PO‘IPU — A fall from his truck cannot stop Godwin Esaki. Esaki, making a delivery of bananas for the second Kaua‘i Marathon Friday, told Jeff Sacchini, founder of the Kaua‘i Marathon, he’ll still run the event. “I fell from my
PO‘IPU — A fall from his truck cannot stop Godwin Esaki.
Esaki, making a delivery of bananas for the second Kaua‘i Marathon Friday, told Jeff Sacchini, founder of the Kaua‘i Marathon, he’ll still run the event.
“I fell from my truck Friday,” Esaki said. “But that’s nothing. I’m still running.”
Hundreds of runners turned out for the Sports and Fitness Expo at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort to pick up their registration packets, find out more about the course, and take in information from the various vendor exhibits.
The expo runs through 4 p.m. today, with a panel discussion by the event hosts taking place at 2 p.m.
“People can still come in to register for either the half-marathon or the full-marathon course,” said Kathleen Douglas of the Kaua‘i Marathon staff. “Right now we have 996 registered for the half, and 430 registered for the full marathon, so we still have lots of room.”
Robin Jumper, the public-affairs officer for the marathon, said everyone can benefit from the panel discussion that will feature hosts Dean Karnazes, Bart Yasso of Runner’s World magazine, Rich Hanna, and JT Service, winner of last year’s Kaua‘i Marathon and organizer of the Sports and Fitness Expo.
Some of the topics on tap for the panel moderated by Jeff Sacchini, founder of the Kaua‘i Marathon, include injury prevention, the Kaua‘i Marathon course review, course tips and race-day advice.
Service is also one of the contenders for the first $15,000 Kaua‘i Marathon Challenge, along with Masanori Hagitani, winner of the inaugural Iwaki City Sunshine Marathon.
“It’s going to be real hard to win that purse,” Service said. “I’ve done a marathon in 2:37:00, so getting the sub-2:30:00 is possible, but it’s going to be real hard.”
In Iwaki City, Japan, Service was leading the marathon up until the final mile when Hagitani overtook him for the victory, earning an invitation to participate in Sunday’s Kaua‘i Marathon.
Jumper said there are two Kenyan athletes who will be arriving today who are also contenders, as is Michael Wardian, third-place winner at the World 50K Championships last weekend and earning the bronze medal for Team USA.
In addition to having more than 1,300 runners on the road, the Kaua‘i Marathon also means business as Jacob Vogelgesang of the Sheraton Kaua‘i said they were in the process of checking in guests into over 170 rooms Friday.
Hagitani and his party, including Tsuneo Suzuki and two members of Iwaki city hall, are staying at the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation, a stone’s throw from the starting line.
Donovan Claytor and Troy Gall of CG Custom Printing said in spite of lower registrations, they increased the amount of logo-wear variety and were doing a brisk business during the expo Friday.
“We’ll be here all day Saturday and again on race day at the finish line,” Gall said. “We have lots of inventory from head-wear, T-shirts, tank tops and even specialty items like backpacks.”
The second Kaua‘i Marathon will start at 6 a.m. in front of the Po‘ipu Shopping Village and course up Maluhia Road and through ‘Oma‘o and Lawa‘i areas before ending in front of the Sheraton Kaua‘i.
Visit www.thekauaimarathon.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
