THE HONOLULU MARATHON BEGINS AT 5:00 A.M.,
but if that sounds too early to you, consider the time
difference. That's 9:00 Chicago time, so during the
several days I'm in Hawaii before the race, I try as
much as possible to remain in my normal time zone: going
to bed early and getting up early.
Shuttle buses provided by the Honolulu Marathon Association
run from Kapiolani Park to the starting line several
miles away on Ala Moana Boulevard and near the Ala
Moana Shopping Center, but if your hotel is near the
western end of Waikiki, you may find it just as easy
to walk. ("Ala Moana" means "Path by the Ocean," an
appropriate beginning for the Honolulu Marathon.)
You can bring a bag and the HMA will transport it
to the finish line, but since the temperature at that
hour of the morning is usually near 70 degrees, many
runners simply board the buses in shorts and singlet,
ready to run. Portable toilets are located on the
grassy area in the middle of the starting grid on
Ala Moana Boulevard, and even with more than 20,000
runners, the lines were short the last time I ran
Honolulu in 1999.
The start is spectacular with fireworks flashing
overhead, the colorful bursts reflected in the glass windows
of nearby high-rises. The course winds past Aloha Tower and
back through downtown Honolulu before returning along
Kalakaua Boulevard, the main street of Waikiki Beach. You'll
pass the finish line in Kapiolani Park and head up Diamond
Head Drive and the only hill on the course. (Of course,
you'll need to run it coming at 5 miles and returning at 25
miles.)
With the old start at Aloha Tower at 6:00 A.M., I often
was able to time my pace so I could pass the lookout over
the Pacific Ocean near the crest of the hill as the sun was
rising over the Pacific Ocean. With the earlier start,
you'll still be running in the dark as you pass this
point-unless you are really slow! Many of the Japanese
runners, who often run Honolulu after training only three
weeks and with packs of cigarettes attached to their belts,
meet that qualification. Slow runners have plenty of company
in the Honolulu Marathon, one reason why Honolulu is a great
race for first-timers. You don't have to worry about
finishing last.
The course continues through a pleasant residential
neighborhood with palm trees lining the streets, then out
onto Kalanianiole Highway. Unless you are really fast,
you'll encounter the lead runners returning on the same
route before looping through Hawaii Kai, another residential
neighborhood. On your return back, you'll encounter runners
still on the out route, making for crowded conditions. Your
second trip up the hill at Diamond Head is not as hard as
you might think, because by then the finish line is almost
in sight. The 40-K and 25-mile marks are near the crest, and
it is all downhill from there.
By the way, if you want to get a smile out of any of the
Japanese runners running near you, simply shout: "Goomba
Tey!" That's the Japanese equivalent of "Fire up!" or
"Looking good!" or "Well done!"
Crossing the finish line in Kapiolani Park, a lovely lady
will be waiting to place a shell necklace around your neck,
and maybe a kiss on your sweaty cheek if you insist. To
remove that sweat, keep walking through the open showers at
the end of the finish area and into the Park. If you picked
a hotel near the Park, you'll be able to walk back to your
room, shower, dress, eat and either return for the awards
ceremony at 1:30 PM, or hang out at the beach, or do both.
Running the Honolulu Marathon is among our sport's most
enjoyable experiences.
For more information on the Honolulu Marathon, including
information on entering the race, check the Honolulu
Marathon Association's web site: http://www.honolulumarathon.org/.
You can contact the HMA to obtain an entry blank by
writing that organization c/o 3435 Waialae Avenue
(Room 208)m Honolulu, HI 96816; 808-734-7200; fax:
808-732-7057; email: info@honolulumarathon.org.
