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<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Maui Oceanfront Marathon … OR … Running with the 50-staters</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">January 23, 2011</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Just the name, Maui Oceanfront Marathon, conjures up images of mountain and ocean vistas in a tropical paradise. For a biologist, the possibility of seeing humpback whales, which give birth and mate in the shallow waters off the Hawaiin Islands during the winter, is icing on the cake. This marathon was everything I’d expected and hoped it would be. Organized and helpful RD, a technical shirt I’ll be happy to wear out, a gorgeous medal, weather as good as could be expected (no rain, 65-79F), printed results and pineapple chunks at the finish. No expo, but it’s a small event. I was not seeking a PR. In fact, one of my running buddies said she was seeking a PW because she wanted to prolong the experience. She and her DH were there as part of their 50-state quest. The course is point-to-point. Because we didn’t want to take the bus ($2) back to the start, we took a car to the finish area in Lahaina and parked it overnight (~$30).</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">We started in the resort community of Wailea at 5:45 under the stars. Hawaiian blessings and tiki torches at the start relaxed the runners, and we enjoyed a nice downhill stretch for the first mile or so, with no traffic. Huge trees arched over us, contributing to the almost fantasy-like experience. Before long, we were confined to the shoulder of the road, but pre-dawn traffic on Sunday was light. I saw only one runner with a headlamp but didn’t hear anybody fall, even though it was pretty dark between the street lamps. Our second aid station was sponsored by Starbucks and offered small cups of cold coffee in addition to Ultima and water. We followed the main road up the western coast and could hear the waves lapping on the shore. When it finally got light, we were out of town, running by sugar cane fields. Runners could vote for their two favorite aid stations, and I liked the one with a bagpiper — odd, but nice. The sun, rising over Haleakala (House of the Sun), illuminated the clouds that wreathed the West Maui Mountains before it finally hit the runners at about 6:30 am. Next came the hills, as we joined the part of the course that is the same as the Maui Marathon, which is in the fall. Nothing too severe, and the change of vantage point from which to view the sea and scenery was a nice distraction. Here the wind direction changed as we were sheltered from the prevailing NE wind and enjoyed the onshore breezes from the west. Perhaps because of our pace (about 10:30 m/M), we saw many Marathon Maniacs and 50-staters. We’d heard that three runners were completing their 50<sup><span style="font-size:small;">th</span></sup></span> <span style="font-size:14px;">state and all had bibs with the number 50 on them. I got a kick out of coming up behind one of them, whose shirt read, Hawaii Five-O. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/75399/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="P1230011.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16223" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16223/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;">We left the hills with about 9 miles to go, passing through some sunny stretches and some shady ones. At mile 21, the AS had a “wall” as well as a mist spray for those who wanted it (they were voted second best, behind the AS with the hula dancers). My running buddies and I stopped for pictures on the beach and chatted with other runners (one: the last 3 miles are always hard) as we passed them. When the end came, we were ready to quit and appreciated the proximity to the ocean, where we took a dip. </span></p>
<p> <a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/75404/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="dippostmarathonJPG.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16225" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16225/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;">After a beach shower and change of clothes, we visited the famous banyan tree in Old Lahaina Town, got our race shirts signed by the artist,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/75397/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="moanokea_small.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16222" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16222/width/100/height/127" style="; width: 100px; height: 127px"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;">and found a restaurant with fish tacos and Hawaiin IPA on tap. Life doesn’t get much better than that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/75406/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="ipapostmarathon.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16226" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16226/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">4:33:35</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">131/345 OA</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">11/27 60-60 AG</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">January 23, 2011</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">Just the name, Maui Oceanfront Marathon, conjures up images of mountain and ocean vistas in a tropical paradise. For a biologist, the possibility of seeing humpback whales, which give birth and mate in the shallow waters off the Hawaiin Islands during the winter, is icing on the cake. This marathon was everything I’d expected and hoped it would be. Organized and helpful RD, a technical shirt I’ll be happy to wear out, a gorgeous medal, weather as good as could be expected (no rain, 65-79F), printed results and pineapple chunks at the finish. No expo, but it’s a small event. I was not seeking a PR. In fact, one of my running buddies said she was seeking a PW because she wanted to prolong the experience. She and her DH were there as part of their 50-state quest. The course is point-to-point. Because we didn’t want to take the bus ($2) back to the start, we took a car to the finish area in Lahaina and parked it overnight (~$30).</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">We started in the resort community of Wailea at 5:45 under the stars. Hawaiian blessings and tiki torches at the start relaxed the runners, and we enjoyed a nice downhill stretch for the first mile or so, with no traffic. Huge trees arched over us, contributing to the almost fantasy-like experience. Before long, we were confined to the shoulder of the road, but pre-dawn traffic on Sunday was light. I saw only one runner with a headlamp but didn’t hear anybody fall, even though it was pretty dark between the street lamps. Our second aid station was sponsored by Starbucks and offered small cups of cold coffee in addition to Ultima and water. We followed the main road up the western coast and could hear the waves lapping on the shore. When it finally got light, we were out of town, running by sugar cane fields. Runners could vote for their two favorite aid stations, and I liked the one with a bagpiper — odd, but nice. The sun, rising over Haleakala (House of the Sun), illuminated the clouds that wreathed the West Maui Mountains before it finally hit the runners at about 6:30 am. Next came the hills, as we joined the part of the course that is the same as the Maui Marathon, which is in the fall. Nothing too severe, and the change of vantage point from which to view the sea and scenery was a nice distraction. Here the wind direction changed as we were sheltered from the prevailing NE wind and enjoyed the onshore breezes from the west. Perhaps because of our pace (about 10:30 m/M), we saw many Marathon Maniacs and 50-staters. We’d heard that three runners were completing their 50<sup><span style="font-size:small;">th</span></sup></span> <span style="font-size:14px;">state and all had bibs with the number 50 on them. I got a kick out of coming up behind one of them, whose shirt read, Hawaii Five-O. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/75399/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="P1230011.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16223" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16223/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;">We left the hills with about 9 miles to go, passing through some sunny stretches and some shady ones. At mile 21, the AS had a “wall” as well as a mist spray for those who wanted it (they were voted second best, behind the AS with the hula dancers). My running buddies and I stopped for pictures on the beach and chatted with other runners (one: the last 3 miles are always hard) as we passed them. When the end came, we were ready to quit and appreciated the proximity to the ocean, where we took a dip. </span></p>
<p> <a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/75404/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="dippostmarathonJPG.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16225" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16225/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;">After a beach shower and change of clothes, we visited the famous banyan tree in Old Lahaina Town, got our race shirts signed by the artist,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/75397/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="moanokea_small.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16222" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16222/width/100/height/127" style="; width: 100px; height: 127px"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;">and found a restaurant with fish tacos and Hawaiin IPA on tap. Life doesn’t get much better than that.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/75406/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="ipapostmarathon.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16226" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16226/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">4:33:35</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">131/345 OA</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman';">11/27 60-60 AG</span></span></p>
