All,

Just wanted to quickly post a note thanking you all for your good humor and sportsmanship. It is not often that the weekend warriors that we attempt to be is willing to give up a training day to participate in such child's play.

The concept behind this run (and I hope it continues that way) is to try to get the runners grouped more together and give runners who may be mid of the pack a chance to run up front. Our hope is to also make the faster runners work a bit harder (and hopefully blow up) trying to chase down the pack. We began with the formula that big John devised last year, which we implemented again this year soley based upon age and sex. This year we thought it might be fun to add a new wrinkle in terms of adding time penalties by making the runners do a mental or physical challenge while out on the course. Hence many of you came across Mother Hen (thanks Filiesha), who had you doing all kinds of things. From spinning around 15 times, to push up, jumping jacks, naming the seven dwarfs, and even bribing for mercy. While some of you may not have liked it at the time I'm sure you all by now have gotten a chuckle out of it. The bottom line is that you folks actually were able to laugh a bit and have some fun out there today in a beautiful environment. Heck, with Mother Hen out there it kind of reminds me of the Fartlek days from the early 80's. I was really happy and excited to see all the enthusiasm and good sportsmanship. It's days like these that puts the fun in running.

Just one last reminder that the Maunawili Out & Back 22 mile race and Relay is this Saturday, August 12. The race starts at the Pali Lookout. Click here for all the details.

It's a fun race based on the starting format. Remember to plan on carrying enough water as it will be hot and aid is limited to just the turn-around in Waimanalo.

If you are wanting to do it as a relay where each member goes one direction (11 miles), please arrange your own transportation. Looking for a relay partner?? Use the Comments section to hook up with a partner. Remember, all trail series races are $10 and registration is 30 minutes prior to race start time.

Finally, don't forget a sweatshirt as it can be cool at the Pali Lookout if it is windy. See you on Saturday!

The Maunawili Out and Back is coming up on August 12. All the details are available by clicking here.

This will be a fun race and remember it can be done either solo (22 miles) or as a relay (11 miles).

Start time will be 5:30 am, and sign up will be the morning of the race. TTT is now part of the trail series, so the cost will be $10. Prizes will go to the first 10 men and women finishers.

There will be NO 10-Miler this year! The course consists of three,10-mile loops, and you must start the third loop by 11:30 am.

The upper 2 aid stations (at Roundtop Drive and the Concrete Road) will be closed at about 1:30 pm (although Roundtop will probably close at 12:30).

Cheryl has volunteered to man the Concrete Road station from start to finish. We are looking for a volunteer/volunteers for the Roundtop station from 5:45 to 12:30. If need be, we can set up shifts.

Race volunteers will be able to run the course the week before, and their times will be included in the official results this time.

Parking will probably be in the lower lot of the Nature Center.

Anyone who wants to volunteer for the aid station, please call PJ at 235-0577.

Updates to follow.

Here are the results from the Kaena Point Firecracker 10 Mile Race. Sorry for the delay in getting these out. Congratulations to the winners and thanks again to all the participants and those who helped out. Click here to see the results, it's two pages long.

I received a few more photo's today from Jozef Gyurke of the Kaena Point Firecracker race. Thanks Jozef!! There's some great pictures here. Click here to see them.

Aloha Intrepid Runners,

The August 12th running of the Maunawilli out and back is fast approaching. I wanted to use this forum to make you all aware of the finer details of this event.

1. The event is 22 miles long, on pretty easy trails. There will be only one aid station at 11 miles. I ask you all to carry a two bottle minimum (I carry three) as the valley can get very hot and humid. You can refill at the far end. There are no trail sweeps or safety crews. You are on your own. You got yourself into this event, you will have to get yourself out. My wife runs the far side aid station so please be nice to her.

2. The event starts at 7:00 a.m (we may start some runners before this time). Once again we will be utilizing a staggered start ( 5 minute increments up to 40 minutes out). The stagger could be based upon age, sex, looks, nicest running clothes, or perceived speed. It is up to us to decide when we want you to start. The idea, since this is supposed to be fun, is to get everyone back to the start line at the same time. Therefore, there will be no time adjustments (the clock for all starts at 7 a.m.). If you are interested in your time keep it yourself. Your finishing place is the place you are in when you cross the line. If you are the fastest 10k runner in Hawaii, you might finding yourself finishing 30th here. Apologies.

3. There is a 3 hour, 10 minute cutoff at the far end. If you do not leave the far end by he 10:10 your race is done. I recommend you carry a cell phone to have a friend pick you up, or to call a cab.

4. Parking is limited at the Pali lookout. We do not want to play "hog cheese" with all the stalls. We ask runners to park along the grass before the parking lots. Those disobeying this request will start last in the stagger. Please tell your fellow competitors.

5. Relays will have to provide their own transportation to the far side. Since this is a show up sign up run, I don't know who needs a relay partner. If you need one, please seek one out on your own or use the blog here to find one.

6. The trail will not be marked. If you don't know the course you better run with someone who does. On the way out stay right, on the way back stay left.

7. Unlike the other runs in the trail series, "grinds" will be limited at the finish line. Most of my budget will be used for the turnaround aid and hopefully for finishers awards.

Now that I have talked you into doing the event, I will eagerly await you all on August 12th. Need more info e-mail me at [email protected].

Aloha,

Huffer

Happy 4th of July!! Thanks to all the runners who came out to run the Kaena Firecracker 10 mile race this past Saturday. We had a record number of runners for the HURT Trail Series (82) and record times. We hope to get the results posted soon!

Thanks to Joel and Steph Jenkins for putting on a great aid station at the turn-around. I heard they were in grass skirts. Now that's a photo we need!

I have linked and posted two photo albums from the race. The first one are photo's I took and a special thanks for the second album taken by Tania Merrill. She took some great shots out on the course.

Click here for album 1. Click here for album 2. They are a bit out of order. Click the photo's to make them larger.

Don't forget to put the next trail series races on your calendar. August 12th, Maunawili Out & Back 22 Mile and Relay. Also the Tantalus Triple Trek (50K) is scheduled for September 2. Click here for more info.

Aloha, Bob & Barbi

Just a final reminder that Saturday, July 1 is the Kaena Point Firecracker 10 mile race.

Remember to allow enough time to drive--and register 30 minutes prior to 7:00 a.m. race start. Click here for map. Drive to the end of the paved road.

Bring a water bottle or hydration pack--it will be hot!

Celebrate the start of the 4th of July weekend by joining us for a potluck after the race. Bring a dish to share and your beach chair. Click here for 2005 finish times. Click here for 2005 photo's. Click photo to enlarge.

More info is available here. See you at the race!

Barbi and I rode Kaena Point this past Saturday on our mountain bikes. The course is in excellent shape. There is just one area of the washout that requires crossing on a 4" x 4" plank. You have a nice big rock to hold on to and it is pretty easy--we did it carrying our bikes.

More info is available on the race by clicking here.

Additionally, we have HURT Trail Series shirts available for $20. These are Patagonia silk weight capilene and are great training shirts and fun to wear around. These will be available at the race.

Click on photo to enlarge it.

Start your 4th of July weekend off with the Kaena Point, Firecracker 10 mile race. The race starts at 7:00 a.m. Saturday July 1st.

We are planning a post-race potluck celebration so bring your family, a dish to share, and your beach chair.                                     

Details: Entry fee = $10 Sign-up is 30 minutes prior to race start.

Route: This is an out and back race. The race starts at the end of the paved road on the Dillingham side (see map link below) and goes out towards Kaena Point and all the way to where you meet the paved road on the Waianae side of Kaena Point. This is the turn-around point. The route then returns via the same trail/road to the start.

Carry Water: It will be hot!! At least one water bottle! Limited aid will be available at the turn-around.

Directions to Race Start: Click here. These directions are from the Honolulu Airport and will get you out past Dillingham Airfield and past Camp Erdman. Keep driving until the pavement ends. We will be on the ocean side of the road.

If you have any questions e-mail me at [email protected] or call me at 808-225-2864. We look forward to seeing you at the race!

Special thanks go out to Jim Carr and his son, Jimson, for the following photographs of last weeks Mango Madness race. I've set up two seperate albums: (Click on each link below)

Mango Madness 2006 Disc 1

Mango Madness 2006 Disc 2

There as some great shots in here and if you would like me to e-mail any of them to you individually, let me know. Aloha, Bob