Slight Marathon course change – stay out of Army National Guard Post

Hawaii State Teachers will be doing the aid station Just outside of the Natioanl Guard

For returning runners to the Big Island International Marathon, we’d like you especially to be aware of a slight change in the course in the area of the Hilo Airport.  The course route will no longer take you through the Kilauea Military Reservation (Army National Guard post) property to get to Leilani Street.  This year you will continue east along the Airport Road on the makai (north) shoulder, and go past the U.S. Post Office heading towards the terminal area.  A turnaround will be indicated just beyond Ailolo Street, where you will cross from the makai side to the mauka side of the Airport Road (cross north-to-south) under the guidance of a police officer.  You will then proceed along the mauka (south) shoulder back to Leilani Street, where you will turn left and proceed around a short S-curve and past the rear gate of the National Guard post where you will re-join the existing route down Leilani Street back towards Kanoelehua Avenue intersection.  Course marshals will be present to direct you.

Also, a general note about staying “on course”.  Please resist the temptation to “cut corners” at turns and intersections, or to otherwise avoid your obligation to run the full length of the marathon.  The entire course is on paved surfaces: roadway, shoulder, or sidewalk.  If you leave the pavement at any time, the chances are that you taking a short-cut of some kind.  This may improve your personal best time by a few seconds, but in doing so you are being dishonest with yourself and unfair to the other runners. So, stay “on course” and enjoy your marathon!

The marathon has been recertified and is still a Boston Marathon qualifier.

Related links:  https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/shuttle-bus-information-for-marathon-and-half-marathon-runners/

https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/big-island-marathon-tee-shirt-design-for-2012/

https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/medals-for-the-top-3-finishers-in-a-variety-of-age-groups-at-biim-time-of-presentations/