Race: Honolulu Marathon
Runner: Coach Jonathan Cheng
Race Date: 12/14/2025
Location: Honolulu, HI
Results: 3:51:29
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/16744761343
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- The scenery! Running 26.2 miles in paradise is an unbeatable experience, with sweeping ocean views, friendly neighborhood vibes, and a run past Diamond Head. It’s arguably one of the most beautiful races I’ve ever run.
- The spectators are so friendly! The back half of the race is through neighborhoods, so a lot of people come out to cheer, hand out snacks, or spray their hoses on runners who are overheating.
- I loved that the race didn’t have a time limit. Although it does pose as a hindrance by blocking roads, the organizers do a good job about slowly opening up the roads based on the last runner. It gives a lot of opportunities for people who just want to accomplish 26.2 while enjoying the beauty of Honolulu.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Not necessarily anything to do with the race, but the weather is very unpredictable in Hawaii around this time of year. An hour before the race, heavy rain caused the start to be at 92% humidity. I was sweating bullets by mile 3! 😭
- The start is pretty chaotic. Even though there were corrals, they let everyone go at once instead of spacing each corral out (if that makes sense). That caused a ton of crowding at the start and for the first 3-5 miles of the race.
- Having one of the biggest hills at mile 24. It’s just brutal at that stage of the race.Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
- I wouldn’t say there’s anything weird about the race, but one thing that stood out was the fireworks at the start! It’s not every day that you get to start a marathon with a celebration.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I really liked that I stayed hydrated throughout the race! With the weather being humid and hot, having electrolyte and refillable water stations throughout the course was needed.
This is also one of the biggest marathons in the U.S., so there’s a ton of people to run with, regardless of what pace you’re at. I knocked off a solid 10 miles with a group of runners before they dropped me, but it’s nice to have people to run with a lot of the time.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Even though it’s an early start at 5:00 AM, make sure you get to the start line even earlier! With virtually everybody taking shuttles and long lines to the portapotties, it can get really hectic. We started lining up for shuttles around 3:30 AM and ended up almost missing our start!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Don’t underestimate the heat and run off of effort. Although the heat isn’t blistering, it’ll sneak up on you if you don’t hydrate early and try to run your usual pace.
There are two fairly long climbs – at mile 7 and 24. Take your time working through these, and be mentally prepared to run a long hill towards the end of the race. If you don’t, the hill can feel brutally long.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
You will be running with 10K runners at the start of the race, so just know that not everybody is running at marathon pace. Also, don’t forget about the hills!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
100% the most beautiful course I’ve run!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
The course itself isn’t tough, but it’s the combination of heat and humidity with two long climbs that can feel challenging. Because the weather’s average has been hotter than ideal, I’d say this isn’t a PR course.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Yes, besides the lack of shuttles and start line chaos, everything else is well run! The expo and finish line festival are very well organized.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
I feel that a majority of people are targeting this race for the aesthetics or the no-limit on time rule, so it’s not a super competitive field. However, there are still plenty of people that I saw at the front of the race!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Based on my experience, the hotels and race registration weren’t competitive just due to the size of the race. Flights can be expensive, so make sure to look early or fly in a day or two earlier/later!
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Aid stations are pretty frequent at the start of the race, but they are more spread out during the Kamehameha Highway portion of the course. Make sure to get your hydration early and often before you reach the highway!
Weather and typical race conditions
Not blistering hot temperature-wise (average 72 F°/22 C°), but humidity is something to watch out for (92% humidity at the start).
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Carrying a water bottle is nice, as there are refillable water stations!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
The first half is a little difficult because of how early the start time is. Additionally, there are just so many people at the start, it can be hard to find your runner. However, the finish line is very nice for spectators!
How’s the Swag?
Very cool medal, but other than that, swag is pretty standard, with a finisher t-shirt and a free masalada at the end of the race.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
8/10! I love this race because of how friendly everybody is and the scenery, but running in the heat is pretty tough. If you’re already visiting Honolulu, or you just want to enjoy the course, I’d highly recommend running it!
Jonathan is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.
