VOLCANO MARATHON COURSE

Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Marathon, Hawaii 2007
Photography by runner Rodney Pygoya Chang

"Called the 'world's toughest measured marathon,' this race challenges the most advanced
and hardy endurance runners. The course covers extremely tough and uneven terrain, lava
fields in the Ka'u Desert and 1,000 foot elevation changes."

Pygoya at the Kilauea Military Camp office, staging area of the run

Outside the administration building of KMC; most here for 5K, 10K and half marathon runs.

Getting psyched up, assembling for the start; 181 at the starting line of 206 that signed up

Pygoya meets famous world marathoner "Cowman" -"World Peace Thru Running"

6 a.m. start, 4000' elevation

going towards the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

Last sight of a "pack" of runners as the field quickly spreads out, leaving the slower ones like me running almost alone.

a rainbaw at this turn to the left

first Kilauea Caldera crater sighting on route

"What's cooking?"- Pygoya wears alien cap he bought earlier during the month in Roswell, New Mexico;
disappointment no UFO was seen on this run as a psychic had predicted. Went to Roswell to promote
his sci-fi novel using the Roswell Incident.