Let me begin by saying, I wouldn’t have modified a factor about our whole Hawaii journey…however the fact is I might have gone in with my eyes just a little extra wide-open when it comes to what to anticipate from the Honolulu Marathon.

We had an incredible 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 identified.

Every part about this race was distinctive; I believe that’s a good phrase to make use of.

This was the forty second working of the Honolulu Marathon which is typically billed as one of many prime 10 marathons on the earth…thus my expectations of group and finisher swag was fairly excessive.

Let’s undergo the not so nice, the completely distinctive and the nice factors of this race.

Honolulu Marathon Evaluate

Hear I had a wonderful day on the race. However I want we’d had some data moving 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 full of tons of distinctive costumes, in reality 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 lots 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 a substitute, we spent at the least 3 miles dodging walkers after which squished in to 1 lane roads which triggered quite a few bottlenecks slowing everybody down. Waves or corrals would simply repair this.

Con: No pacers

We additionally seen later that even with the tiny house allotted firstly for various occasions, there weren’t truly any pacers. I didn’t understand how regularly throughout a race I search for these to have an concept of the place I’m or once we had been on the lookout 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 produce. Which makes me marvel, why would such a terrific race have points getting any sponsor??

I haven’t gotten a cotton finisher shirt for something over a 5K in ages.

Con – No information to assist coordinate assembly household

After the race it’s good to have a pre-planned assembly level to search out your loved ones and associates so that you don’t have to fret about trying to find them. Really the map of the finisher space was terrible and didn’t have any form of indicators to essentially assist facilitate that pre-planned assembly level.

Con -Put up 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 significantly I used to be!

Con – Water cease confusion

For a race of this measurement, I used to be confused to search out water stops on just one facet of the highway.

The truth is, 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 highway positively would have slowed down most runners. BUT they had been all cheerful and out within the rain for hours, so I totally respect them!

Professional – Straightforward Begin and End

We had been shut sufficient to stroll to each the beginning and from the end, which is a significant win to me. If I don’t should stand up additional early for a shuttle and may shortly get again to my resort after, life is nice.

Huge Professional – The Course

Actually I believe what makes this race a High 10 should 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 wanting 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 after all 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’re going to 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 largest hill and cheering like loopy each few ft.
• Nice fellow runners – I talked to plenty of folks throughout the race and after. Everybody was so type 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 Suggestions

Some would name this course flat, I might name it evenly rolling hills.

There are additionally a number of 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 should be affected person or get to the entrance. We positively frolicked strolling after I would have most popular to be working.

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 number of this course goes by way of neighborhoods, so perhaps not the vistas you anticipated. However we nonetheless discovered it lovely due to the palm timber and the spectators. There are additionally loads of support 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 degree on the uphill, not your tempo! By specializing in effort, you’ll choose 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 vitality.

Miles 11- 23

A substantial amount of this race is out and again which implies you’ll be passing runners going every route.

Reap the benefits of the excitment when seeing the early runners to cheer them on and when seeing anybody behind you to cheer them on! There’s a number of information round how these little issues can increase 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 that you must be on prime of all that hydration and fueling. Keep in mind that even in case you don’t really feel like fueling, that is the place it’s going to repay!

Learn how one can gas a marathon in case you want ideas!

Honolulu Marathon Coaching Suggestions

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 identified then…

• You’ll be coaching by way of chilly months, which goes to make the warmth/humidity really feel tougher. Checkout all of my tips about working within the warmth and humidity so that you might be ready on race day with all of the tips.
• Strive 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 in case you’re going for a PR form of race
• ENJOY! I imply you might be 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 in your pre-race dinner and morning of breakfast. You’ll wish to know what’s obtainable.

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 sizzling and ensured cloud cowl the entire race.

Sadly, we had a number of factors of downpours mixed with 30 mile an hour wind gusts which had been just a little bit much less nice, largely from rain pelting the face to that second whenever you step in a puddle and understand your whole foot is now squishy.

But with out that rain, I’d by no means have captured Jodi working below a rainbow!!!

All of that being mentioned, would I like to recommend this race?

Mmmm perhaps…in case you needed a Hawaiian trip with a race then sure go have some enjoyable. If you’re on the lookout for any kind of PR or perhaps a first marathon, no this isn’t the race I’d choose.

Really what a terrific journey to spend this weekend working with 8 different groups from the Saucony 26 Sturdy program. It was such enjoyable to listen to everybody discuss their coaching, see them on the course after which share within the submit marathon shuffle as all of us started heading dwelling.

I’m undecided if this Honolulu marathon evaluate will sway you a method or one other, however I hope it helped!

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