Let me begin by saying, I wouldn’t have modified a factor about our whole Hawaii journey…however the reality is I might have gone in with my eyes slightly extra wide-open by way of 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.

All the pieces about this race was distinctive; I feel 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 Overview

Pay attention I had a superb 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 probably the most attention-grabbing that I’ve ever seen!! Japanese signage and firms abounded, creating a completely distinctive ambiance…however simply if 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, actually I recall Jodi asking me at one level “Is there one thing I’m lacking, why are all these guys dressed like girls?!”

In fact 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 have been removed from being the one’s who have been being handed.

As a substitute, we spent not less than 3 miles dodging walkers after which squished in to at least one lane roads which triggered 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 area allotted initially for various instances, there weren’t truly any pacers. I didn’t understand how often throughout a race I search for these to have an concept of the place I’m or once we have been searching for fellow 26 Robust runners on the out and again course.

Con – Cotton finisher t-shirt

Seems they have been very late getting an attire sponsor and I’m guessing these shirts have been all that Beneath Armour had sufficient in inventory to provide. Which makes me marvel, why would such a fantastic 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 search out your loved ones and associates 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 sort of indicators to actually assist facilitate that pre-planned assembly level.

Con -Publish race meals

A cup of water, no bottles, a banana, a mini bagel and a giant ol’ donut gap {malasada}. Yup that’s it. I spent the 1.5 mile stroll again to the lodge saying “man I’m thirsty” and critically I used to be!

Con – Water cease confusion

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

In reality, one other racer requested me about this submit race “is that ordinary for a race this dimension??” Uh no, the flock of individuals criss crossing the street undoubtedly would have slowed down most runners. BUT they have been all cheerful and out within the rain for hours, so I absolutely recognize them!

Professional – Simple Begin and End

We have 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 rise up further early for a shuttle and might shortly get again to my lodge after, life is nice.

Huge Professional – The Course

Actually I feel 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 targeted on her ft as all of us do when it will get onerous.

• The views
• Tons after all photogs
• Begin line fireworks

• The views (value 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 neighborhoods, however right here they have been absolutely 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 numerous individuals through the race and after. Everybody was so variety and even with grumbles of the beginning blissful as we have been to be there.
• TONS of assist crew – each water station was manned by a slew of blissful cheering individuals. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen extra volunteers on a course.
• 2 minute stroll from the end line to the seaside…ahhhh ocean water remedy.

Honolulu Marathon Course Suggestions

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

There are additionally just a few giant 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 undoubtedly frolicked strolling after I would have most popular to be operating.

After 3 or so miles it appears to loosen up a bit, however this can be a actually giant race so you’ll at all times be round lots of people.

Miles 4-7

Pay attention loads of this course goes by neighborhoods, so perhaps not the vistas you anticipated. However we nonetheless discovered it stunning due to the palm bushes and the spectators. There are additionally loads of support stations, so benefit from them.

Miles 8 -10

You’re going to hit a few huge hills right here. Do not forget that your focus is on sustaining your effort stage 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 absorb some carbs proper earlier than you hit the hills for a lift of power.

Miles 11- 23

Quite a lot of this race is out and again which suggests you’ll be passing runners going every course.

Make the most of the excitment when seeing the early runners to cheer them on and when seeing anybody behind you to cheer them on! There’s loads 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 suggests it’s worthwhile to be on high of all that hydration and fueling. Do not forget that even in the event you don’t really feel like fueling, that is the place it’s going to repay!

Learn how one can gasoline a marathon in the event 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 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 may be ready on race day with all of the tips.
• 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 in the event you’re going for a PR sort of race
• ENJOY! I imply you’re in paradise.
• Bear in mind it’s a protracted flight, so put on compression socks going and coming to stop blood clots.
• Save your sightseeing for submit race.
• Plan forward in your pre-race dinner and morning of breakfast. You’ll need 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 light-weight mist from begin to end which I didn’t complain about one tiny bit as a result of it saved Jodi from getting too sizzling 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 have been slightly bit much less nice, largely from rain pelting the face to that second if 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 operating below a rainbow!!!

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

Mmmm perhaps…in the event you wished a Hawaiian trip with a race then sure go have some enjoyable. In case you are searching for any form of PR or perhaps a first marathon, no this isn’t the race I’d choose.

Actually what a fantastic journey to spend this weekend operating with 8 different groups from the Saucony 26 Robust 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 house.

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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