The UCC Coffee Kona Marathon announced a new partnership with the Waikoloa Beach Resort to move the growing 22nd annual event to the “Gathering Place of the Kohala Coast.”
With the steady growth of the Kona Marathon Events over the last few years this new partnership will allow more participants from around the world to experience this quality running event on the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Kona Marathon each year traditionally brings in 2,000 runners with almost every state in the union represented and the 2014 event had runners from 18 different countries.
All 4 events – Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon & 5K – will start and finish at the beautiful Waikoloa Bowl at the Queen’s Garden. The new courses will have runners enjoying the beautifully shaded scenic Waikoloa Beach Drive with the Marathon and Half Marathon runners continuing on to Queen Kaahumanu Highway and the famous “Lava Fields of Kona” following a portion of the bike route for the infamous World Championship Ironman before returning to the Waikoloa Beach Resort and their finish at the Waikoloa Bowl.
Since it is a year for changes, the usual 10K race has been transformed into a brand new event – the Quarter Marathon. By adding just .35 of a mile to the 6.2 miles that make a10K, it becomes 6.55 miles – a quarter of the distance of a full marathon.
“This new partnership with the Waikoloa Beach Resort” said Race Director Sharron Faff, “will allow the event to continue to expand in the future and bring more athletes with their family and friends to Hawaii in order to experience our beautiful state in a truly outstanding and gorgeous location”.
The event date is Sunday, June 28, 2015. For more information regarding the new location, new course routes, registration, hotel accommodations, schedule of weekend events, charities, volunteering, and things to do on the Big Island: www.konamarathon.com or call 808-967-8240