I don't like being so negative about a race, since they are such a positive thing however I want to tell you like it was. I've ran this race for the past two years because my restaurant, Hula Grill Kaanapali, has been a big support of this race. The race benefits Keiki (child) cancer research. Their logo is three hand prints, one blue, red, and green to symbolize keiki who are battling cancer, who have been lost to cancer, and who have beat cancer. So the who purpose of the race really hits my heart.

The expo was help right outside my restaurant on our lawn, so getting there was very easy for me, for others they could have parked in the Whaler's Village parking garage and received validation, so that's a bonus. Getting my bib and swag bag was painless and swift. i was a little disappointed in the shirt because it was the same exact white shirt as last year but with this year's date. What runner can keep a shirt white? When I was walking into the restaurant one of our guests saw me with my swag bag and was excited that we got 2 free tickets to the Hyundai Golf Tournament of Champions. I didn't remember seeing them in my bag, so I dumped the contents and realized I wasn't given any tickets. I had to go back to the expo tent and actually ask for the tickets. This made me feel very cheap, I shouldn't have had to ask for swag that rightfully for us.

Race morning we were again allowed to park in the Whaler's Village parking garage, however I'm not sure if they validated this time, as I'm an employee there I don't have to pay the standard rate. My friends and I all met on the grass to stretch while the MC kept everyone entertained until race start. Once it got a little closer he told everyone to start lining up except everyone was on the wrong side of the start line, I only knew this from running the race before. He eventually got everyone on the correct side of the start line which took some doing.

Next he explained the course. We were to start running southward down Kaanapali Pkwy for about a half mile until we saw a cone to turn around, then run northward on the pkwy past the start and to the Sheraton Maui where another cone was to turn around, then we had to run through the finish line as a first marker for our race chips and down to the first cone again, once we turned around this time we turned up Kekaa Dr. hill for about half a mile then turned around and when down the hill, back to the Sheraton, turned around and went through the finish line for real this time. I've never like lap race for this reason, they can get very confusing, unlike point to point races.

Then the MC got us more confused. He wanted to make a make-shift corral for faster runners and slower runners. He said he only wanted runner to line up at the start who were planning to run an 8 min/mile pace or faster. But everyone was already lined up before he said this so most runners were not sure what to do. Then when the start gun went off some runner started, some just stood there not knowing when they should actually start, and the rest waited until he told them to go.

I was one of the ones who started runner just to get going, not thinking I was to run a sub 8 min/mile pace but I wanted to get away from the congestion. The course was very scenic as it was a beautiful Kaanapali morning. No clouds up the mountain gave us a spectacular view. There was an aid station right before the hill, which you would end of passing four times due to the laps which was nice. It only had water but I think that's all they should have had. The hill was a fun challenge but not too bad, it added some variety to relatively flat race. Upon finishing they had five of the local teen pageant girls (not sure what division or anything but they did have sashes on) giving everyone a medal once they finished. One of my friends had to go back and ask for a medal because they missed her, which made her feel awkward.

Then the award ceremony was another weird part of the race. The divisions consisted of huge age groups with a 15 year range for each division, or something like that. They were much bigger than I had ever seen, not your standard 5 or 10 year range.

Overall I think the race was a bit unorganized, at the expo and with the confusing coral at race start. Aside from race management, the run itself was great and fun. So in the end I would recommend this race to others because it wasn't expensive, it benefits a great charity, and it's fun. Maybe as I've run so many races I noticed the disorganization but I'm still going to run it again next year.

At the start of the new year, recently completing my second marathon in December, I was slowing building my distance back up to get ready for a half marathon in March. This is one of my favorite races because it helps me get some mileage under my belt, and has a pretty similar course to the half I will be doing.

The expo wasn't anything special as it is a small race. It was easy enough to get my bib and shirt for my friend and I. The shirt was a great improvement from last year's rust orange, it featured a whales tail on the sleeve and bottom on a mustard yellow cotton shirt.The other swag included a water bottle that said "Save the Whales." Again it was a small race so I didn't have any expectations about the expo and swag, which I was stoked for the shirt and bottle. The one thing that did cause some hesitation was the weather at the expo (night before the race). Maui was currently getting southward winds which bring vog (volcano smog) with if from the big island. Not something us Maui runners enjoy breathing in in general let alone on race day.

However on race morning we were blessed with northward winds that blew the vog away and made for great running weather! Our race started at 7:00 with the half marathoners at 6:30, and 5K runners at 7:15 at Maui Ocean Center at Ma'alea Harbor. The first mile took us north up Route 30 which was a minor upward incline. A Little after mile one we took a right down North Kihei Road which is downhill for just under a mile, a great spot to really shave off some time. Leading up to mile 3 was relatively flat terrain, but here's where things got interesting, for me at least. We were approaching an aid station near the end of mile 3, however against my better judgement I didn't bother to stop. The latest signage said Half Marathon Mile 4, and on I went. Then reality sunk in as I realized that I couldn't see any runner a head of me, or behind me, and my watch said that I was more than halfway through the race. I totally missed the turnaround. I turned around without hesitation and began my sprint back to the race. Back at the aid station I got tons of laughs from the volunteers, but I didn't really care. I realized that if I actually stopped and got water I would have realized that this was my turn around. Frustrated with myself I continued my sprint back along the flat road and back to the hill. I planned it out nicely that when I was just getting to the bottom of the hill on my way down I popped a energy chew so that by the time I got back it would kick in. Per my good planning I got the boost I needed and continued to re-pass all the runner I had previously passed already. Once at the top when we hit mile 5 it was all a downgrade hill to the finish. At this point there were a lot of 5K runners on their trip back as well, which meant lots of zig zagging through people. But I I rounded the corner by the Ocean Center parking lot I sprinted into the finish passing another few runners.

Even with my embarrassing mistake I still managed to place 11th overall and a PR too boot! If there was a lesson to be learned it's to never skip and aid station, even though I already knew that.

First off I love destination races! They are so fun because you get to travel to somewhere where there are new things to experience all the time. So I was pretty excited when getting to Honolulu, although my gut would tell you otherwise. I headed straight to the Hawaii Convention Center from the airport. I was really impressed to see the expo still in full swing, even though it was the last day and only a few hours left. It was definitely one of the best expos that I've been to. So many vendors and different products it was like heaven for a runner. I was also impressed that shirts were only given out once you finished the race. Not sure if this is standard for big races or not, but this was the first race that I have run that did that, which made the shirt feel extra rewarding.

Race morning had arrived, not that I slept much. I was staying with a friend who lived pretty much across the street from the start line which was convenient. The corrals were pretty casual which I was happy for. I had signed up 12 months before the race and guessed my finishing time which after completing my first marathon just a few months before I knew that what I guessed and what I actually would run were different. So it was easy enough for me to change corrals.

The race started with a stunning firework show, something Disney would be impressed with. What made it even better was that they kept shooting them off for at least a solid 20 minutes so that all the runners in the back corrals would be able to start the race off with a bang (#sorrynotsorry for the people in the nearby hotels).

The race started at Ala Moana Beach park and went westward for just about 2 miles before we looped back to the east. I remember at this point feeling cold (living in Hawaii gives you zero tolerance for chilly weather) but the air was humid like it had just finished raining. The route took us past several buildings that were decorated for the Holidays with lights and decorations, which was hard to resist taking pictures of.

Then we made it back to Ala Moana Blvd heading into Waikiki. This was probably my favorite part of the race as we were running by all the big name hotels down the Avenue, which it was still super early at this point so it was barren of the usual amount of people roaming around. It was a pretty cool sight. Just after mile 6 we turned at went down a road through Kapiolani Regional Park. The park was so lush right before sunrise that for a second I actually forgot I was still in the middle of a city. The our journey took us up Diamond Head. It was probably a good mile climb up the hill but we were rewarded with a glorious view of sunrise of the coast.

Now started the downhill trek down Diamond Head and continued down past Kaimuki Middle School. I witnessed another incredible view from the top of the street looking down past Diamond Head Memorial Park where the entire street was just filled with runners. (Running on Maui I'm not used to so many runner so it was a spectacular sight to me to see some many people enjoying running all at the same time).

At Mile 11 the course took us on the highway for a 4 mile cruise down to the residential neighborhood on Hawaii Kai Dr. I remember at this point there were lots of families outside their houses watching us and handing out snacks and water, so awesome of them! Hawaii Kai Dr was about a 2.5 mile loop back to the highway. I remember getting back to the point where we originally turned onto Hawaii Kai Dr and seeing the endless crowd of people just getting there, and I felt a little bad for them.

On the 4 miles back up the highway was when my legs started getting super tight, but I continued to truck along. Then at mile 22 when we got off the highway I hit the wall. The next 1.5 miles were not the fun and I tried to stretch and get my legs going again. But right before mile 24 I got through the wall and was back on track running faster than before. Little did I realize that this was the point where we went back up Diamond Head again. I was expecting my legs to cramp up again during the climb but I was relieved when they didn't. From the top it was all downhill to the finish. The finish was on the other side of Kapilani Regional Park from what we ran on previously.

The final leg into the finish was about half a mile long, and all along that stretch were people cheering us on. The energy was contagious and I ended up sprinting into the finish. I did not PR but I wasn't bummed about that at all. I had much more fun this time so I considered it a victory in my book! Then getting that awesome medal and finishers shirt was icing on the cake. There were huge post race festivities like pictures with hula dancers, food, and such. I couldn't stay and enjoy them as I had to get back and get ready for my return flight. Cannot wait to run this race again in 2016! I highly recommend it to everyone!

As the saying/cliche goes, you never forget your first, which I think is even truer for Marathons. It was a memorable experience that I will always reflect upon. I was stoked when I found out that the Expo would be at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, as that is right next to where I work. Therefore I was able to sneak over on my lunch break and check it out. It was very organized with lots of variety, however the only reason for the missing star was that it felt very claustrophobic with so many vendors packed into the ballroom.

Race morning I had not a worry on my mind, only anticipation. It was finally race morning, and all this training was going to pay off when I crossed the finish line. The race provided shuttles to the race start on the other side of the island, so awesome of them since I live on the finish side of the island and wouldn't have to worry about leaving my car anywhere.

I ended up with 45 minutes before race start so I took that time to center myself and really stretch everything out. Our MC for the race start had a local Zumba group lead everyone in some warm up moves, which looked like so much fun. But to me was a bit to intense to do right before running for 4+ hours.

Some light sprinkles greeted us at the start and throughout the first mile, which really kept us cool with the gentle breeze. I was keeping my pace conservative, as my friends warned me not to start too fast due to race excitement. Once we turned on to Kuihelani Highway it was total cruise mode on the 6 mile stretch. This was one of the best views during the race; we were in the valley between the mountains and got to watch the sun rise over the east mountains.

At mile 9 things got a little interesting. We were entering what we call the Pali, which is the single lane zig zagging road that takes you to the west side. The Pali not only zig zags left and right but up and down, aka tons of little hills. The wind was really whipping at this point, nearly stealing my hat. It was a joyous sight once we hit Ukumehame Beach. I knew it would be relatively flat for the remainder of the race.

From miles 12 through 22 was another challenge entirely. The wind had come to a halt and the sun was beating down hard on us. I trained in these conditions so I continued trucking along. Then at mile 22 we turned down Front Street which was totally shut down just for us. Then it happened, the unthinkable, I hit the wall and bonked so hard. For the remaining miles I struggled between jogging, walking, and trying to get my leg muscles to work again. Although I was exhausted and legs barely working I was proud that I finished. My best friend and running buddy, Alicia was waiting for me at the finish with a celebratory lei, which really made my day! My goal was somewhere close to 4 hours and I finished in 5+ hours. Somehow I placed second in my age division which I don't think was deserving at all haha.

Thinking about the race as a whole it was a lot of fun, and a great experience. Will I run it again? Heck yes, I need to come back with a vengeance especially on my home turf!