You can start, and finish, the Kauai Marathon

So you want to run the Kauai Marathon or the Kauai Half Marathon on Aug. 31? Great. Read on.

You say you don’t care and aren’t interested? Perhaps we can change your mind. Read on.

Both are terrific runs. You’ll never forget standing at the starting line, torches lighting up the darkness before that 6 a.m. go time, spectators crowded around, waiting to watch you and more than 1,000 others begin your journey that will take you from Poipu, through the Tunnel of Trees, through Omao and Koloa, back to Poipu for an oceanfront finish in front of adoring friends and family.

Or, you could just sleep in, but no one will cheer for you.

The half is 13.1 miles and good news here, you don’t have to deal with the hills on this course. It’s actually an ideal course because you get the uphills out of the way early, when you feel fresh, fast and young.

The full is 26.2. But that remaining 13.1 miles isn’t just twice as difficult. It will leave you wondering why in the world you ever listened to some guy encourage you to sign up for this race. A marathon that goes badly, well, there’s no nice way to put it. Pain and suffering come to mind. You might even tell your spouse to hit you with a frying pan if you ever talk about marathons again.

Anyone in reasonable shape, with some training and commitment, can complete the half. That’s not to sell it short. Running 13.1 miles is tough. But it’s not nutty.  But running 26.2 miles, well, that, to many, is nuts. And that’s because it requires an entirely different commitment. You’ll have to give up your mornings and nights. Your diet will likely have to change. You’ll need time on weekends for long runs. You’ll subscribe to Runner’s World, watch movies like “Chariots of Fire,” and read books about ultramarathons. You’ll soon be buying energy bars, drinking protein shakes and eating more bananas than you thought possible.

You’ve got a little over four months to prepare. Sixteen weeks is enough to train to cover 26.2 miles. But either way, here are some basics for either race to help you get started.

• Register. If you put off signing up, you likely won’t train. And the longer you don’t train, the less likely you are to sign up. Registering, paying the fee, means you’re committed. That act alone is the most important step you’ll take on your road to running well.

• Don’t quit. Probably after running for the first time in the heat and humidity here and feeling like you’re going to collapse, you’ll wonder why you wasted your money signing up for the Kauai Marathon. Stick with it. Whatever it takes. Reward yourself with a trip to Tahiti Nui for a cold beer or dinner.

• Find a place you like to run or walk. There’s a loop road of 3.25 miles near the Marriott Resort that’s for the most part free of traffic. Ke Ala Hele Makalae is a beautiful place to train. Above all, avoid the shoulders of highways. Just too dangerous. For some reason, drivers here love to ride in the shoulder of the road on turns. Watch out for dogs. Loose dogs are not your best friend. Sleeping Giant is a nice hike, but it’s a poor place to run, unless you want to twist an ankle.

• Shoes. Running is a great sport because it doesn’t require you to invest thousands or even hundreds of dollars. Really, all you need are shoes, socks, shorts, a visor, sunglasses and sunscreen. The key is buying a good pair of shoes. Don’t go cheap. I know better and still couldn’t resist a pair of superlight training shoes on the clearance shelf for $15. I now have an aching left heel and achilles and spend my nights with my foot in a bucket of ice water. So if you get anything out of this column, please invest in good shoes.

• Walk. Depending on your level of fitness, don’t be afraid to walk. As a matter of fact, do walk, especially early in the training. As you build your base, walk a little less, run a little more.

• Find friends to train with you. Running goes by faster when you’re talking with a buddy. And come race day, it’s much more fun, while you’re standing around for hours waiting for the race to start, if you’ve got someone with you for conversation. It also gives you someone who will care about your many running stories, which bore normal people.

• Decide the best time for running. The humidity here means you need to train mornings or late nights. Go with mornings. Avoid mid-afternoon runs. The heat and humidity could kill you. On that note, a fuel belt that carries water bottles, energy bars and cellphone, would be wise. Not a lot of water fountains out there, and the phone comes in handy when you realize your legs have buckled and you need a ride.

That’s enough to get started. You should be well inspired by now.

We’ll talk more in future columns here in TGI about specifics of training for the half and the marathon. We’ll take a look at speedwork, tempo runs, long runs, hills,  pacing, the important of hydration, how to find that elusive inspiration, the infinite benefits of running, and even a little about cross training but not much because I personally believe it’s a waste of time if you want to run fast (but push-ups are a good idea).

But for now, take that first step and register. You can thank me at the finish line.

Or hunt me down and hit me with a frying pan.

• Bill Buley is editor-in-chief of the Kauai Marathon. He’s completed about 20 marathons and will be running the Kauai Marathon on Aug. 31.