PO‘IPU — Robin Jumper of the Kaua‘i Marathon is excited about getting the permits and approval of plans by the government and health officials for an event scheduled to run on Sept. 5 on the grass area fronting the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa in Po‘ipu.
“We got the green light,” Jumper said.
“We just need to make some slight adjustments for the 2021 Kaua‘i Marathon Keiki Run presented by Wilcox Health.”
The early deadline for entries is this Wednesday, Aug. 25.
Anyone who registers by that date will be ensured a race shirt.
The entry fee for the run is $15 until Aug. 25, and increases to $20 following that early deadline.
Registration can be done online at raceentry.com/races/keiki-run/2021/register.
The Kaua‘i Marathon Keiki Run, now its ninth year, consists of a toddler trot 100-yard run for keiki 2 to 4 years old, where parents are allowed to accompany the keiki runner; a quarter-mile run for youth 5 to 7; and a half-mile run for youth 8 to 12 years old, all run on grass and led by a fast chicken.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only a limited amount of runners may participate, and all are reminded that COVID-19 rules must be adhered to.
Run registration takes place at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 5 on the grass area fronting the Hyatt. The race starts at 10:30 a.m.
“While we were not able to be together for the 13th annual Kaua‘i Marathon and Half Marathon, the Garden Island was celebrated, and aloha shared around the world with a virtual challenge platform,” Jumper said.
“From April 1 through July 31, participants had the opportunity to track their mileage on their own personalized Kaua‘i map of the 100-mle course in the Stride for Kaua‘i 100-Mile Challenge.”
The 100-mile course ran through the towns of Waimea, Hanapepe and Kalaheo before heading south to Po‘ipu — the home of the original Kaua‘i Marathon and Half Marathon where the run starts and finishes.
The course continued by tracing the Kaua‘i Marathon route up Maluhia Road through the Tree Tunnel before branching off toward Lihu‘e, and continues north through Kapa‘a, Princeville and Hanalei before ending at Ke‘e Beach.
“I literally just got through mailing off the last of the race swag and Kaua‘i-themed goodie bags,” Jumper said. “We had nearly 700 runners registered from 41 states and eight countries enjoying the island. We had 291 runners registered from around Hawai‘i, with 234 being from Kaua‘i.”
Jason Nelson, 45, from Federal Way, Washington, was the first to cross the line of the Stride for Kaua‘i 100-Mile Challenge, in a time of 231 minutes, 20 seconds.
Joni Huth, 63, of Reseda, California was the first female finisher, in 110:26:45. She was the third overall Stride finisher.
Kamika Smith was the first Kaua‘i finisher, crossing the line 16th overall on a 90:57:24 time. He was followed in 17th place overall by Leesha Kawamura, who claimed the first Kaua‘i female finisher on a 56:41:00 time.
The countdown clock has already started for the 2022 Kaua‘i Marathon and Half Marathon, with the date of Sept. 4, 2022 penciled in.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
