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."
Poor Lisa of Phoenix, Arizona, falls on sharp lava but refuses to quit.
Up this way, Lisa!
Volunteers!
Climb this mountain; note orange marker to the right
The volunteers camped overnight for our morning run
Rocky trail & still climbing; looked like a scene in some extraterrestrial
movie; was waiting for something to jump up from behind a rock!
Oops! Dead end! What a marathon!
Nope, not a stake to delineate a property line! Ah, almost half way!
Those sprayed white spots help keep us in the right direction;
look carefully to identify the rocks that line the way. Mounds of rocks
like
the one on the right also help point the way. Such mounds also considered
sacred honoring offered to the Pele, the goddess of volcanoes.
still climbing in elevation; nice weather this year, around 60-65F by my estimation
Ah, lucky 13, midway through the marathon and what a view!
Course is on the right of this natural slab-like lava formations
burnt by lava, steam or heat - fallen limbs
note orange marker in foreground- pass it then look for the next, not close enough together if you ask me
follow the orange marker - and its not saying to jump in here ha1 ha!
Always good to see volunteers. Delighted to see that they have a truck which can only mean....
There's finally a road! Hilina Pali Road -
"rough pavement, uphill" - but here after getting out of the tough
lava fields, almost kisses the feet
with an initial decline.
14 mile mark, back uphill for a long, long way
up, up, and away - Momma can't help you now
It's Cowman again!