LIHU‘E — Sally Cravens said she is the first to finish the virtual Kaua‘i Marathon, Stride for Kaua‘i, Monday.
“I’m the first to finish, but not the fastest,” said Cravens, a branding expert with TGI and Midweek Kaua‘i. “I started a little after 4 a.m. and did the entire 26.2 miles on the Timbers Resort course in 6 hours, 51 minutes, 15 seconds…I had to check my time because I had to use two timers. My phone died because it was too long.”
Originally registered for the Kaua‘i Marathon, Cravens decided to do the virtual marathon after the 2020 Kaua‘i Marathon was threatened with the health and safety guidelines stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Race organizers decided to offer the Kaua‘i Marathon virtually by switching registrations to Stride for Kaua‘i 2020 that organizers can run between Sept. 1 through 6.
“While we will not be together on Kaua‘i in 2020, we are going to celebrate the Garden Island and share our aloha spirit through our swag,” states the Kaua‘i Marathon website. “By joining us virtually, you will earn a unique finisher’s medal with The Kaua‘i Marathon traditional bottle opener included, a super comfy logo’d virtual event performance tee, a logo’d cinch bag, Kaua‘i themed goodies from our sponsors and local vendors, and a downloadable race bib and finisher’s certificate.”
Virtual race participants can complete the marathon, or half marathon mileage continuously, on the same day, and on the route and time of their choosing. All times can be uploaded to raceentry.ccom by the end of the day on Sept. 6.
“I asked Robin Jumper if it was alright to do my full marathon, Aug. 31 because it is also the final day to enter miles to The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee that I’m involved in,” Cravens said. “I am entering 31 miles, representing my son’s age today for TGVRAT. I’m doing the Tennessee race as a fundraiser benefiting Forrester David Cravens Foundation, my son’s memorial foundation that benefits youth programs in Kaua‘i and San Diego, California where he was born and raised.”
Cravens said she is grateful Jumper allowed her to count 26.2 miles of her 31-mile run towards the Kaua‘i Marathon miles.
“It was pretty dark when I started out,” Cravens said. “I pretty much stuck to the more familiar parts of the property — crossing one bridge, then another, and staying away from the darker parts — until the sun came up. It got pretty hot out there, and by 11 a.m., I was dying — my body was sore, I was tired, and it was hot.”
The 2021 Kaua‘i Marathon is scheduled for Sept. 5, 2021.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
