The Great Aloha Run (GAR) is an 8.15-mile or a 13.11-kilometer foot race, held on the island of Oahu (Honolulu). The starting point of The Great Aloha Run is right in front of the Aloha Tower (1 Aloha Tower Dr, Honolulu, HI 96813-4815) and finishes at the Aloha Stadium (99-500 Salt Lake Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96701-3770).
Annually held on President’s Day, it’s a wonderful community event that welcomes families of all ages.
The weekend before the race day (Monday), you will have two days to pick up your packet that includes a medal, shirt, and some extra goodies. The ticket to get into the registration day pick-up will be physically mailed to you.
This is the ONLY map that the GAR organization gives you (also found on the website)…it’s not much to go off of and I was unable to find any adequate detail of this run so hopefully this break down will give you a better idea of what to expect on race day.
Race Day
If you live/are visiting from the West side of Oahu (Kaploei, Ewa Beach, Makakilo, Waipahu) I would recommend taking the rail. For a price of a one-way $3.00 fee and only a 20-22 minute transit from the West Side of Oahu to the Aloha Stadium, it’s a time and energy saver (you can actually nap to catch up on some zzz’s!)
If you aren’t taking the rail, there is further instructions of parking in the stadium and parking usually closes by 6am, so get there early – parking fills up quick.
Once at the stadium rail station, there will by attendance guiding you to where the busses are. There was a long line and dozens of busses picking people up to take them into town.
The bus from the Aloha Stadium took approximately 15minutes and dropped us off in town at Central (AKA Ke’elikolani) Middle School. From there, we had to walk about 15minutes to the starting point, just in front of the Aloha Tower. Bethel Street is the official starting line. This little .06 mile walk definitely warmed up the body prior to the run!
Along the way from Central Middle School to Aloha Tower – If you forgot water, need a quick grab to eat, or even bathroom break to release any extra weigh – there are shops open like Safeway, 7-Eleven and Porta John if needed.
Off to the races! Here is an overall map of the run that’s a little easier to interpret.
Fine tuned image of the forks in the roads where you will be going; don’t worry about getting loss, there are water stands, entertainment and volunteers cheering the entire route.
Here are my results for the first time running it!
Prepping for the event:
Fuel: Next Stop….Zippy’s!
Before the event, and apart from physically training, the day prior was focused on good nutrition and proper preparation. It wasn’t just about avoiding injuries, which is important, but also about making the experience way more bearable.
You know I had to carb load with spaghetti and garlic bread from our favorite local diner – Zippy’s!
Eating the right foods gave me the energy I needed without feeling sluggish, and taking the time to properly prepare meant I could enjoy the run more, without the dread of pain or the frustration of setbacks. It made a world of difference in how I felt during the run.
Day/Night prior: Stretch!
This is an “easy” 8miler compared to half-marathons and marathons, but it was my first time doing a long community run like this so I didn’t know what to expect, except to enjoy it all.
I used a massage gun, foam roller, and resistance band.
Overall, it was an incredible experience, one that I am excited to experience with the rest of the family the next year! Hopefully it turns into a new family tradition!
I hope this provided a little more details on what to expect for The Great Aloha Run! Hope to see you out there!
CLICK HERE For the latest information on the Great Aloha Run in Hawai’i
Carole Kai Charities Inc. dba Great Aloha Run
414 Kuwili St, Suite 104
Honolulu, HI 96817
808.528.7388
