The modern Ekiden is a popular long-distance team relay race held frequently on roads all over Japan. Origins of the Ekiden date to early Japan when important news was relayed from distant provinces to the capitol using a series of messengers, each of which would carry the message for an …
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The modern Ekiden is a popular long-distance team relay race held frequently on roads all over Japan. Origins of the Ekiden date to early Japan when important news was relayed from distant provinces to the capitol using a series of messengers, each of which would carry the message for an individual leg of the journey. Today, the tradition of Ekiden lives on as a sport, which, in addition to being highly competitive, is also used in Japan to promote unity as a team along with personal perseverance.
The Honolulu Ekiden & Music will be an authentic EKIDEN conducted over an ocean view course certified by the USATF. Each runner wears a sash and passes it on to their teammate at the relay exchange station. The sash is a symbol that represents teamwork and unites the runners in their race to complete the course.
Runners will enjoy beautiful ocean views along six different course sections with a total length of 26.2 miles or 42.195 km.
Starting at the base of Diamond Head at Kapiolani Park, the course travels eastward along the coast, where it winds past popular Hanauma Bay. The turn around point will be famous Sandy Beach.
A maximum of six runners may participate as a team. Each runner may choose the course section he or she desires to run. For teams with fewer than six members, a runner or runners may run more than one section consecutively.
Ekiden participants from all over the world will experience a scenic yet challenging course on the island of Oahu along with top entertainment from local and popular Japanese artists in concert in Waikiki.
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Stunning Scenery- Challenging Course
This is a very difficult course rewarded with absolutely jaw dropping scenery especially along the Hanauma Bay Coast. It will be hot- starts mid 70s- ends low 80s. The course … MORE
This is a very difficult course rewarded with absolutely jaw dropping scenery especially along the Hanauma Bay Coast. It will be hot- starts mid 70s- ends low 80s. The course starts with a climb around the base of Diamond Head – flat for the next ~6 miles, then massive hills going to and coming from the turn around past Hanauma Bay(Sandy Beach). Finally at approx mile 22, there is one last massive hill back to the top of the Diamond Head Base. Long 3 mile down hill to finish. This was the first year for marathon runners. The aid stations were plentiful and well stocked with Gatorade and Water. Most stations had cold water which was a bonus. They did use the old school Velcro ankle bracelets which will leave a pretty good souvineer on your ankle. Hopefully, these will be upgraded to bib chips in the future. Overall, I highly recommend this race.
Beautiful- Extremely Challenging- Well Organized-Friendly
It's a race
Better than Honolulu Marathon, ran a relay team of one. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX MORE
Better than Honolulu Marathon, ran a relay team of one. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX