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Your Next Run Vacation. The Kona Marathon June 25, 2017!

Kona Marathon Events on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii is coming up. There are so many reasons to come and do this race, I don’t even know where to begin. But I will start with the obvious, it’s in Hawaii! The race takes place in The Waikoloa Beach Resort and has the most amazing host hotel, the Hilton Waikoloa Village. The views are breathtaking and the restaurants are delicious.

My favorite is the brunch. I think I ate there every day especially the day after the marathon when I may have eaten everything! The hotel is kid friendly, I even took my Grandbaby along for the ride.

Speaking of ride, they have a boat ride and a monorail that goes through the hotel and takes you to your room – for free!

You are surrounded by lagoons, dolphins, pools and waterslides. You really don’t even need to go anywhere. But I do recommend getting a car and doing some sight-seeing, for instance going to see the lava eruptions at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I could go on and on, but let me tell you about the Marathon. ☺

The new course just keeps getting better and better. There is more shade and they have water misters along the race course which keeps you nice and cool. Love running through them, it’s so much fun. The Aid Stations are plentiful, stocked with hydration, ice, lots of volunteer smiles and aloha spirit. Also a great place to get your 50th state, or if you are on your journey to 50 as so many Marathon Maniacs are. Pictured below is my dear Rock Star friend Mark Kramer, who finished his 50th state at the 2015 Kona Marathon. It was an honor to cross the finish line with him.

There is a race for everyone. On June 17th they have the Aloha Keiki Run for kids ages 1 to 15 at the Kona Commons Shopping Center in Kailua.

On race day June 25, they have a Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon and a 5K and guess what? I have a DISCOUNT code for you! When you register, and use the code KMGODDESS you will save $10 off the full marathon or half marathon and $5 off the Quarter Marathon or 5K. Every time the code is used the Kona Marathon will graciously donate an amount equal to the discount to Project Purple to help cure Pancreatic Cancer. It’s a Win Win!!!

Have I mentioned the coffee yet? As if you needed another reason to come and do this race, here it is. UCC Kona Coffee is the title sponsor of Kona Marathon Events. My absolute favorite! 100% Kona Coffee. Rich and delicious. Plus it makes you run faster. 😉

This will be my 6th year returning to the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. It was number 11 in my 2013 magical journey of 52 marathons in 52 weeks to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer. I always say, “Number 11, like running in heaven” and it truly is. Come visit my booth at the Health and Fitness Fair on Saturday, June 24 at the Hilton Convention Center.

I am very grateful to be a Kona Marathon Ambassador. It is an honor to represent a marathon truly embracing that Aloha Spirit. I hope you will join me June 25, 2017. Come out and let your Aloha Spirit SHINE and I will see you at the finish line. Register here: www.konamarathon.com.

We Got This!- Julie xo

A Big Mahalo to the Amazing Sponsors:

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Exciting Things Happening at the 2015 Kona Marathon!

As the Kona Marathon get’s closer, the more excited I get. I wanted to share just a few more of the amazing highlights of the Kona Marathon with you: The 2015 Kona Marathon will be located at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Kohala Coast. The race will start and finish at the Waikoloa Bowl at Queen’s Garden. The Marathon course has some moderate hills, never exceeding 290 feet above sea level with gentle climbs and drops. That sounds great to me! I will be running with one of my good friends, fellow Marathon Maniac, Mark Kramer who I met on my journey of 52. Sadly he lost his mother to pancreatic cancer. We are brother and sister in Arms. This year he will be finishing his 50th state with his good friend at the Kona Marathon. The 3 of us will run together, estimating about a 4:30 finish, but more importantly, crossing the finish line all holding hands, signifying that you can do anything you put your mind too, anything is possible, including finding a cure for pancreatic cancer! What do you do when you are not running? You shop and eat of course. There is a fun family life style resort destination shopping experience with something for everyone called The Queens MarketPlace within the Waikoloa Beach Resort. With an exciting collection of boutiques, galleries, shops and services, plus a delightfully diverse Ono Food Court, upscale restaurants and a full schedule of free Hawaiian cultural activities and entertainment. After the marathon at Hilton Waikoloa Village, The Host Hotel, is The Big Island Luau. How fun, right? We will go there to celebrate so many things like Mark’s 50th state, My Honeymoon and seriously, just being alive. I’ve heard it’s an exhilarating experience, under a magical Hawaiian night-sky and swaying palms, featuring exotic dance, music and entertainment for the whole family with hula & fire dancers and a lavish Hawaiian buffet. E ‘Ai Kākou! (Let’s Eat!) This year I will be representing Project Purple! Grateful my running continues to help the fight against pancreatic cancer with this amazing charity so close to my heart, who’s motto is “Running to Beat Pancreatic Cancer!” Please Click here to make a Donation Click here to register for the 2015 Kona Marathon Remember to use code KMGODDESS to save! Looking forward to seeing you in the Land of Aloha June 28th! xo Julie We Got This!!

Hilton Waikoloa Luau, Big Island, Hawaii. ET

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11 Reasons to Run The Kona Marathon:

I am so excited to be heading back to the Kona Marathon for the 3rd consecutive year. Kona was number 11 in my journey of “52 marathons in 52 weeks “ to fight pancreatic cancer. Since it was number 11, I am going to give you 11 reasons to run this race. My particular favorite, Number 11 was like running in Heaven ☺ 1. Okay, the real obvious reason is the race is in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. Even if you did not train well enough and didn’t quite have the race you wanted , when you finish, you are in Hawaii. Right? Enjoy it. 2. There is something for everyone, The Kona Marathon, Kona Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon & 5K, so bring the whole family! 3. Clean air. I just enjoy the air quality in Kona with views that will inspire you. Also, the friendly, fun Marathon volunteers and staff are great with the beautiful Aloha Spirit. 4. The Kona Marathon has been rated #1 Marathon in the State of Hawaii by TripAdvisor 5. The Kona Marathon is sponsored by UCC Kona Coffee. Best coffee on the planet and it will make you run faster, guarantee. Kona Marathon 6. This year the race will take place at the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Kona/ Kohala Coast

7. David and I will be celebrating our honeymoon there, come join us in our bliss. 8. Save $10 on your registration Half or Full, using code KMGODDESS (all Caps) www.konamarathon.com 9. The Host Hotel, The Hilton Waikoloa is offering discounted room rates for the dates of June 23 – July 3, 2015 based on availability. Book Here : https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/hi/reservation/book.htm?execution=e1s1 10. This could be you enjoying the Waikoloa Beach Resort  after participating in the Kona Marathon Events in Hawaii sipping  a delicious cup of UCC Kona Coffee. 11. The Marathon, Half Marathon and Quarter Marathon runners will continue onto the Queen Kaahumanu Highway and the famous Lava Fields of Kona, running a portion of the famous Ironman World Championship bike route before returning to the Waikoloa Beach Resort and the welcoming throng of spectators at the finish line. And super excited to share the finish line with my awesome friends, fellow Marathon Maniacs, Mark and Cheryl who will be finishing their 50th state. What a perfect place to do it! We Got This! Register today. Come join us and Run the Rock in the Land of Aloha June 20-28, 2015. Looking forward to seeing you. www.konamarathon.com

Marathon Maniacs Archives - Marathon Goddess