Archived Article First Published
Feb 15, 2008
Page C1, C2
by Marjorie Brinton
www.durangoherald.com/EHerald
Run Hawaii: Another way to see islands
Most vacationers to the Hawaiian Islands envision endless hours basking in the sun on beautiful beaches sipping mai tais and soaking up the tropical sunshine. Runners, being a different breed of vacationer, can choose to include multiple running venues as part of the Hawaii experience.
For six days of our two week Hawaiian vacation we set sail on the “Pride of America” cruise ship for scheduled runs on three different islands. For me, this was the way to see Hawaii up close and personal with runs in Volcanoes National Park in Hilo, Kanaha Beach Park on Maui and Poipu Beach on Kauai. In addition, we were offered the opportunity to run in Kona on the famed Iron Man course and do some hike/run adventures atop Haleakala on Maui and Waimea Canyon on Kauai. This was truly an exceptional trip, offering both running adventure and experiences on multiple islands.
The trip brought runners of various ages and abilities from all over the United States, with most being recreational runners. There was one nationally ranked track and field runner and a three time winner of the Western States 100.
Although all the runs were scenic and fun, the most popular by far was the Poipu Beach run on Kauai. The views of the ocean were spectacular, the local running club volunteers were very friendly and those who ran the 12-mile route were treated to a blowhole attraction at mile 9. Afterward we swam in the Pacific, spotted whales and dolphins offshore and saw a monk seal basking in the sun. Ohio sisters Gina and Alicia DiCello chose this vacation because they both love running and traveling. “It was a great opportunity to see everything and be active at the same time,” said Gina. Neither had been to Hawaii before, nor had they ever vacationed without their parents. They used this trip as an opportunity to celebrate Alicia’s recent college graduation.
For Marissa Dent, this trip was a surprise birthday gift from her husband John Clark. Marissa, who had previously lived on Oahu and Kauai, frequently stated that “Kauai is my most favorite island.” She began running a little over a year ago and has competed in one marathon and numerous half marathons.
John thought it would be good for them to get away and exercise, which they like to do together. “Life’s too short,” he said, following the advice of his 94 year old patient who had just returned from a trip to Africa.
Marvin Johnson, founder and organizer of this inaugural Run Hawaii adventure, initially envisioned a series of trail runs on the islands. He soon discovered that securing permits to take a large group of runners on trails in Hawaii was virtually impossible, so he began planning a series of road events instead. This attracted a much more diverse group of runners. “It was a great group; everyone seemed congenial and happy to be here,” he said. A competitive runner for the past 30 years and father of North American 100K trail record holder Tom Johnson, Marv Johnson has raced distances from 10K to 50 miles. His foray into trail running began in 1987 when he trained to pace Tom in the Western States 100. Various heart surgeries have recently limited his ability to run, but at 77 years old he continues to volunteer his time for many racing events and remains active in the running community.
California transplants Lauren and Brent Wincze decided their next big trip had to be Hawaii. For Lauren, the runner in the family it was right up her alley. “This is just perfect, we have to do this running cruise,” Lauren said to her husband Brent when she found the run on www.active.com Her husband reluctantly agreed. “Runners aren’t such bad people,” he said. “Everyone has been really cool, and the hikes have been spectacular.” Lauren agreed that the hikes were one of her favorite parts as well; she liked the variety of all the running related activities and all the time she found to do her own thing.
Lesley Swann, the U.S. Track and Field women’s 45-year-old world record holder in the 800 and 1,500 distances, was encouraged to do this trip by a former teammate who suggested that she needed to broaden her athletic horizons. Most of her and husband Derry’s travels have revolved around track and field competitions – “Not much fun for Derry,” she said – so this was a completely different running trip. The cruise format allowed for experiencing multiple islands without the constant packing and searching for restaurants on each island. It made for a more organized and relaxed trip and gave us all an opportunity to spend our unscheduled time doing whatever we wanted. Rest assured, we did find time during our extra week to relax on the beach and hit many of the islands’ tourist attractions.
Contact Marjorie Brinton at runswim55@gmail.com.
On the
Run
Marjorie Brinton
Copyright 2008 The Durango Herald 2/15/2008