Kurt Civilette's Staging Area

I’m a 50 stater, and there aren’t a lot of choices for Hawaii, so overall I would say it’s a good option. I enjoyed the people who passionately put on the race, complete with Hawaiian singer at the start. The race staff was great, and they knew what they needed to do to beat the heat, i.e. start in the dark at 5am. It worked out fine, it wasn’t that hot at the end. The swag was decent, with rubber pads on the medal for easy use as a coaster, nice tee, and a license plate frame. Difficulty was fine, about a half dozen small hills, but mostly flat. The scenery was all along the ocean, and that part was great, but for more than half of it you were on a BUSY highway with hardly any shoulder. There were many walkers. It should have been called Maui Oceanfront stroll. There were hundreds of half-marathoners and 6-milers walking the entire race, and I was constantly having to go around 2 or 3 walkers abreast who were completely blocking the narrow shoulder. In order to go around them you had to literally go out into traffic. Not great. I don’t know what they could do differently, maybe go out and back on the Wilea-Kihei part and skip that highway to Lahaina?

Excellent day in 2025, 50 degrees at start, warm by the end. It’s smart they started at 6am. Shuttles to start worked well, they added a stop near my hotel so I didn’t have to go downtown. I liked that half-marathon started in a different place and time, it made the marathon shuttles and start line less hectic. With over 1100 marathoners, it was a lot of people to deal with. Race crew and management was flawless. I liked the city, lots of good brewpub and restaurants. Plenty of hotels, although in late June it’s high season and they were pricey. Highly recommended overall!

Well run race, great organizers and volunteers. 272 marathoners in 2024, not too big, not too small. Weather was perfect, luckily, 60s, but it was about 30 degrees warmer the day before, so I would say this is an iffy time of year for running in
Omaha. Out and back 2x means you see the same scenery 4x. I liked the flatness, I liked that it was mostly bike trails(all paved) you weren’t dealing with car traffic.

In 2024 the weather was forecast to be unseasonably warm, so kudos to the race team to have the flexibility to move start time from 8am to 6am. It ended up being fine. It stayed overcast and never got above 70. I liked the race a lot. There was a hilly section, but it was mostly flat. I like the way it took you by all the main sights, including the capitol, the governor’s mansion, and the Clinton Library. Lots of support and fans along the route. Southern races are fun because spectators will embrace the party atmosphere and put out food and drink for you(sometimes alcoholic drinks that you probably shouldn’t be indulging in the middle of a marathon) like it’s mardi gras!

Rehoboth is proud of its after party, and rightfully so. Large buffet of hot food and 3 drink tickets per person! 2023 race had amazing weather, but it was unseasonably warm. 2022 was very cold, so just keep in mind when planning that the weather could go either way, it is December in Delaware, after all. Largest marathon in Delaware, I was happy that I could do it!

Good race overall. Started in very pretty but very hilly residential neighborhood, then second half was nice and flat. That’s the best way, get the hills when legs are still fresh! Would have liked to run around the Capitol which is the most prominent location in Des Moines. The support was amazing, best I’ve ever seen. Tons of lovely volunteers on bikes making sure runners were OK. Perfect weather in 2023. Pretty good time to have a race in this part of the country, 40s and 50s this time. Swag was a fleece vest, not bad. Saw nice jackets from other years, I hear this race is known for good swag. 50 state runner here, glad to have been able to get my Iowa marathon at the state’s biggest, most prominent race.