some Important Touches" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Just got home from running the 2008 Honolulu Marathon. Here are my pros/cons. Overall: I would recommend this marathon. I would advise that you practice training in humidity. Pros: 1. Good course. Not too hilly. 2. Spectators were great. A good majority were cheering in Japanese, but even still, their energy and dedication was wonderful. 3. Handed out ice-cold wet sponges at almost every aid station. That's awesome. 4. Plenty of water and Gatorade at each aid-station (very cold). 5. The 5:00 a.m. start time is great. I love running in the dark and it is good to get a portion of the race over before it starts to get hot. 6. Great announcers at the finish line calling out various runners. 7. Not too hilly, in my opinion (I had no clue I had run up Diamond Head; it is very gradual). Cons: 1. Expo was barely anything you could call an expo. There are TONS of people with money in their pocket (many tourists); I am not sure why companies would not want a booth there. 2. They don't present you with your finisher's medal when you cross the line. That is one great part of a marathon - being given your medal and told "congratulations." You get your medal when you pick up your finisher's shirt. 3. No GU at any aid station. 4. Aid stations too far apart (every 2 miles). 5. No wave start. Everyone just crams in and runs/walks when the gun goes off. 6. I saw NO food. I am sure there was some somewhere, but they don't make it apparent. I saw booths SELLING food at the finish. 7. No bottled water at the finish. They hand you a cup and I guess it is expected that is enough or you will hobble back over to get more 8. The finish field area was a MESS. It poured for days and the field was a treacherous, muddy mess. Made everyone not want to walk around. 9. They do make you walk a long way to get your finisher's t-shirt (they should hand them out as you cross the line). 10. No space blankets. Even in the heat, runners get cold. 11. The medal looks like a key chain. I think you are supposed to put it on the puka shell necklace they give you, but it looks lame. They should have a medal on a ribbon. | |
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S. K. from Boca Raton, Florida
(8/16/2008)
"Totally memorable! Great first marathon..." (about: 1999)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 So many things about this marathon made it great: (1) The course was scenic and challenging. The climb up Diamond Head Mountain provided a chance to use different muscles, and the change-up felt good. (2) The event was run really well. No issues over water/Gatorade; there were plenty of stations and the volunteers were eager to get beverages into runners' hands. (3) The post-run event was festive. (4) It is located in one of the Earth's most beautiful pockets. When I went, I vacationed in Kauai for a week prior to running in Honolulu - AWESOME last week of tapering. (By the way, my experience in this marathon happened in 1994. The survey form didn't offer this year as a choice.) | |
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Kevin Miguel from Maui, Hawaii
(3/13/2008)
"Finish area is wearing me down" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Honolulu Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 I don't mind the unorganized starting area, the bad mile markers, the stale scenery (very little to see once the sun comes up) but that finisher's area is beating down on me more and more with each year. C'mon, put the finisher's medals and shirts AT THE FINISH LINE. Making everyone walk in circles looking for the tent is getting old. The cookies and apple don't do it for me. Something more substantial. Chips, candy bars, beef jerky sticks, gels... I mean there's so much stuff out there. If it's always going to be cookies and apples, then let runners leave a drop-off bag with food and clothing for the finish line! Other problems: 2007's lame-o timing tag, the change from Amino-Vital to Gatorade, the always-sucky finisher's shirt color (go for pink next year; it's about the only embarrassing color I haven't gotten from the Honolulu Marathon yet) and even the Nike store not policing the people buying finisher's-only items. I liked taking home the collectible timing chip, the Nike beach towel (I hang it in my office each year) and the Nike fold-out course map. All 3 items were absent in 2007. So much has changed that I don't know if I'll be back for 2008. We'll see. | |
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P. B. from Minnesota, USA
(2/20/2008)
"Don't come here just for this marathon." (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 First let's talk about the positive. Number 1. The aid stations were in great shape, with enthusiastic and helpful support. Number 2. The course is not a difficult one and it's beautiful in the daylight. Now the negatives. Number 1. The price... $125 to $175, unless you're from Hawaii (then it was $80). Why such a difference? You know who's getting ripped off. Number 2. The timing. As of February 20th, I haven't received my results. At the expo after getting my packet, I asked where do we check our chip to see that it's right. I was told that this is not new technology and the chips are right. Number 3. Food. It's been 6 hours since breakfast; an apple and two little cookies just isn't enough. That was the "food court?" I don't know of any race I've participated in, regardless of length, that didn't offer more. You guys aren't even competing with a $10 5K in that regard. For $125 you should be able to afford a banana and a bagel. Was there anything wrong with my money? There sure was with your marathon. | |
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B. G. from OKC, OK
(2/15/2008)
"Come for the location, not the marathon..." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 My brother and I ran this marathon together. This was his first marathon. Overall we had a great time. It gave us several hours of quality time together. First, THANK YOU to all the spectators and volunteers! I was shocked at how many spectators were out considering the weather conditions. They were a real encouragement. Volunteers, without you this would not be possible. Thankfully, I read the reviews, and knew what to expect. 1. If you want to have a decent start at all, line up as close to the front as possible. There is NO runner etiquette! Because of previous comments, we lined up in the 2-3 hour area and our first mile was 11 minutes! There were so many walkers in front of us - including a big "Team in Training" group walking 5 abreast. 2. The post-race food is pathetic: 2 cookies, 1 apple, and a bottle of water. Again, thanks to the comments, we packed lunches that we left in the car. This year the weather was a BIG problem. The race director cannot be faulted for the rain - flooded streets, a longer time spent in the dark due to cloud cover, etc. What I am surprised about is the lack of planning for the post-race area!! It was a chaotic mud pit (to be polite). It had been raining for several weeks leading up to the marathon, so there was plenty of time to come up with a contingency plan. As for the timing system... our splits and chip times were accurate. However, there is a reason that ChampionChip is the world's leading timing company! Besides, the RFI "commemorative chip" is just a flimsy, nondescript piece of paper. They learned a valuable, but expensive lesson: Timing is everything. When coming to Hawaii, come for the vacation, not the marathon. | |
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T. W. from Kapolei, HI
(1/11/2008)
"I loved the atmosphere" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Honolulu Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was a very cool experience. The runners were great. It is not a race to enter if you care about time. But if you care about finishing for personal satisfaction, the course is very agreeable. As for the rain. I have to say waiting in a down poor for 45 minutes before race time was a damper. But the off again on again rain through the race was not that bad. It gave us much needed cloud cover. The course is very crowded. I was suprised how many walkers were near the front. Passing on Diamond Head was near impossible. The water and aid stations were plentiful. They could improve the food provided at the end. The finisher shirt and the expo were both great. I was surprised how many spectators were on a rainy course at 5 a.m. in the morning. Very festive. This was my first marathon and as soon as they allow for registration, I am signing up. For Hawaii residents who register in January, the fee is only $20!!!!! If you live here, don't miss this deadline. |
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