Let me begin by saying, I wouldn’t have modified a factor about our total Hawaii journey…however the fact is I might have gone in with my eyes a bit of extra wide-open when it comes to what to anticipate from the Honolulu Marathon.
We had a tremendous time, however a part of a marathon is being mentally ready and in order that’s why I’m sharing what I want we’d have recognized.
All the things about this race was distinctive; I believe that’s a good phrase to make use of.
This was the forty second operating of the Honolulu Marathon which is usually billed as one of many high 10 marathons on this planet…thus my expectations of group and finisher swag was fairly excessive.
Let’s undergo the not so nice, the completely distinctive and the good factors of this race.
Honolulu Marathon Evaluation
Hear I had a wonderful day on the race. However I want we’d had some data stepping into to it. So I’m going to present it you you straight from our expertise.
Professional – The Expo
The expo was by far and away essentially the most attention-grabbing that I’ve ever seen!! Japanese signage and firms abounded, creating a completely distinctive ambiance…however simply whenever you thought you’d seen all of it, you encountered an space that felt extra like a flea market with quilts and purses. Very cool.
Professional – The Costumes
The race was additionally stuffed with tons of distinctive costumes, the truth is I recall Jodi asking me at one level “Is there one thing I’m lacking, why are all these guys dressed like girls?!”
After all it wasn’t simply the runners, it was most of the cheer stations too!
Con: No corrals for 30,000 runners
Having heard horror tales the evening earlier than, Jodi and I lined up within the 10 ft devoted to 4 hour marathoners and had been removed from being the one’s who had been being handed.
As an alternative, we spent at the very least 3 miles dodging walkers after which squished in to at least one lane roads which prompted quite a few bottlenecks slowing everybody down. Waves or corrals would simply repair this.
Con: No pacers
We additionally observed later that even with the tiny house allotted at the beginning for various instances, there weren’t really any pacers. I didn’t understand how steadily throughout a race I search for these to have an concept of the place I’m or after we had been searching for fellow 26 Sturdy runners on the out and again course.
Con – Cotton finisher t-shirt
Seems they had been very late getting an attire sponsor and I’m guessing these shirts had been all that Underneath Armour had sufficient in inventory to provide. Which makes me surprise, why would such an important race have points getting any sponsor??
I haven’t gotten a cotton finisher shirt for something over a 5K in ages.
Con – No data to assist coordinate assembly household
After the race it’s good to have a pre-planned assembly level to seek out your loved ones and pals so that you don’t have to fret about trying to find them. Actually the map of the finisher space was terrible and didn’t have any type of indicators to essentially assist facilitate that pre-planned assembly level.
Con -Publish race meals
A cup of water, no bottles, a banana, a mini bagel and an enormous ol’ donut gap {malasada}. Yup that’s it. I spent the 1.5 mile stroll again to the resort saying “man I’m thirsty” and critically I used to be!
Con – Water cease confusion
For a race of this measurement, I used to be confused to seek out water stops on just one facet of the street.
In actual fact, one other racer requested me about this submit race “is that ordinary for a race this measurement??” Uh no, the flock of individuals criss crossing the street positively would have slowed down most runners. BUT they had been all cheerful and out within the rain for hours, so I totally recognize them!
Professional – Straightforward Begin and End
We had been shut sufficient to stroll to each the beginning and from the end, which is a serious win to me. If I don’t must rise up additional early for a shuttle and might shortly get again to my resort after, life is sweet.
Large Professional – The Course
Actually I believe what makes this race a High 10 have to be the views. There are different good issues, however different races simply can’t manufacture a view of the mountains and ocean.
Fortunately it wasn’t my first marathon, so I used to be capable of spend loads of time trying up on the mountains, soaking within the rainbows and pointing them out to Jodi when she was centered on her ft as all of us do when it will get exhausting.
- The views
- Tons in fact photogs
- Begin line fireworks
- The views (price mentioning twice)
- Tons of water stations
- Good spectators– many providing slices of fruit and nice indicators! You by no means know what you’ll get by way of neighborhoods, however right here they had been totally on board and able to cheer
- ROTC holding a dividing rope all the best way up the most important hill and cheering like loopy each few ft.
- Nice fellow runners – I talked to a lot of folks in the course of the race and after. Everybody was so sort and even with grumbles of the beginning blissful as we had been to be there.
- TONS of help crew – each water station was manned by a slew of blissful cheering folks. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen extra volunteers on a course.
- 2 minute stroll from the end line to the seashore…ahhhh ocean water remedy.
Honolulu Marathon Course Ideas
Some would name this course flat, I might name it frivolously rolling hills.
There are additionally just a few massive climbs which you’ll encounter at mile 8, 9 and naturally 24 as a result of what race doesn’t appear to complete uphill.
Early Miles
As famous it’s actually crowded, so that you both must be affected person or get to the entrance. We positively hung out strolling after I would have most well-liked to be operating.
After 3 or so miles it appears to loosen up a bit, however it is a actually massive race so you’ll at all times be round lots of people.
Miles 4-7
Hear a whole lot of this course goes by way of neighborhoods, so perhaps not the vistas you anticipated. However we nonetheless discovered it stunning due to the palm timber and the spectators. There are additionally loads of help stations, so reap the benefits of them.
Miles 8 -10
You’re going to hit a few large hills right here. Keep in mind that your focus is on sustaining your effort stage on the uphill, not your tempo! By specializing in effort, you’ll decide time again up on the downhill with out burning your self out.
It’s additionally nice to soak up some carbs proper earlier than you hit the hills for a lift of power.
Miles 11- 23
An excessive amount of this race is out and again which implies you’ll be passing runners going every route.
Benefit from the excitment when seeing the early runners to cheer them on and when seeing anybody behind you to cheer them on! There’s a whole lot of information round how these little issues can enhance your temper and thus enhance your efficiency.
Mile 24
That is going to be your longest climb of the day and it’s late within the race, which implies it’s good to be on high of all that hydration and fueling. Keep in mind that even when you don’t really feel like fueling, that is the place it’s going to repay!
Learn easy methods to gasoline a marathon when you want suggestions!
Honolulu Marathon Coaching Ideas
As famous, I wasn’t the skilled coach I’m now, nor was there as a lot data on-line about this race…so if I’d recognized then…
- You’ll be coaching by way of chilly months, which goes to make the warmth/humidity really feel tougher. Checkout all of my recommendations on operating within the warmth and humidity so that you might be ready on race day with all of the methods.
- Attempt getting in some sauna classes or taking extra exercises to the treadmill
- Get in some rolling hills throughout your lengthy runs
- Line up close to the entrance to keep away from getting caught when you’re going for a PR type of race
- ENJOY! I imply you’re in paradise.
- Keep in mind it’s a protracted flight, so put on compression socks going and coming to forestall blood clots.
- Save your sightseeing for submit race.
- Plan forward on your pre-race dinner and morning of breakfast. You’ll wish to know what’s out there.
Our Honolulu Marathon Day
Past the management of the race coordinators was our race day climate. It maintained a lightweight mist from begin to end which I didn’t complain about one tiny bit as a result of it stored Jodi from getting too scorching and ensured cloud cowl the entire race.
Sadly, we had just a few factors of downpours mixed with 30 mile an hour wind gusts which had been a bit of bit much less nice, principally from rain pelting the face to that second whenever you step in a puddle and understand your total foot is now squishy.
But with out that rain, I’d by no means have captured Jodi operating beneath a rainbow!!!
All of that being stated, would I like to recommend this race?
Mmmm perhaps…when you wished a Hawaiian trip with a race then sure go have some enjoyable. In case you are searching for any type of PR or perhaps a first marathon, no this isn’t the race I’d choose.
Actually what an important journey to spend this weekend operating with 8 different groups from the Saucony 26 Sturdy program. It was such enjoyable to listen to everybody speak about their coaching, see them on the course after which share within the submit marathon shuffle as all of us started heading residence.
I’m undecided if this Honolulu marathon assessment will sway you a method or one other, however I hope it helped!
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