The 34th Maui Marathon, inaugural Maui Half Marathon and Maui Tacos 5K are less than two months away. Make your running buddies green with envy by wearing colorful new Maui Marathon and Half Marathon merchandise on your training runs. Order yours now while supplies last.

Race weekend is now less than two months away. Soon it will be time to be tapering off your training. This is especially true if the event is your first marathon or half marathon. We encourage you to visit the Cool Running training pages, have a look at the training schedules for both the marathon and half marathon and determine which of the four levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced and competitive) in each event best suits you.

For an interesting article on final race preparations and race day experiences, see Nancy Robberson's article below.

Makai Massage & Bodywork is the official contact for massage for the Maui Marathon & has been for 9 years running. We specialize in injury & therapeutic treatment. This year we are proud to announce our brand new Aveda Concept Salon & Spa, right next door to Whalers Village at The Whaler on Ka'anapali Beach - Hina Mana Salon & Spa. Makai Massage is also open to serve you at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, both are open 7 days a week, 9am - 5pm. We will be at the Expo offering massage by the minute for a nominal fee & we will see you at the finish line for a Complimentary 5 to 10 minute massage.

Island wide outcall service is available at no extra charge. Call 808-662-0887 or visit us on the internet at www.makaimassage.com/

Check out our "recently announced" new line of 2004 Maui Marathon and Maui Half Marathon merchandise. Exciting new women's designs as well as caps and visors are now available. Please visit our merchandise section to see new designs.

Due to our viewer requests, you can now confirm your entry online. We have added four lists to the web site including both the Maui Marathon & Maui Half Marathon entrant confirmation lists. They are in alphabetical order by last name and include your town or city. The lists are updated every 4 weeks. Click here for the Maui Marathon Confirmation List and the other three lists.

If you are interested in attending the "world famous" Carbo Load dinner, we suggest you book your tickets very soon as there are only a few spaces left.

The Westin Maui, our race headquarters, is located on a two mile long stretch of sandy beach within walking distance of many Kaanapali's finest restaurants, shops and the marathon finish line.

SAMPLE PACKAGE RATES PER PERSON WITH AIRFARE, CAR AND HOTEL
Features include round trip airfare, a compact car with unlimited mileage, accommodations, and hotel taxes. All-inclusive packages are quoted per person double occupancy. Quotes are available without the car and with van transfers.

Packages rates are available from all cities for any length of stay and at other hotels. Call 800-444-4097 or email for a quote with details. For more information log on to www.marathontours.com/maui

The Maui Marathon-A Festival of Running Fun

Let's face it; running a marathon or a half marathon, no matter how well you've trained, can be a suffer-fest. The nature of the game is there will be pain. The question is... how do you minimize the physical and psychological obstacles and maximize the FUN?

Let's hope you've done your homework and put in the training that's right for you. You've pounded some pavement, lifted some weights, done some cross training, eaten well, had some rest, or, being a minimalist, done at least one of the above. You have sacrificed. Your crazy friends have invited you out for late night shenanigans and again you've declined using the "I have a hot date" excuse. They did not know that your "hot date" was with a pair of slightly stinky running shoes and eighteen plus miles of black top at sunrise the next morning. When you mentioned, "heavy breathing", they were thinking something else entirely. When you implied "trip to Maui" they pictured you lounging by the pool, blue tropical Fufu drink in hand. They would be right!

You'll step off the plane, clear trade winds and saltwater air soothing your soul. You'll have a hard time resisting the excitement of pre-marathon day activities, a 700 plus field of 5K runners, a goodie-filled Sports Expo, the Front Street Mile teeming with Olympic caliber athletes...the fun to be had is endless. A loved one may have to tie you down to rest.

It is now race morning and you've caught the shuttle bus or a ride to the 5:00am start. It's dark but the temperature is perfect; cool and comfortable. You'll see the usual Marathon rock stars warming up in a world where minimal clothing seems to equal maximum speed. You'll see the Hawaiian warriors line your path with Tiki torches, you'll hear Hawaiian blessings being bestowed and it will hit you. You are going to be guided in the achievement of your goal. The conch shell is blown, the start gun goes off, and boom, there go all those knuckleheads doing four minute miles...did they forget this is a marathon? Not wanting to be left in the dust, you are tempted to sprint, but your good senses take over and you pace yourself. You will say, "I'll see you at mile 22!" as they are racing past you. The adventure has begun!

The first eight miles are flat, fast, and over before you know it. Just as you reach Maalaea Harbor and the slightly hilly section of the course called the Pali, the sun will be rising over Haleakala Crater lighting your views of the shimmering Pacific, and of the islands of Molokini, Kaho`olawe, Lanai, and later Molokai. After the inspiring views of the Pali, you'll find a great downhill lead into the halfway point where photographers will be capturing your pearly whites and buffed body for the camera. The rest of the race is flat and you'll be running right next to the Pacific Ocean for all but a few miles. The biggest challenge of the Maui Marathon is the heat and humidity you may feel during the second half. Make sure you take advantage of all of the fantastic and entertaining aid stations along the course. Maui is full of generous volunteers who want to help you. Use them. Drink continually and make sure you wear light clothes that you've trained in before...unless, of course, you like the "Vaseline Man".

So many athletes worry about "hitting the wall", especially after mile twenty. Some of the many great things about the Maui Marathon and Half Marathon (which starts and finishes in Kaanapali) are the things that will distract you from the lead in your legs...the powerful and energizing sounds of the Taiko Drummers, the radiant and gently swaying hula dancers, the historic feel of Front Street, and the cheering fans spraying you down with their hoses. It is a party on legs.

When you leave Lahaina town you will smell the finisher's party two miles within your reach.

Once you've crossed that palm tree lined finish line in Kaanapali, gratefully received your special finisher's lei, and truly soaked in the beauty and aloha that Maui has to offer, there is no way you are not going to love the Maui Marathon, the Half Marathon or any of the events surrounding it. When the inevitable question "How'd you do?" hits you again, you can actually tell people the truth and say "I had the time of my life!" See you smiling in September!

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