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Your Next Run Vacation. The Kona Marathon June 25, 2017!

Kona Marathon Events on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii is coming up. There are so many reasons to come and do this race, I don’t even know where to begin. But I will start with the obvious, it’s in Hawaii! The race takes place in The Waikoloa Beach Resort and has the most amazing host hotel, the Hilton Waikoloa Village. The views are breathtaking and the restaurants are delicious.

My favorite is the brunch. I think I ate there every day especially the day after the marathon when I may have eaten everything! The hotel is kid friendly, I even took my Grandbaby along for the ride.

Speaking of ride, they have a boat ride and a monorail that goes through the hotel and takes you to your room – for free!

You are surrounded by lagoons, dolphins, pools and waterslides. You really don’t even need to go anywhere. But I do recommend getting a car and doing some sight-seeing, for instance going to see the lava eruptions at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I could go on and on, but let me tell you about the Marathon. ☺

The new course just keeps getting better and better. There is more shade and they have water misters along the race course which keeps you nice and cool. Love running through them, it’s so much fun. The Aid Stations are plentiful, stocked with hydration, ice, lots of volunteer smiles and aloha spirit.  Also a great place to get your 50th state, or if you are on your journey to 50 as so many Marathon Maniacs are.  Pictured below is my dear Rock Star friend Mark Kramer, who finished his 50th state at the 2015 Kona Marathon.  It was an honor to cross the finish line with him.

There is a race for everyone. On June 17th they have the Aloha Keiki Run for kids ages 1 to 15 at the Kona Commons Shopping Center in Kailua.

On race day June 25, they have a Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon and a 5K and guess what? I have a DISCOUNT code for you! When you register, and use the code KMGODDESS you will save $10 off the full marathon or half marathon and $5 off the Quarter Marathon or 5K. Every time the code is used the Kona Marathon will graciously donate an amount equal to the discount to Project Purple to help cure Pancreatic Cancer. It’s a Win Win!!!

Have I mentioned the coffee yet? As if you needed another reason to come and do this race, here it is. UCC Kona Coffee is the title sponsor of Kona Marathon Events. My absolute favorite! 100% Kona Coffee. Rich and delicious. Plus it makes you run faster. 😉

 

This will be my 6th year returning to the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. It was number 11 in my 2013 magical journey of 52 marathons in 52 weeks to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer. I always say, “Number 11, like running in heaven” and it truly is. Come visit my booth at the Health and Fitness Fair on Saturday, June 24 at the Hilton Convention Center.

I am very grateful to be a Kona Marathon Ambassador. It is an honor to represent a marathon truly embracing that Aloha Spirit. I hope you will join me June 25, 2017. Come out and let your Aloha Spirit SHINE and I will see you at the finish line. Register here: www.konamarathon.com.


We Got This!- Julie xo

A Big Mahalo to the Amazing Sponsors:

Originally posted at http://marathongoddess.com/your-next-run-vacation-the-kona-marathon-june-25-2017/

Bhutan – The “Happiness Kingdom” – A magical place

I have just returned from visiting the illusive kingdom of the ‘Thunder Dragon’ for Kona Marathon’s sister marathon, the Bhutan Marathon. What an incredible journey and life renewing experience.

Bhutan is a small country nestled in between China and India in the Himalayas. A land of high mountains and deep valleys, where compassion and wisdom are the benchmark against which all things are measured, and where the King rules by ‘Gross National Happiness’.

The 4th Bhutan Marathon had 490 participants coming together from all over the world. The 2018, March 3 event will have a cap of 750 with 500 slots for runners from other countries. 250 of those slots have been given to the Sister Marathon Peace Initiative Tour and they will go quickly. 7 days/6 nights Feb 28 – March 6, 2018.

I found a place I will never forget, people who will remain my friends for life, and was given the opportunity to visit a country that has been lost in time that welcomed me with open arms.

Most of the course follows the river, on roads through the beautiful countryside, with some off road. Plus, the course runs across a suspension bridge above the wide river roaring below you. The children came out to join in and run along with you as the local people cheer you along your way. The Finish Line was at the picturesque Punakha Fortress and temple. With a beautiful award celebration in the evening under the stars with cultural dancing, local food and a beautiful bon fire.

The beauty of this race is not only in the amazing countryside but in the people’s true love of country and their unending joy of life.

The Sister Marathon World Peace Initiative Tour Package provided everything we needed for our mystical adventure:

  • Round trip airfare from Bangkok to Bhutan’s only International Airport in the village of Paro
  • Bhutan Country visa for your 6 night 7 day stay
  • Entry fee into the Marathon or Half Marathon
  • Accommodations in 4 Star hotels in three different villages.
  • 3 healthy, delicious and plentiful meals a day (B,L, & D)
  • Several tours to chose from – included in each location
  • All transfers and luggage portage
  • Comfortable small buses to travel in
  • Experienced English speaking guides sharing their deep knowledge ensuring an authentic experience that was enriching and enlightening with their country’s history, culture and treasures.

A trek to the wondrous “Tigers Nest” Monastery in Paro was a life changing experience in of itself, and to be invited into scared temples with Golden Buddha’s and art work hundreds of years old was awe inspiring. In the capital city of Thimphu, seeing a “Wonder of the World” – a 167 ft tall bronze Buddha overlooking the city way way below was breathtaking to behold.

Bhutan is one of the most isolated places in the world. A beautiful hidden treasure where the richness of its simplicity was a welcoming surprise. Unlike any place I have been before. A “must” event to put on your list of “very special” places to travel to.

March 3, 2018 Information and registration: https://sistermarathons.org

Video of 2017 event:

Contact for more detailed information: contact@sistermarathons.org

Photos and video by: Luis Escobar

Exciting things happening at the 2015 Kona Marathon

As the Kona Marathon gets closer, the more excited I get. I wanted to share just a few more of the amazing highlights of the Kona Marathon with you.

Let’s hear it for the new course! The 2015 Kona Marathon will be located at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Kohala Coast. The race will start and finish at the Waikoloa Bowl at Queen’s Garden. The Marathon course has some moderate hills, never exceeding 290 feet above sea level with gentle climbs and drops. That sounds great to me!

I will be running with one of my good friends, fellow Marathon Maniac, Mark Kramer, who I met on my journey of 52. Sadly he lost his mother to pancreatic cancer. We are brother and sister in Arms. This year he will be finishing his 50th state with his good friend at the Kona Marathon. The 3 of us will run together, estimating about a 4:30 finish, but more importantly, crossing the finish line all holding hands, signifying that you can do anything you put your mind too, anything is possible, including finding a cure for pancreatic cancer!

What do you do when you are not running? You shop and eat of course. There is a fun family life style resort destination shopping experience with something for everyone called The Queens’ MarketPlace within the Waikoloa Beach Resort. With an exciting collection of boutiques, galleries, shops and services, plus a delightfully diverse Ono Food Court, upscale restaurants and a full schedule of free Hawaiian cultural activities and entertainment. E ‘Ai Kākou! (Let’s Eat!)

After the marathon at Hilton Waikoloa Village. The Host Hotel, is The Big Island Luau. How fun, right?  We will go there to celebrate so many things like Mark’s 50th state, My Honeymoon and seriously, just being alive. I’ve heard it’s an exhilarating experience, under a magical Hawaiian night-sky and swaying palms, featuring exotic dance, music and entertainment for the whole family with hula & fire dancers and a lavish Hawaiian buffet. E ‘Ai Kākou! (Let’s Eat!)

This year I will be representing Project Purple! Grateful my running continues to help the fight against pancreatic cancer with this amazing charity so close to my heart, whose motto is “Running to Beat Pancreatic Cancer!” Please Click here to make a Donation.

Click here to register for the 2015 Kona Marathon

Remember to use code KMGODDESS to save!

Looking forward to seeing you in the Land of Aloha! xo

Julie
We Got This!!

Kona Marathon past Rock Stars

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Every year, the Kona Marathon brings a wealth of fresh faces to the starting line, but its aloha spirit, welcoming staff and gorgeous locale also bring back past runners and winners. And with the 20th Anniversary just around the corner, we reached out to some past winners to celebrate this year.

Karl Honma

Karl’s first two marathon wins were at Kona, one of which was the Kona Marathon’s inaugural race in 1994. “Four young men that I coached supported me along the course and it was special to have the runner/coach roles reversed.”

Karl even celebrates birthdays at the Kona Marathon, where he rang in his fortieth birthday the last time he ran the race. On his 2013 return he comments, “This time, it will be my first race as a 50-year-old … it’s a birthday present to myself!”

Karl’s return to the Kona Marathon is testament to his passion for running and he’s proud of his continued involvement in the sport. “When I encounter former athletes and students, they always ask if I still run. My wife and 3-year-old daughter cheer for me at races and that’s so wonderful. I owe them. Others may run faster than me, but they won’t run harder.”

Connie Comiso-Fanelli

When thinking on her Kona Marathon win, Connie remembers the challenges, but also the good times.

The event is full of good friends and better memories, and returning for the 20th Anniversary is an exciting prospect for Connie. “The course has changed over 20 years, the some of the staff has come and gone, but it still has that ‘family feeling’ to it, and Sharron is keeping that tradition going strong.”

Running since 1978, Connie turned to the sport to improve her health. Now, after 35 years of running, it’s still a major part of her life. “I’m just grateful that I can still run after 35 years of competing, though not nearly as fast, still feeling the exhilaration and thrill of the sport. And I’m looking forward to seeing my friends in Kona again and sharing a cold Kona Brewing beer at the finish line!”

Justin Gillette

Running runs in Justin’s family. His brother is also a runner and Justin’s wife, Melissa, won the Kona Marathon alongside her husband in 2010. Justin has been running marathons since 1999 and currently ranks fifth in the world with 63 career wins. “This all started because I enjoyed my first run and wanted to do a second run. The second run became a third, which eventually led to a race, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Justin won his first Kona Marathon in 2008 and has since won the marathon every year. “When I first did the Kona Marathon in 2008 it represented my fourteenth marathon win. The race was still growing and evolving as an event, and likewise, I was still growing into a runner.”

Justin is excited to return for Kona’s 20th Anniversary. “The twentieth edition will be a neat experience where the past history of the race is honored along with the future optimism that is buzzing for the event.”

Jeannie Wokasch-Parente

Jeannie, an eight-time Kona Marathon winner, is a huge fan of the Marathon. She has participated in nearly every Kona Marathon since its inception in 1994 and loves coming back. Every year she chooses a charity to run for, helping that group spread awareness and raise money. The 2013 event will be dedicated to Talk About Curing Autism. When we talked with Jeannie she said “I love the Kona Marathon; they are like a family to me. I’d cry if I wasn’t able to run it every year!”

These are just a few of the talented, passionate runners associated with the Kona Marathon. Their positive attitudes, inspiring stories and dedication to the sport are just a few of the touchstones that make the Kona Marathon what it is today.

Kona Marathon supports troops in Qatar

The Kona Marathon and Family Runs is honored to announce that for the third year we have sponsored a Kona Marathon Military Shadow Run. Support of our Service Members putting themselves in harm’s way to protect and ensure our freedom is very important to our management team.

Being deployed in foreign countries and combat zones does not normally present our troops the opportunity to run in organized races. The Kona Marathon feels it is very important to promote these Shadow Runs in order to help build and maintain moral.

This year the Kona Marathon Shadow Run was held in Qatar. There were 39 participants from four U.S. Military Units:

  • Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE)
  • Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT)
  • United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A)
  • Central Command (CENTCOM)

The Kona Marathon Military Shadow Run was held in May in order to avoid the intense Middle East desert heat in June. Our men and women in uniform participated in all four Kona Marathon events; Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k and were awarded finisher medals and t-shirts for their respective races. In return, we were sent an U.S. Flag that was flown over the skies of Afghanistan in a combat refueling mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This flag will be proudly flown over our race finish line on June 23.

For details on the 20th Anniversary Kona Marathon and Family Runs being held on June 22-23 and the entire week of events, visit konamarathon.com.