Honolulu Marathon Review

Let me start by saying, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about our entire Hawaii trip…but the truth is I would have gone in with my eyes a little more wide-open in terms of what to expect from the Honolulu Marathon.

We had an amazing time, but part of a marathon is being mentally prepared and so that’s why I’m sharing what I wish we’d have known.

Everything about this race was unique; I think that’s a fair word to use.

This was the 42nd running of the Honolulu Marathon which is often billed as one of the top 10 marathons in the world…thus my expectations of organization and finisher swag was pretty high.

Let’s go through the not so great, the totally unique and the great points of this race.

Listen I had a fabulous day at the race. But I wish we’d had some information going in to it. So I’m going to give it you you straight from our experience.

Pro – The Expo

The expo was by far and away the most interesting that I have ever seen!! Japanese signage and companies abounded, creating a totally unique atmosphere…but just when you thought you’d seen it all, you encountered an area that felt more like a flea market with quilts and purses. Very cool.

Pro – The Costumes

The race was also filled with tons of unique costumes, in fact I recall Jodi asking me at one point “Is there something I’m missing, why are all these guys dressed like women?!”

Of course it wasn’t just the runners, it was many of the cheer stations too!

Con: No corrals for 30,000 runners

Having heard horror stories the night before, Jodi and I lined up in the 10 feet dedicated to 4 hour marathoners and were far from being the one’s who were being passed.

Instead, we spent at least 3 miles dodging walkers and then squished in to one lane roads which caused numerous bottlenecks slowing everyone down. Waves or corrals would easily fix this.

Con: No pacers

We also noticed later that even with the tiny space allotted at the start for different times, there weren’t actually any pacers. I didn’t realize how frequently during a race I look for those to have an idea of where I am or when we were looking for fellow 26 Strong runners on the out and back course.

Con – Cotton finisher t-shirt

Turns out they were very late getting an apparel sponsor and I’m guessing these shirts were all that Under Armour had enough in stock to supply. Which makes me wonder, why would such a great race have issues getting any sponsor??

I haven’t gotten a cotton finisher shirt for anything over a 5K in ages.

Con – No info to help coordinate meeting family

After the race it’s nice to have a pre-planned meeting point to find your family and friends so you don’t have to worry about searching for them. Truly the map of the finisher area was awful and didn’t have any kind of signs to really help facilitate that pre-planned meeting point.

Con -Post race food

A cup of water, no bottles, a banana, a mini bagel and a big ol’ donut hole {malasada}. Yup that’s it. I spent the 1.5 mile walk back to the hotel saying “man I’m thirsty” and seriously I was!

Con – Water stop confusion

For a race of this size, I was confused to find water stops on only one side of the road.

In fact, another racer asked me about this post race “is that normal for a race this size??” Uh no, the flock of people criss crossing the road definitely would have slowed down most runners. BUT they were all cheerful and out in the rain for hours, so I fully appreciate them!

Con – No elevation map

Which would have dispelled their description of only 1 hill. It’s absolutely rolling.

Pro – Easy Start and Finish

We were close enough to walk to both the start and from the finish, which is a major win to me. If I don’t have to get up extra early for a shuttle and can quickly get back to my hotel after, life is good.

Massive Pro – The Course

Really I think what makes this race a Top 10 must be the views. There are other good things, but other races just can’t manufacture a view of the mountains and ocean.

Luckily it wasn’t my first marathon, so I was able to spend plenty of time looking up at the mountains, soaking in the rainbows and pointing them out to Jodi when she was focused on her feet as we all do when it gets hard.

The views
Tons of course photogs
Start line fireworks

The views (worth mentioning twice)
Tons of water stations
Good spectators– many offering slices of fruit and great signs! You never know what you will get through neighborhoods, but here they were fully on board and ready to cheer.

ROTC holding a dividing rope all the way up the biggest hill and cheering like crazy every few feet.
Great fellow runners – I talked to a number of people during the race and after. Everyone was so kind and even with grumbles of the start happy as we were to be there.
TONS of support crew – every water station was manned by a slew of happy cheering people. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen more volunteers on a course.
2 minute walk from the finish line to the beach…ahhhh ocean water therapy.

Honolulu Marathon Training Tips

As noted, I wasn’t the experienced coach I am now, nor was there as much information online about this race…so if I’d known then…

You’ll be training through cold months, which is going to make the heat/humidity feel harder
Try getting in some sauna sessions or taking more workouts to the treadmill
Get in some rolling hills during your long runs
Line up near the front to avoid getting stuck if you’re going for a PR kind of race
ENJOY! I mean you are in paradise.
Remember it’s a long flight, so wear compression socks going and coming to prevent blood clots.
Save your sightseeing for post race.
Plan ahead for your pre-race dinner and morning of breakfast. You’ll want to know what’s available.

Our Honolulu Marathon Day

Beyond the control of the race coordinators was our race day weather. It maintained a light mist from start to finish which I didn’t complain about one tiny bit because it kept Jodi from getting too hot and ensured cloud cover the whole race.

Unfortunately, we had a few points of downpours combined with 30 mile an hour wind gusts which were a little bit less pleasant, mostly from rain pelting the face to that moment when you step in a puddle and realize your entire foot is now squishy.

Yet without that rain, I’d never have captured Jodi running under a rainbow!!!

All of that being said, would I recommend this race?

Mmmm maybe…if you wanted a Hawaiian vacation with a race then yes go have some fun. If you are looking for any sort of PR or even a first marathon, no this isn’t the race I’d select.

Truly what a great adventure to spend this weekend running with 8 other teams from the Saucony 26 Strong program. It was such fun to hear everyone talk about their training, see them on the course and then share in the post marathon shuffle as we all began heading home.

I’m not sure if this Honlulu marathon review will sway you one way or another, but I hope it helped!

What’s the most unique race experience you’ve had?

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Honolulu Marathon Review | Pro’s and Con’s