6,422 Runners Take Part in Hawaii's Half-Marathon Hapalua on April 12, 2015

2015/4/13 11:25

HONOLULU and TOKYO, Apr. 13 /Kyodo JBN / --

Honolulu Marathon Association

6,422 Runners Take Part in Hawaii's Half-Marathon Hapalua on April 12, 2015

The Honolulu Marathon Association held the 2015 Hapalua (http://thehapalua.com) on April 12, drawing 6,422 participants. The race is the fastest growing sports event in Hawaii.

(Image: http://www.image.net/hapalua2015)

Since starting in 2012, the Hapalua (meaning "half" in Hawaiian) has become a popular competition with marathoners, as well as beginners not yet ready for a marathon and runners working their way up to the challenge of the full 26.2 miles.

Among the most scenic half marathons in the world, the Hapalua's 13.1-mile course takes runners through Waikiki to downtown Honolulu and back, finishing with a loop around stunning Diamond Head toward Kapiolani Park.

There is no time limit for the Hapalua. Just like the Honolulu Marathon, the Hapalua welcomes walkers and the fastest runners alike. Participants can take their time to enjoy running or walking in beautiful surroundings. The fastest male runner is Peter Kirui (Kenya) (1:04:08) and the fastest female runner is Emily Chebet (Kenya) (1:11:15).

The Hapalua also contains a unique event, the "Chase." The best local runners from Hawaii get a head start on some of the top professional runners in the world. The elite pros chase down the local runners in a race to the finish line. This year, 22 local runners were divided into 6 groups, each with different head-start handicaps. These competitors were then pursued by four professional "chasers": Nicholas Kemboi (Qatar) , Peter Kirui (Kenya), Emily Chebet (Kenya) and Taku Harada (Japan). Kirui won the race, beating the local runners with a maximum 20-minute head start.

The 43rd annual Honolulu Marathon will begin at 5 a.m. on December 13, 2015. The Honolulu Marathon is the fourth largest marathon in the U.S., attracting around 30,000 participants each December. In 2014, there were 30,445 entrants.

There is no cut-off time for the marathon, which, along with its scenic beauty and the Aloha Spirit on the course, helps attract a wide range of competitors, from the experienced and fast runners to beginners, children, and the elderly.

Learn more about Honolulu Marathon 2015: http://www.honolulumarathon.org/

Source: Honolulu Marathon Association

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