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Latest reviews by Meg
Meg recommends this race
(2016)
"BEST SWAG EVER! Truly Fast and Flat!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
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This is a great small town race with a big city sponsor! On a quest for 50 marathons in 50 states, I love finding little races like this one is towns you might have never visited otherwise. Just an hour north of us in Tallahassee, it was easy to get to this race and find a cheap, quality hotel.
This race had the best swag bag ever -- a water bottle, a shirt, candy bars, protein bars, a drawstring backpack! The expo was easy to get in and out of. Snickers really made a splash and it's fun to have these SWEET logo'd items.
Scenery was better for the first half of the race, but aid stations were helpful and spirited throughout. The finish was close to parking and my fiance was able to get to me at many places along the course to cheer me on. Plenty of free parking at the starting line too -- no need to walk or take a shuttle. Just cruise in in your car.
The pacers were great too! I fell behind, but the pacer I started with was clocking perfect splits.
TRULY FAST AND FLAT! I know races say it all the time...the hardest hill was like...15 ft?
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Meg recommends this race
(2014)
"#HonoluluHappy, Indeed!"
Overall
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Expo Quality
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Honolulu is the happiest marathon. Yes, it's hot. Yes, it's humid. Don't come expecting a 60 degree race day. It will rain at some point! I recommend having someone with a dry par of shoes and socks ready to come find your for a switch out.
Expo is very limited, and definitely aimed at the Japanese tourists who come to run the race. Speaking of that, MANY MANY MANY people -- locals and tourists--come to this marathon to WALK. This race has no time limit. When I say start behind the elites, don't call me crazy. Get behind the Kenyans and fall back -- otherwise you'll be caught in throngs of walkers.
The race is such a happy place! Fireworks to start, tons of spectators, a full tour of Oahu, and plenty of aloha spirit. With no time limit, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your race journey.
The medals weren't great when I ran, but they are beautiful now! Prepare for the delicious malasadas (Portuguese donuts) afterward!
Meg recommends this race
(2014)
"Quality Organization, Good Course, Tough Hills"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
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This was my very first marathon this past weekend. I was happy with my overall experience. I was very impressed with the expo, the ease of understanding available services, where to be and when, and how easily I was able to get my bib, be transported on the shuttle, etc. I didn't have many questions or any feeling of confusion. The course was marked well and took us through some beautiful areas.
I did have two issues. First, the hills on this marathon were not communicated well by the course map and elevation chart. There was agreement by many other runners and myself that the elevation chart that came onto the website on the day of the race was not the same as the one posted when we registered. The one you see now looks accurate, but does not at all match the chart I signed up seeing. The hills very often and tough.
Also, I don't get the allure of running on the 163 -- yes, you're on a major highway and running in the lanes...but the pavement is deathly hot, and is completely uneven as you climb to the top -- my ankles were killing me. It's very rude to put a slanted, hot hill at the wall (mile 20.) I don't feel the decline at the beginning of the race made up for it.
The other thing that bothered me was the salesy quality of a lot of the programs offered. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to shell out five bucks to take a shuttle to the start line, but I don't understand why they charge for things like runner tracking. I feel like I was being charged at every corner for things that come included with the price at many other races.
Beyond those two issues, it was incredibly organized and a really wonderful day that I won't soon forget. I probably won't run it myself again, but I would definitely encourage others to try it -- but include more hill training than I did!
(2014)
"The Definition of Hilly in the Dictionary Should Have This Race Logo Next To It"
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Great swag. Organized well. Most evil race course ever.
The expo was delightful and had plenty of the companies I like to buy from (Sweaty Bands, One More Mile, etc.) and the chocolate fondue at the end was delish!
This race course though...Jeez. I thought I'd run hills before. Honey, I might have never run up a hill based on this race. I had a fast friend pacing me to my fastest mile and a PR for the 15k, but this was a constant up and down craziness. Up a evil gradual hill...oh, good, it's over. Oh, wait. here comes another. And another. And another.
If you're looking for a really challenging course, this is it. If you're looking for an easy, fast, flat race where you get to eat chocolate -- this isn't it.
The swag and the finisher's reward was bitchin' though. AWESOME Tech Sweatshirt with an iPhone holder and ear-bud hole. Cool backpack. Lots of chocolate. The fondue was simply delisih at the end with all the fixings -- rice crispy treats, graham crackers, marshmallows.