Festivities Include an Inaugural Warrior Challenge
LAHAINA, Hawaii (May 25, 2010) -- The Maui Marathon -- Hawaii's oldest marathon -- will celebrate its 40th anniversary with an inaugural "Warrior Challenge"and numerous other new festivities, announced the Valley Isle Road Runners, the non-profit club that organizes the event weekend. Over 3,500 runners and walkers from all over the US and many foreign countries are expected to participate in the 2010 Maui Marathon and Half Marathon set for 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19.
The inaugural Warrior Challenge is a special competition that combines three of the race weekend's events. Those entered in the Challenge will participate in the 3.1-mile Maui Tacos 5K Run/Walk and the Run Forrest Run Front Street Mile on Saturday, Sept. 18, plus either the 26.2-mile Maui Marathon or 13.1-mile Maui Half Marathon on Sunday.
"Runners are looking for something different. They want new challenges,"says Rudy Huber, race director. Finishers of the Challenge will receive a commemorative Warrior Challenge medal and T-shirt in addition to the medals and T-shirts they will receive in the other events. The Maui Tacos 5K Run/Walk takes place entirely within the Ka'anapali Beach Resort, starting at 8 a.m. in front of Whalers Village.. The Run Forrest Run Front Street Mile is an out-and-back course on historic Front Street in Lahaina, starting and finishing in front of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Also new this year is the addition of The Maui Go Red For Women Ambassador One Mile Walk and the Maui Marathon Hard Rock Café "Rock the Run"Pasta Party.
Organized by ambassadors of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Movement in Maui County, the Walk will be held to raise awareness about heart disease -- the number-one killer of women. Scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, the Walk will start and finish in front of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Lahaina.
Runners and friends will be able to enjoy tasty pasta, live Hawaiian music and ocean views at the Maui Marathon Hard Rock Café ‘Rock the Run' Pasta Party. Scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, the Pasta Party will feature live music by Grammy Award Winning Slack Key musician, George Kahumoku Jr.
Race weekend activities will also include the Maui Marathon Carbo Luau at The Westin Maui on Saturday and the Maui Marathon Sports & Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday.
The scenic point-to-point Maui Marathon course starts near the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Kahului and runs along the coastal Honoapiilani Highway and through historic Lahaina before finishing in front of Whalers Village in the Ka'anapali Beach Resort. The out-and-back Maui Half Marathon course starts at the marathon finish line in Ka'anapali and follows the last 6.5 miles of the marathon course, including colorful Lahaina.
The Maui Marathon Race Weekend is sponsored by the Maui Visitors Bureau, Ka'anapali Beach Resort Association, Maui Tacos and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, the host hotel. The events benefit over 11 local and national charities.
For more information on the 40th Maui Marathon Race Weekend activities, including registration fees, please visit www.mauimarathonhawaii.com, call (808) 280-5801 or e-mail info@mauimarathonhawaii.com. For travel package information, please visit www.marathontours.com/Maui.
Schedule of Events
Friday, Sept. 17
Maui Marathon Sports & Fitness Expo
Noon -- 7 p.m.
Valley Isle Ballroom at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Ka'anapali
Maui Marathon Hard Rock Café "Rock the Run" Pasta Party
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hard Rock Café in Lahaina
Saturday, Sept. 18
Maui Tacos 5K Run/Walk
7 a.m. Race-day registration opens
8 a.m. Start
Whalers Village in Ka'anapali
Maui Marathon Sports & Fitness Expo
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Valley Isle Ballroom at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Ka'anapali
The Maui Go Red For Women Ambassador One Mile Walk
2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., located in Lahaina
Run Forrest Run Front Street Mile
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., located in Lahaina
Maui Marathon Carbo Luau at The Westin Maui
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Aloha Pavilion at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Ka'anapali
Sunday, Sept. 19
40th Maui Marathon
5:30 a.m. Start
Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Kahului to Ka'anapali
Maui Half Marathon
5:30 a.m. Start
Start and finish near Whalers Village in Ka'anapali
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