Honolulu Marathon 2014: Route, Course Map, Times, Event Details
The Honolulu Marathon has grown immensely since its birth in 1973, now drawing over 20,000 entries to Hawaii each year to compete in one of the most popular (and one of the most breathtakingly serene) marathons in the country.
The race consistently draws more than 20,000 runners, but the marathon's official Twitter account announced that over 30,000 have entered 2014's installment:
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Runners come from all over the world to run in the event, including a large contingent from Japan. The diversity of the race is something that makes it truly special.
Kenyan runners have dominated the event since 1996, winning every race but one (2006) since that time. Will another Kenyan athlete win Dec. 14? Be sure to monitor the action to find out.
Route
Beaches and volcanoes await the runners, and the race's official website highlighted a few of the world-famous destinations on the route: "The Honolulu Marathon’s scenic course includes spectacular ocean views alongside world-famous Waikiki Beach, and Diamond Head and Koko Head volcanic craters."
Mostly a flat course, it elevates a bit near Diamond Head. The highest point on the course appears around Mile 9, at about 124 feet above sea level.
As you can see from the course map (linked below), the race begins near Ala Moana Beach Park and continues west along the water toward downtown Honolulu. The route then comes back east toward Waikiki and Diamond Head.
Once runners trek through the elevation there, they follow the winding path through Hawaii Kai and double back toward the finish line in Waikiki.
Be sure to check out the course map for a more detailed preview of the run.
Course Map
The marathon's route allows runners to take in breathtaking views along the coast of Hawaii throughout their journey to the finish line, as detailed above.
The entire course map can be viewed here, courtesy of the official race website.
Times
The 26.2-mile marathon isn't the only event of the upcoming weekend. There are multiple other races to participate in or view. Check out the full schedule for the weekend below:
| December 10 | |
| Honolulu Marathon Expo | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
| December 11 | |
| Honolulu Marathon Expo | 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
| December 12 | |
| Honolulu Marathon Expo | 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
| All-You-Can-Eat Luau (Carbo Loading Party) | Starting at 4 p.m. |
| December 13 | |
| Honolulu Marathon Expo | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
| December 14 | |
| Honolulu Marathon | Starting at 5 a.m. |
| The Honolulu Marathon Race Day Walk | Starting at 5 a.m. |
| Race Day Concert | 8:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. |
Note that the Honolulu Marathon Race Day Walk is a non-competitive event.
Event Details
There are plenty of great runners to look out for during Sunday's race. Men from Ethiopia and Kenya comprise the entirety of the elite athlete field. Headlining the group is Gilbert Chepkwony, who was the first person to cross the finish line in 2013.
Nicholas Chelimo was the two-time defending champion when Chepkwony overtook him on the 23rd mile last year, but he'll back again in 2014, looking to win his crown back.
The women's field also has a stellar group of elite talent. The race's official website described one woman worth keeping an eye on:
"One of the world’s best road runners, Kenya’s Joyce Chepkirui, will make her second serious attempt at the marathon distance in Honolulu. At the 2012 Virgin London Marathon, Chepkirui ran as a pacemaker through 20 miles, helping four women break 2:21. She came back to London the following year, ran with the leaders through halfway (1:11:49), but fell apart in the second half to finish in a disappointing 2:35:54. She hasn’t run a marathon since.
Since then, Chepkirui has become both the African and Commonwealth champion at 10,000m, has run a blistering 30:37 10-K on the road (the #6 time in history), and has run 1:06:19 for the half-marathon. Although she has the slowest marathon personal best of any of the elite women in the race, she has to be considered a favorite for victory given her impressive resume at shorter distances.
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It's not easy to make the jump from short distances to long distances, but her half-marathon times are impressive. One would have to assume that she won't keep up that same pace for twice the distance, but she could feasibly cross the finish line around the 2:40 mark.
The winners will be handsomely rewarded for their exploits, as the official website details:
| 1st Place | $40,000 |
| 2nd Place | $16,000 |
| 3rd Place | $10,000 |
| 4th Place | $6,000 |
| 5th Place | $3,000 |
Winning isn't the main concern for the majority of runners. Most are just looking to finish the race, while some semicompetitive runners strive to beat their own personal records.
One runner, Australia's Josh Manning, is looking to break 3:00. The 17-year-old is an amazing story, even if he reaches his goal or not. Manning is autistic, and his outlook on the race is inspiring, per Chris Lotsbom of Runner's World: "I just love racing. I just find I can go so much faster racing. It's exciting and you've got the crowd. That gives me a lot of confidence. Knowing that I've gone further before it really helps coming to a marathon and trying to run it fast. I think it helps me very much."
Finishing the marathon in three hours or less is a tall task considering the heat and the humidity of the Hawaiian Islands, but Manning is determined. With the crowd on his side, he'll have the extra motivation to keep his legs moving.
The Honolulu Marathon combines everything a runner wishes for in the event. There are great stories, runners from all over the world, a scenic view of the Pacific Ocean, as well as a high level of competition.
Which runner will come out on top? Will the non-competitive runners achieve their own personal goals? Be sure to monitor this incredible event throughout the day Sunday.
Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn
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