POIPU — The sight of Mary Daubert at the Sports and Fitness Expo was a good omen Friday at the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa. “I checked on the status of the storm early this morning,” said Daubert, county spokeswoman.
POIPU — The sight of Mary Daubert at the Sports and Fitness Expo was a good omen Friday at the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa.
“I checked on the status of the storm early this morning,” said Daubert, county spokeswoman. “It was steering away from us so I could come and do this (registration pickup). Otherwise, we would be in the Emergency Operation Center.”
Jeff Sacchini, founder of The Kauai Marathon, said the race is set for its 6 a.m. Sunday starting time and things look good.
“We looked at the weather forecasts and made the call,” Sacchini said. “Everything is a go.”
A steady flow of people moved through the Grand Hyatt’s ballroom to pick up their registration numbers and race information for The Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon. They also checked out the lifestyle vendors and Kauai Marathon shirts and other merchandise.
“I’m getting mentally prepared,” said Ursline Munar of Kekaha, working at the HMSA table. “I’m not running in this, nor have ever run this marathon, but with every person I speak with, I get closer and closer to doing this.”
HMSA was making its first appearance at the expo. The Wilcox Health System also became the expo’s presentation sponsor for the first time.
“I’m walking the half marathon,” said Faith Campbell, Wilcox community relations director. “Wilcox Health has sponsored the keiki race for the fourth year. This year, is our first time as the presenting sponsor for the Wilcox Health Sports and Fitness Expo.”
Debra “Dee Dee Aloha” Nantais said the smoothies at the Wilcox Health station were delicious, especially the strawberry.
“I’m not running,” Nantais said. “The only running I do is in-place on my trampoline. I’m trying to get the registration for my younger sister, Alice Dickow of Waikiki who is doing the full marathon. She is driven.”
But without the proper identification, Nantais was unable to secure her sister’s credentials.
“I kept worrying if this thing was going to go because of the storm,” Nantais said. “She’s my only sister after I lost my other sister to Lou Gehrig’s disease. This is my first time at the Grand Hyatt, and the clothes are of high quality. I even found a bag and a cap with reflective tape on it.”
Sacchini said the intent of the expo was to make it a community event.
“We may own The Kauai Marathon, but it belongs to the community,” he said. “We wanted partnerships with the community so this event becomes more than just picking up registration or late registration.”
Campbell said the wellness expo ties in with the Wilcox Health new mission of creating a healthier community.
“A lot of the Wilcox people are participating in The Kauai Marathon,” Campbell said. “The new mission of creating a healthier community means we get out into the community. This is just another fun way to be healthy.”
The expo continues today. The Fourth annual Kauai Marathon Keiki Run is at 9 this morning on the far west side of the Grand Hyatt.
