Kauai looks friendly from Poipu, then the full marathon climbs inland through Lawai and Kalaheo for roughly 620 estimated meters of gain. We share the first 11 miles with the half before the hard course splits away and eventually returns to the ocean. September typically runs 23 to 29 degrees with humidity. Full-marathon pricing moves between about $220 and $315, so the stored $265 is a midpoint rather than a promise.
Better info coming — we're still verifying 6 fields on this race.
Why we'd pick it
- 620 m of climbing: rolling, not pancake-flat.
- Open registration — no lottery to lose.
- A non-racing partner gets a real weekend here — 4/5.
- Race day usually sits 23–29°C, about 30% chance of rain.
The course
The marathon and half share roughly 11 miles before the full turns inland through Lawai and Kalaheo, stacking long tropical rollers before returning to an oceanfront finish in Poipu. The full is widely treated as one of the harder US road marathons. Heat, humidity, and around 620 meters of estimated gain punish anyone who races the scenic opening too aggressively.
