KAPA‘A — James Willson found the event on the Internet. “I was doing a search for ‘Running Races’ and came across this event,” Willson, a visitor from Washington state, said, Saturday morning after completing the 8-mile segment of the first
KAPA‘A — James Willson found the event on the Internet.
“I was doing a search for ‘Running Races’ and came across this event,” Willson, a visitor from Washington state, said, Saturday morning after completing the 8-mile segment of the first Mayor-a-thon. “My son Brian and I thought we’d come out and give it a try.”
About 500 bicyclists, runners and walkers poured out of the Kapa‘a Beach Park as the first Mayor-a-thon got underway under the rapidly-warming morning lit up by clear skies at the Kapa‘a Beach Park.
Thomas Noyes, appointed gatekeeper of the event, said the idea was to send bicyclists out in waves to one end of the bicycle and pedestrian path while walkers were sent to the opposing end. Runners were mixed into the mix, the shorter segment runners going out ahead of the longer segment runners.
That plan accomodated the masses that turned out for the event coordinated by County of Kaua‘i and the Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition: Get Fit Kaua‘i.
Coinciding with the blessing and dedication of the path, Ke Ala Hele Makala‘e, Friday, the Mayor-a-thon also coincided with Olympic Day that took place across the nation on June 23 where mayors from more than 80 cities across the country celebrated the candidacy of Chicago, Ill. as the venue for the 2016 Olympics.
Bev Brody, Island coordinator for Get Fit Kaua‘i, said originally they planned for 300 participants with the goal of eventually getting mayors from the Outer Islands to participate.
But that number surpassed the committee’s expectations as the number of registrations surpassed 600 by Friday.
That sent Brody scrambling to accomodate the additional participants by ordering more event tank tops and arranging for more breakfasts.
“Everybody is going to leave with something,” Brody said. “Sweet Marie’s stepped up with some breakfasts and is providing muffins, and Papaya’s is gearing up for breakfast, too. We’re trying to accomodate everyone.”
At the dedication of Ke Ala Hele Makala‘e, Brody said she was getting phone calls from Tennessee when a couple discovered the event on the Internet and were trying to change their original destination to Kaua‘i, an island they had never
been to, to try out the event.
Representatives from the Kaua‘i Marathon 2009 were also on hand to sign up potential participants for either the full or half marathon that will take place on Sept. 6, the Labor Day weekend, based out of Po‘ipu.
“We already ran from the Coconut Marketplace,” said Josie Pablo, one of the Mayor-a-thon participants who was looking at the Kaua‘i Marathon information. “We’re going to run back, get our cars, run this event and then we’re supposed to bicycle out to Kilauea. It’s going to be a full day.”
