Hawaii Tribune-Herald: Kilauea Wilderness Runs provide physical test, fun

Wednesday, Jul 28, 2004

Kilauea Wilderness Runs provide physical test, fun

By GAVIN MCCALL
The Big Island is home to one of the world's toughest marathons, and it's coming up again this Saturday.

The annual Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Runs attract about 1,000 competitors each year from Hawaii, the mainland and a few foreign countries to race over "some of the most beautiful -- and most rugged terrain in the world," said Howard Shapiro, the race director who has helped coordinate the popular races for six years.

"People that really like the challenge come back each year," he said.

Shapiro expects between 1,000 and 1,200 runners to participate in the 22nd edition of the wilderness runs. The majority of participants come from Hawaii. "Only about 20 percent come from the mainland and internationally," he said.

Hosted by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the runs feature a 26.2-mile marathon that takes runners on a tour of the park, from Kilauea Military Camp to Kilauea Caldera to the Ka'u Desert Trail and back, across lava, sand, pavement and through forest.

Shapiro expects about 200 people to participate in the grueling event.

"To the people that do it, it's a challenge -- not only to run a marathon, but to do it on such rough terrain," he said.

There is also a scenic 10-mile run around the Kilauea Caldera, and a 5-mile run across it. Shapiro said people who want to experience the beautiful surroundings at a slower pace will be able to walk the 5-mile course as well.

The marathon starts at 6 a.m.; the 10-miler, 7 a.m.; and the 5-mile run/walk, 7:15 a.m. The races start and finish at Kilauea Military Camp in the park.

While the shorter races draw more than twice as many participants as the 26.2-mile run, Shapiro said the marathon is the star course. It annually attracts die-hard runners like Volcano's Dan Goltz and Keaau's Susan Cordell. Goltz won last year's marathon, and Cordell was the first female finisher.

"I advise people that haven't run on wilderness trails to train hard or not do it," Shapiro warned, adding that wilderness races are more dangerous than street courses, even though they tend to be less crowded.

"It's hard enough not to fall just walking on lava."

Shapiro said there will be over 300 volunteers helping out with the races Saturday, coming from youth groups, rotary clubs, the Red Cross and the Volcano neighborhood. Many of the volunteers will start before dawn, hiking miles into the desert to mark trails, sit up and man water and first aid tents, and make sure participants stay safe and on track.

Other volunteers will run booths at the start/finish line, provide water, Band-Aids and massages as well as sell T-shirts and other mementos to runners and spectators.

Shapiro said all profits from the runs will go to support the Volcano Art Center.

Registration

Race registration is still being accepted. For more information, call Shapiro at 985-8725 or go to: www.volcanoartcenter.org.

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