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Honolulu Marathon: Overview
In December, while the rest of the US experiences cold
winter winds and snow, scales run 65 to 80 degree
Celsius in Honolulu, Hawaii. In this summery atmosphere,
a crowd of more than 23,000 gather for the annual
Honolulu Marathon.
When the Honolulu Marathon was first started in 1973, it
didn’t have this much crowd yet. There were only 167
participants then (and 151 finishers), but that number
has doubled every year hence - especially during the
marathon’s first five years. By 1982, the marathon had
12,275 runners. Beginning 1993, the Honolulu Marathon
boasts of being one of the largest marathons in the
world with participants numbering an average of 23,000.
In 1995, Honolulu Marathon had as many as 34, 434
starters, making it the largest of its kind that year.
The Honolulu Marathon was patterned after the Boston
Marathon. Boston-born former Honolulu mayor Frank Basi
wanted a marathon just like the one held in his home
city.
Unlike other marathons, interest in Honolulu Marathon
came not from the runners’ desire for competition but
for better health and longer life. Three events
contributed to the popularity of Honolulu Marathon as a
run for health. It all began when, in the 1970s, the
cardiologist Jack Scaff recommended running as a way to
fight heart disease. Then in 1977, Honolulu Marathon was
featured in Sports Illustrated. This was followed by the
publication of the book “The Honolulu Marathon,”
authored by Mark Hazard Osmun.
A global trend
The Honolulu Marathon has become so popular that it
draws participants from all over the world particularly
from Japan and Kenya. Since 2004 also, a satellite race
is being held at a US base in Afghanistan, and at a US
base in Baghdad beginning 2005.
The man behind the marathon’s popularity with the
Japanese is Dr. Jim Barahal, the president of the
Honolulu Marathon Association since 1984. Baharal
sponsorship from Japan Air Lines and three other
Japanese companies. (The Honolulu Marathon has five
sponsors; only one corporation is American - Nike). In
1991, participants from Japan rose to as many as 8000 -
no other marathons get this much crowd from Japan. The
number grew each year so that by 2008, 62% or 14,226 out
of 23, 231 entries were from Japan. The Honolulu
Marathon is so popular with the Japanese that the
Honolulu Marathon Association set up a permanent office
in Japan.
We are elite
Since 1985, athletes from Kenya have joined the Honolulu
Marathon. The first Kenyan to win the Honolulu Marathon
was Ibrahim Hussein in 1995. He would also win the next
two races. So far, the Honolulu Marathon was won by
different Kenyan runners 17 times.
Expo , puka shells, and luau
The Honolulu Marathon is not all about running. People
are also attracted by the festival feel it evokes. The
actual race is preceded by a 4-day expo and a
luau/concert, which includes an eat-all-you-can, a dance
performance, and Hawaiian music.
At the end of the 26.2-mile race, puka shell lei, shirt,
medal, certificate, and a soothing shower await the
finishers.
With an amazing firework display at the start of the
race near the Ala Moana Beach Park, the miles and miles
of Pacific Ocean, and the amazing views of the city,
it’s no small wonder why more and more people are
joining the Honolulu Marathon. During the race, however,
Honolulu can be a bit hot and humid. Don’t forget to
rehydrate at aid stations to avoid having a heat stroke.
Don’t want to miss the fun? There are two ways to join
the Honolulu Marathon. Participants can register online
(usually registration starts June), or hand-deliver the
downloadable registration forms to the Honolulu
Convention Center.
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