Running with Little T: September Marathon of the Month: The Kaua'i Marathon

Disclaimer: I don't have any plans to run a marathon in Hawaii, but if I did, this would probably be my choice. I'll be quoting Kathy Murgas for first-hand comments, since she and her husband Mike just did this marathon a few weeks ago. (Mike's comments can't be printed. jk!)

When I think of Hawaii I think of all the H words, like Hot, Humid, Hilly...yes, this is the land of the H's, the things that suck the life out of me, so it's hard to imagine running a marathon in Hawaii...but hey they do have a half marathon option to consider, right Mike?

I've touched on the CONS of this race, so let's continue there first. Yes, it will be hot and humid, but on the flip-side, coming from a summer of Texas training you will be acclimated, and according to Kathy the temperature was in the 70's, with a light breeze, cloudy, and occasional showers. Also, the race starts in the dark, with a nice sunrise a few miles into the race.

Terrain-wise, this course is tough, and I mean TOUGH. There is no way to sugar-coat this fact. Looking at the elevation chart, the total elevation change is 4436 feet, with the total elevation climb at 2205 feet! It's an undulating course from beginning to end, with its only flat section along the beach at the finish. Still, the beauty of the course may make up for the pain, as it's lined with native drummers, singers, and hula dancers, you run through the famous tunnel of trees, and are awarded magnificent views of this lush island and the surrounding ocean all along the way.

The only other CON would be the cost, with a registration fee ranging from $180-$225, but combined with the overall cost of traveling to Hawaii for a vacation it's just a drop in the bucket. ;)

Ok, so onwards to the PROS of the race, which are many. Every review write-up on marathonguide.com raves about the great organization: Plenty of water stops on the course, all staffed efficiently, a great marathon start with tiki torches lighting the way...The expo may be a little on the small side, but they had a lot of marathon logo items available to purchase. Runners received a short sleeved tech top, and the finisher's medal is also a bottle opener.

The finish area sounds awesome! From Kathy, "They first gave you a cold wet towel and bottle of water. They had free massages but the wait was too long. Then we walked across the street to a grassy area where they had basic food - bagels, chips, fruit but they also had unlimited free local beer. Finish was at the Sheraton on the beach".

Here is the link to the marathon web-site: http://www.thekauaimarathon.com/