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Marathon Details - The Kauai Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > HI > Koloa > The Kauai Marathon

The Kauai Marathon

The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon

Koloa, HI USA

September 1, 2024

http://www.thekauaimarathon.com

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Race Details

Summary: The Kauai Marathon starts in front of Poipu Shopping Village and finishes at the Sheraton Kauai Resort.

The Kauai Marathon & Half Marathon, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Hawaii's "Garden Island," is as much a feast for the eyes as it is a test of endurance. From the rolling hills to the lush landscapes, every step introduces a palette of verdant greens and ocean blues, making it an unforgettable experience for both seasoned marathoners and eager newcomers. The sense of adventure is palpable, with the course boasting a challenging ascent of 3000 feet, yet balanced by the exhilarating downhill stretches that promise a swift journey to the coastline finish.

Runners speak with affection of the unique cultural touches that define the Kauai Marathon: hula dancers and drummers line the route, infusing the air with rhythm and encouraging weary legs to press onward. Local residents contribute to the warm atmosphere, offering refreshments, cheers, and even a cooling spritz from garden hoses, creating a community celebration that welcomes all. Despite its physical demands, the marathon is lauded for impeccable organization and thoughtful amenities, from plentiful hydration stations to clear mile markers. Even in challenging weather - be it the surprising rain or the unrelenting sun - participants find joy in the camaraderie and scenic splendor that accompany them from start to finish.

For many, this race is not just another marathon; it's a pilgrimage to one of the most stunning places on earth. Whether it's a first race, a step towards a 50-state goal, or a repeat visit, the Kauai Marathon embodies the spirit of aloha, making each mile memorable and every finish a triumph.

Contact Information

Name:	Chelsea Smith-Wishard
Address:	PO Box 573 Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii 96756
Phone Number:	8086519863
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (79)

Course 4.7

Organization 4.8

Spectators 4.7

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Number of comments: 79 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > ]

Michael Beird from New Hampshire (9/28/2018) "Great scenery but do NOT underestimate difficulty" (about: 2018) 3 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 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.
J. G. from Phoenix, AZ (9/11/2018) "Expensive, Challenging Race on a Beautiful Island" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 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.
R. R. from Memphis Tennessee USA (9/3/2018) "Gorgeous Beast of a Race" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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.
L. G. from AZ (9/9/2016) "gorgeous hilly course on the Garden Island" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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.
Mike West from Florida (1/10/2016) "Can't get much better than this!" (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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!!
Steve Tidd from Wenatchee, Washington (10/28/2015) "Best half marathon I have ever run." (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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!
M. S. from North Carolina (9/17/2015) "An Island Classic on the Garden Isle" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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.
Sandy Sandbakken from sweating in Guam (9/12/2015) "Plenty Aloha Spirit Carried me to the end, all pau" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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.
Corey Nesteroff from Saskatoon saskatchewan. Canada (9/6/2014) "Amazing race in paradise" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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
G. M. from Huntington Beach, CA (9/4/2014) "Running in paradise!" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 The Kauai Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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

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Michael Beird from New Hampshire (9/28/2018) "Great scenery but do NOT underestimate difficulty" (about: 2018) 3 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 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.
J. G. from Phoenix, AZ (9/11/2018) "Expensive, Challenging Race on a Beautiful Island" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 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.
R. R. from Memphis Tennessee USA (9/3/2018) "Gorgeous Beast of a Race" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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.
L. G. from AZ (9/9/2016) "gorgeous hilly course on the Garden Island" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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.
Mike West from Florida (1/10/2016) "Can't get much better than this!" (about: 2013) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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!!
Steve Tidd from Wenatchee, Washington (10/28/2015) "Best half marathon I have ever run." (about: 2015) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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!
M. S. from North Carolina (9/17/2015) "An Island Classic on the Garden Isle" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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.
Sandy Sandbakken from sweating in Guam (9/12/2015) "Plenty Aloha Spirit Carried me to the end, all pau" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 The Kauai Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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.
Corey Nesteroff from Saskatoon saskatchewan. Canada (9/6/2014) "Amazing race in paradise" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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
G. M. from Huntington Beach, CA (9/4/2014) "Running in paradise!" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 2 The Kauai Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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

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Marathon Details - The Kauai Marathon