HILO MARATHON COMING UP

Jonatha Giddens, women's winner of '08 Hilo Marathon

BIG WEEKEND AHEAD FOR MARATHON

The Big Island International Marathon will be hosting a weekend full of activities beginning on Friday, March 20, with their Carbo-Load Dinner party at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

The dinner party will be hosted by Josh Pacheco of ESPN-radio morning show and will feature entertainment by a Halau Na Pua ‘O Uluhaimalama, under the direction of Kumu Hula Emery Aceret.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with a buffet pasta dinner at 6:30. The public is invited and cost is $21.50 at the door.

Then, on Saturday, March 21, the BIIM will host a Health and Fitness Expo from noon to 6 pm at Lobby area of the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Several vendors from around the state will be on hand to provide free displays and samples and the public is encouraged to attend.

Included in the Fitness Expo will be free massage by Ki Mana Academy, free body fat testing by Waiakea High Health Academy, talk story with podiatrist Dr. David Arkin, and much more.

Running concurrently with the Expo is packet pickup for those pre registered in Sunday’s marathon, half-marathon or the 3.1-mile run/walk. Late registration will also take place and affords interested people the opportunity to sign up for one of the three events hosted by BIIM on Sunday.

The 12th Annual Big Island International Marathon will begin at 6 am, Sunday, March 22 when runners from around the United States, Japan and Canada start the certified 26.2-mile marathon and certified half-marathon run in Pepeekeo.

At 6:30 am the 3.1-mile run/walk will start at Hilo Bay Front. All three races currently have more than 700 people registered and BIIM is expecting that number to top 800 during late registration Saturday.

Defending marathon champions Andrew Taylor of Kaneohe and Jonatha Giddens of Honomu will return to defend their titles. Taylor finished last years race in a time of 2 hours 49 minutes and Giddens claimed the women’s crown with her time of 3:18.

For more information on any or all of the activities sponsored by BIIM you can visit their web site at www.hilomarathon.org or call race coordinator Wayne “Big Dog” Joseph at 969-7400 or through email at waiakeabigdog@aol.com.

Advertisement