Kalakaua Merrie Mile was my first ever 1-mile race and it was extremely cool. First - a mile-long race is such a fun event and fitness test. Whether you are there to really throw down and give it your all, you're out there to do your best and try not to embarrass yourself (this guy), or you're out for the loudest one-mile walk of your life, this race is absolutely worth your while.

Super fun out and back right into Waikiki, with tons of cheering fans and breathtaking ocean views to keep you pushing until the end. I don't remember the name of the company (gah!) but the freshly-squeezed juice that they handed out at the end was insanely good. And a very high-end finisher shirt by the Honolulu Marathon's new sponsor, Descente, rounded out some of the perks of running this race.

Ah, but there's more benefits for runners and non-runners alike! Kalakaua Merrie Mile also had a killer elite field with a time-handicapped start, where the men start after the women based on projected finish times. Basically the differential between when the men will cross and when the women will cross, and the first runner (male or female) across the line wins. And it was an awesome prize purse of $3,500 this year! Super exciting race to watch, and it was close until the very end when Edward Cheserek overtook Mirriam Cherop to get the win. So exciting and the perfect race format from a spectator's perspective.

Huge fan of this race, if you're in town for the Honolulu Marathon or the Start-to-Park 10K, the Kalakaua Merrie Mile is a must.