All I could keep thinking throughout this race was that I couldn't believe how hard the course was. Now, I wasn't in shape for trail running, let alone Hawaii mountain running, but it was tough! At one point the downhill was so steep that they had a hand rope for people to use on the descent.

I haven't done all of them, but I would say this has to be one of the most beautiful races in the entire world. I know, bold claim, but the scenery in this race is absolutely overwhelming. You run through areas where they shot LOST and Jurassic Park, you go over mountains, and through valleys. You see absolutely breathtaking views of the Pacific. I could go on and on. This is a bucket list race - one I will never forget and hope to do again. Put this on your list - you won't regret it.

Below is a pic from the starting line. Unbelievable.