This was a 5k night run at Kualoa Ranch. Some people (probably because they didn't read the…read moreinstructions didn't register) didn't get a headlight. If you didn't have a light, it probably was a little more challenging as this was at night, hence the name "Nite Run." Right from the start one of our friends got injured as she didn't see the cattle guard and her foot went through the metal bars making a huge bump on her shin. What was messed up was that the other cattle guards were coned off to avoid them and to go around but not the first one. I felt bad for her but when she said she was going to suck it up and still do it I kicked some dirt on her and said see you at the finish line. I'm joking, I just kicked some dirt on her. Like I said the run was a 5k. It was for the most part on a dirt roadway. There was a pretty steep part that kind of kicked my butt. I thought I was going up Koko Head for a minute. Argh, Kill me now! lol They said there were supposed to be some kind of brain test or something as well as strength test which they had. I believe they went over the question and what the correct answer was supposed to be but what looked like a place they might have had someone asking you a question, there was no one, no one anywhere which was a little disappointing. Maybe next time they will have something. Another thing that was disappointing was that you didn't have to do the strength test and made it optional. One was you had to grab a sandbag (maybe around 10lbs) and carry it and go under a couple of beams. Next one was walking on rope (around 20'). It did get bottle necked as some people took forever to cross and when some fell they ran back and tried again. The wait time was around 12 minutes or so. They had at least 5 different lines. They also had another type of obstacle course... If you remember the movie Pretty Woman when they were on the Polo Field and the announcer says to "avoid the Steaming Divot." That's right, there were horse manure here and there that you had to hopscotch around. As most know Jurassic Park was filmed there and one part of the course you could hear dinosaurs in the background. Just thought that was cool of them. Maybe if one came out I would of ran faster. I heard that they ran out of some headlamps and t-shirts but was able to get more by the time people finished. Water stations were around the course. Free water, gatorade. At the end they brought out some free desserts. Had a couple of food vendors, music, Mc, and acrobatic act. Pretty fun event, especially when doing it with cool people.

Recently did the "Nite Run" at Kualua Ranch. I have to say, I LOVED it! It was not only fun (at…read morenight! Headlamps! Costume contest! Obstacles! Cows mooing LOL!) BUT it was pretty tough!! After doing the Glow Hawaii Run the night before (easy, shorter than advertised) it was nice to be able to really push myself and race. The trail was mostly dirt road but there were areas that were gravel road, grassy areas,etc. Started up a hill, did an obstacle, more killer hill, followed by another hill. Didn't expect that! Race was also longer than a 5k, didn't expect that either LOL! ;) There were a few cow patties and cattle gates so just trying not to break an ankle kept me really paying attention to where my feet were LOL. The whole set up was great. Great food venders, plenty of potties, easy packet pickup and we parked pretty close to the race area so heading back to the car was easy if you needed to put stuff away. NO FEE for parking. Loved that too. So many races make you park far away, pay for parking, pay to "store" your stuff they give you at the race,etc. I loved that I didn't feel nickel and dimed for this event. I purchased it as a Living Social deal and it was easy-peasy to get my tshirt, headlamp and number. LOVED that we were all chipped, gave me more incentive to run and try to get a decent time. They did run out of headlamps w/batteries (LOL) but we got there early so we got ones w/batteries. I'd definitely do this race again. I can't wait until they plan another one!!

Pros: 1. Course had mile markers and six passes at aid…read morestations that had water and Gatorade 2. Orange cones throughout course but only one to distinguish between the three distances 3. One stretch along diamond head that showed the beach, one inland 4. Aid station volunteers were helpful 5. Times race with early enough time before it got hot and humid (5:30 start) for half 6. Plenty of police to guide the route and stop cars and even an escort at the head 7. A tiny metal turtle luck charm 8. Orange slices and pocari sweat at the finish 9. Big cheers at the sprint finish! Cons: 1. Mostly through residential streets so not much to see in terms of scenery. Quite a boring course. A trail half here would be awesome. 3. No snacks at aid stations 4. Quiet race. No music at the start at the park and minimal support throughout race but quite zen so it's fine 5. Thin race shirt worse quality than 3 dollar swap meet. Just super thin cotton with white print. No thought into design. 6. Basic print medal usually reserved for low end races that cost 35 bucks in Cali. The medals looking at from 10 years ago looked best with an actual flower shape and well designed. It'd have been much better to do one thing well, like a good medal, than to do many of the other things poorly, crap shirt, crap medal, crap stations, crap mc. 7. There really wasn't an expo as only one local run shop showed up, the run lab and some old swag from previous races for sale. I'd much prefer a trail race through the mountains inland with views at the top. This one needed a much better course. This one had 400 feet of vert but a really flat vibe

This run course is nice bc it's Hawaii. The event is very unprofessional. Their site states that…read morefamily/friends can track the runners but there was no such tracking device on the runners and nobody knew until I asked around. Event lady stopped the music to find out if aid station workers showed up. As finishers arrived, nobody knew if they were 5mi, 15k or half marathon finishers. We were all confused. Maybe they should have different bib colors? Or even some commentating? The lady had no music, barely said anything to acknowledge the finishers and after finishers, the park was underwhelming. People got Gatorade or water and then went home. It was so silent, no music or much going on.. Also, that event lady said very little for like 40 min and then emphasized that only racers eat the snacks and throw your trash in the trash cans. That was it. I think she's raking in the money at over 100 dollars per racer at about 1,000 running it, it's a racket. Unorganized and yellow shirts about being mean and now I know why. She does three of these events. You'd think by now she would have it dialed in.

Yelp 365 Challenge x 2 #272/365…read more Yelp 100 Review Challenge #16/100 "Bring sally up I bring sally down Lift and squat Gotta tear the ground" I thought of this song as I was running all over Aloha Stadium yesterday getting very intimate with the yellow sections, the orange sections and FOUR of the spirals going up and going down. The "gotta tear the ground" part is probably relating to the total of 120 burpees I did because I did not do the monkey bars, failed epically at the football toss and spear throw, and waved my hand at the rope climb that everyone who was shopping for t-shirts at the Swap Meet could watch. And let me just say...as I sit here at my desk typing this review, my thighs are on fire. Not "this girl is on fire" but my thighs are on fire. My calves are taking a beating, which is why I am using calf compression socks underneath my pants because it helps. Anyhow, they have also held this Spartan Race Stadium Sprint series at Fenway Park and other stadiums around the United States and international (i.e., Mexico), which is 3 miles with 15+ obstacles. Because no mud or trails could be replicated into the stadium scenery, Spartan Race utilized the stairs, the sections, the spirals and the locker rooms to give Spartans and Sparkles (people who were about to become Spartans when they cross the finish line) to make up for the trails that is normally used for their off-course trail races. The starting line began by gate 5 with waves of 15 going every minute to prevent bottlenecking. You started running up the stairs into the north end zone. All zones used (north, Makai, south, mauka) running up and down the yellow sections and orange sections as well as running up or down the four spirals. In between the running up and down the sections and spirals, you encountered the following obstacles (30 burpee penalty if you cannot complete an obstacle): -6 foot wooden walls at the spirals that you had to run up -Tire pull on the third level bridge -Traverse wall -Hercules Hoist (sand buckets) -Monkey bars -Football toss -Spear throw -Water bucket carry -Lava seats /squats -Orange section row climb -Over, under, through the wall (to exit north end zone tunnel) -30 Step ups / jump ups (on the field) -Fifteen burpees in the locker room (south end zone) -Rope climb outside the entrance of the aloha stadium / ticket booth -Hands-free pushups (locker room) -Cargo net climb -Gladiators to the Finish line! What did I earn after I crossed the finish line: -memories that will forever be shared at family dinner because I ran this with my son AND dad! AROO! -A beautiful medal specifically made for this event -A finisher's shirt -Cramping in my calves -A sore body -And short-timer's memory because I have pre-registered for their Spartan Race trifecta weekend event that will consist of the Spartan Sprint (3+ miles); Spartan Super (8+ miles) and Spartan Beast (13+ miles) If you are interested in doing a Spartan Race and have signed up for the upcoming race but unsure of what to do, Spartan Race has free workout of the day as well as food of the day that gives great tips and suggestions to prepare for a race. There is also Spartan workouts that are held at Patsy Mink park in Waipio or HI Life Athletics that you can sign up to join their workout classes. Spartan Race street team also holds outings to Koko Head to build up the Spartan Spirit (AROOOO!) to get you excited and looking forward to race day. Overall: Price: Get the early bird special or look for a Spartan Race Hawaii Street Team member (Me! There are also other yelpers who are part of the Spartan Race Hawaii Street Team too!) for promotion discounts. Staff and Volunteers: Amazing! Pre-race and on-site, they were helpful and encouraging. Recommend: Definitely Obstacle course racing is a great object lesson of life. You have obstacles that you can either stop and not progress or go over, under, or around the obstacle to push through no matter what situation you are facing in life. For me, there is no excuse especially when it comes to life because you have to breathe to live and this is exactly what Spartan Race will teach you. Get off your couch, do something and start living. ***Forgot to add that there was also a small obstacle course for kids on the field and they earn a finisher's shirt and medal too. There was entertainment with music by Chaotic Five and there was also a zipline too!. There were vendors also, which I must make a note to check out Arm Bar(?) because they were giving out samples of their juice***

Tiffany Y always gets the reviews right!…read more Aloha Stadium was a different experience! For me, it was time for me to get a little crazy. I was fortunate enough to have done it TWICE in the same day. I participated in the Hurricane Heat which is the first run of the day. It is untimed. We started with a mini workout and ran the course with the people who put the race together. The second time I did it was the timed event. I actually wasnt sure if I was going to be able to run the second time, which is the one that "counted". My legs were already beginning to feel like jello and running the second time was a little harder because I already knew which parts of the run I was dreading! However, I finished it and in a time that was quicker than I thought. If you run in a stadium, expect to do a lot of bleacher running. I dont want to give up a lot of what we did because it will probably dissuade you from wanting to do it. But dont dog it until youve tried it. Stadium series is gone, you missed your chance...but be ready because theyre back in August, and this time....it will test your mental and physical strength!

By far one of the more fun mud runs I've done! We ran the 2019, 10am heat and it was a blast ever…read morein the drizzle! The obstacles were the right level of challenging for the casual OCR'er though I wish the high walls had footholds for those of us height and upper body challenged lol! The river walk was refreshing after the mud crawls but definitely watch your knees because the net crawl included lots of rocks! Outside of the obstacles, the event was SUPER organized even with the ranch tour groups passing us by. Seriously will run this one again BUT will have to take a 4-wheel drive truck to get OUT of the parking lot. Huge thanks to the guy behind us that helped us get the car out of the mud!

Yelp 365 Challenge x 2 #277/365…read more Yelp 100 Challenge #21/100 You always read about supporting local and buying local. But, you mainly associate it with food (produce or meats), clothing, household items, etc. However, here is something local in regards to sporting events! And not just any sporting event but an OBSTACLE COURSE RACE / MUD RUN EVENT! I'm so surprised that there is no review of this event unless it is under a different name? The Makahiki Challenge has been around for the past three years I believe because I remember one of my friends sharing about her experience last year or the year prior but I paid it no mind until the Warrior Dash. One of my co-workers was so hyped about completing the Warrior Dash and the fact that it was stress-free for her because there were no penalties if you decided not to complete an obstacle, that she was anxious for the Warrior Dash to roll around again. I shared with her about the Makahiki Challenge. She signed up. I decided to sign up and surprise, surprise...my family signed up too. What is the Makahiki Challenge? From their website info: Makahiki Challenge is meant to be an annual challenge for the people of Hawaii and it's visitors. It is a chance to compete, challenge ourselves, celebrate, enjoy, and respect this beautiful island that has continued to provide for us. Here's a few more things about the Makahiki Challenge: -It's held at Kualoa Ranch (same location as the Spartan Race) -It's 3+ miles -10 to 12 obstacles, which includes an AMAZING huge slide! -Cool swag -Beautiful finisher's medal -Paina after-party (I didn't get to stay but it looked fun and crazy!) with well-known local bands -Beautiful scenery -It's filled with aloha and full of fun -The price of the event was really reasonable for an obstacle course/mud run event -No penalties if you do not or cannot complete an obstacle -Local sporting event with local sponsors (Note: If you're a company looking to sponsor or volunteer check them out if you want to help out this event. It's worth it!) The 2014 Makahiki Challenge was my first year to do this event and I have to say that it was one of the most fun events especially because my family joined in (we created our own team name and wore team shirts). The registration and packet pick-up was smooth. The obstacles were challenging, fun yet sturdy (I still can't get over the slide). It didn't matter if it rained in the 2nd half of the race because it was getting too hot anyways. From the parking to the vendors, everyone was super friendly and helpful. In my opinion, if you're looking for an event that is not really intimidating, family-friend/group oriented or individual and local with the taste of the islands, be on the lookout for the next Makahiki Challenge (2015!!!) because you don't want to miss out on this obstacle course/mud run event. Check out their website or Facebook page!

For years, I have told my friends and coworkers about how amazing the Hapalua is, so when one of my…read morecolleagues asked if I wanted to participate with her, I knew I would regret it if I didn't go! Since we were just planning to walk, I set up an 8-week training regiment to prepare for the day and jumped on a plane with her a couple days before the race! Packet pickup was pretty easy, although it was moved from the Convention Center to the Blaisdell, which meant paid parking was needed. Some of the vendors were incredibly pushy this year, but everything else went smoothly. The Hapalua's partnership with the Outrigger Hotels made it easy to be close to the starting line. The morning of the race, we walked to our section in the back and waited with anticipation for the signal to begin. Although intense storms were expected, we lucked out and barely even faced a drizzle during mile 9. There were plenty of hydration and medical stops along the way, and many people came out to cheer on the racers from Waikiki to Kaka'ako. Everyone was so kind, supportive, and joyful--just like I remembered from my previous Hapalua races. Of course, everyone looks forward to the snacks at the end, especially those fresh malasadas. (It's amazing how motivating those beautiful sugar crystals are when your legs are screaming at you!) We happily enjoyed our treats as we walked back to the hotel with our medals. I don't know the next time I'll be able to participate in the Hapalua, but I'll gladly give up my precious vacation days the next time I'm invited to go!

Race organizers do not communicate well and do not respond or call back to your inquiries. This…read morecomment is not on the race itself or the experience. The course has always been fun.

Very disappointing experience. During our visit on the evening of 6/19, the manager on duty barked…read moreat my 9-year-old for accidentally standing in the wrong spot. Anyone with children knows that kids forget and it may happen again without intention. It was an innocent mistake, and there was absolutely no reason for the manager to speak to a child in such an aggressive manner. When I calmly explained that concerns about a child's behavior should be addressed to the parents rather than directed aggressively at the child, the manager became combative and dismissive instead of apologizing or handling the situation professionally. A family attraction should know how to treat families with basic respect. The issue was the manager's attitude and lack of professionalism. What should have been a fun family outing was overshadowed by an unpleasant interaction with someone who clearly lacks the temperament for customer-facing management with young children and families. I won't be returning, and I would encourage other families to boycott this establishment. This is absolutely not the type of environment they want for their children.

Took my family here to kill some time in our day, but boy not much was killed. The course is about…read more18 holes but the course is all in one small building. The obstacles are cute, but small & there's not much walking room. If you have small kids & are planning on bringing a stroller, DON'T. It will not fit! In short, I wouldn't spend my time or money here -- I'd rather find something else to do!

Been volunteering for the Na Wahine Festival for several years now…read more K.C. and Try Fitness provide women of all ages, shapes, sizes and skill levels to participate in a multi-sport event of a Sprint Triathlon, Super Sprint Tiathlon, Sprint Duathlon or Swim and Spin. A great opportunity for fitness in a nurturing environment and an inspiring event to realize that being healthy is an attainable lifestyle and an investment well worth the effort. Try Fitness!

Participant: As a participant, this triathlon was my first…read moreever triathlon entered in 2013. Na Wahine means the women, so this is an all female race. Which means that that is the best race ever!!! Race director is KC Carlberg and she's been in the business forever as a triathlon coach, athlete and race director. Which means, she knows her shitttttt. I participated in the super sprint distance and finished at a decent time. The super sprint distance is a great distance to get your feet wet in the triathlon world as each leg is relatively short and doable to train on your own (but by no means easy). My co-worker and I trained together during the summer months, about 3 months, 3-4x a week, for this race (usually held the second week of September) and I would say we did relatively ok for our first ever triathlon. Plus, they always do a drawing for a free bicycle (donated by IT&B) for participants (must be present to win) and my roommate won this year (2013)!!! WHOOOHOOO. Volunteer: After participating in this race, in the two years following, I have been a volunteer setting up bike racks the day prior to race day. On race day, I'm usually around handling out water to participants on the run, etc. It's great giving back to a race that got me started in triathlon. Super Sprint Triathlon Distance: 250 meter swim at Queen's Beach 12 mile bike ride from Kapiolani Park to Kahala Mall gas station and back 1.5 mile run around Kapiolani Park

JBPHH Half Marathon is an annual half marathon that runs throughout Hickam Airfield and Pearl…read moreHarbor Naval Shipyard. Race day for the 2017 run was Saturday, August 19. Links pertaining to the half marathon and how to sign up are listed below. Registration was $30 if registering early (includes t-shirt), $40 was the next tier, and $45 was if registering on race day. Entry was limited to the first 800 participants. Base access was required. Packet pick up was the Friday and Saturday a week before the run at Hickam Fitness Center. My packet included a reusable bag, t-shirt, bib, mylap tracker (shoelace type), towel, Gatorade energy gel pack, pamphlets, and a map. JBPHH Half Marathon was advertised as a flat and fast run, inviting runners, walkers, and strollers to participate. Awards were given to the top 3 finishers in each category: active duty male, active duty female, youth (17 and younger), men and women (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+), overall men & women and men & women stroller. Run started at Earhart Track (Hickam Airfield) at 5:00AM, and free parking was available across from Earhart Track near Memorial Movie Theatre. The overall course was flat and nicely covered by overhanging trees. The route was interesting since I've never ventured to those parts of Hickam Airfield and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. There were ~10 water stations throughout the course, and at the turn around point (~mile 6.5) there was a station offering water, Gatorade, Gatorade energy gel packs, and orange slices. At the end of the course, volunteers provided waters, Gatorades, bananas, and oranges to participants. There were even massage stations available. This half marathon provided medals to finishing participants... a pleasant surprise since I wasn't expecting one at all! The few issues I had with this run were.. - mile markers were not available throughout run - I SWEAR this run was more than 13.1 miles.... (Fitbit tracker tracked 15.18 miles???) - no photographers to take pictures of the participants.. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the JBPHH Half Marathon, and felt that the organization of both the packet pickup and event was decent. It was nice experiencing a smaller half marathon where I had a lot of room to run. Though for the price even when registering early, compared to other bigger half marathons JBPHH Half Marathon was a bit lacking..... Hopefully next time mile markers are available for participants to accurately track their progress. http://www.greatlifehawaii.com/events/fb5ef36e-6b17-4e7c-ac60-b9234e348530 http://www.active.com/honolulu-hi/running/distance-running-races/11th-annual-jbphh-half-marathon-2017?int=72-2-A1&clckmp=activecom_home_activityfeed_eventlisting http://www.timelinehawaii.com/Results/Hickam%20Overall%2017.htm