We are thrilled to announce the date of the Time for Wine, 5k, 3 Hour, and 6 hour will be August 21st, 2021. The 6 hour race will begin at 7 am, the 3 hour race at 8 am, and the 5 k will start at 9 am.
The Course: is a 1 mile loop course, including a mix of grass fields, jeep road, single track, and rock scrambles. The course is 95% runnable with a very brief section including technical rocks. The route will wind thru the winery’s land, vineyards both abandoned and active, and navigate thru a hand cleared private trail only open for our events use. Each mile has approximately 40 feet of elevation gain, and is seemingly “flat” but at 4000 feet elevation those small climbs will begin to add up for the 3 & 6 hour course runners.
Our course weaves thru the beautiful vineyard and tea fields.
Aid Stations: There will be a location to leave your bag for self aid at the start/finish location, as well as some basics provided at the 1 mile loop section. It is important to stay moving and not drink too much wine while running! Our volunteers will be there at the 1 mile loop start/ finish to help you if needed.
Time Rules: Only complete loops count, so pace yourself accordingly, if you have 15 minutes to the finish time of your race, only the loop you complete will count, so choose your final lap accordingly.
Bonus: All racers get a free wine or tea tasting included with race entry.
All ages welcome, with parental consent and supervision.
Packet Pickup: Friday August 20th 4:30 – 6 pm, at the Volcano Winery, or beginning at 6 am race morning. Please wear a mask, and minimize extra people with you while checking in with Alyx.
We are thrilled to announce the date of the Under the Moon 100k & 50 k will be June 26th 2021 beginning at 2 pm for the 200kin Hilo, at 5pm for the 100k in Hilo, 10 pm for the 50k (at Saddle Road & Mauna Kea access road), and the stroke before midnight for the 25k at Kilohana Hunters Station!Â
Check in will be at 1:30 for the 200k, 4:30 pm for the 100 k, from the KTA parking lot – 50 E Puainako St. Hilo, at 9:30 pm for the 50 k at the Puu Huluhulu Cinder Cone Parking Lot across from the Saddle Road & Mauna Kea Access Road Intersection, and at 11:30 pm at Kilohana Hunters Station for the 25k. Masks will be required to check in with Alyx & Billy ( by a Green Kia Soul). Please ONLY have runners come up to us ( keep your crews in the car ), and please allow 6 feet from any other runners you may see while getting final instructions. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=78991
An excited group of 50k runners before a 10 pm takeoff for a fast downhill course.
The course: For the 100 k it is 100% Pavement with most of the elevation gain in the first half. The route is approx. 7500 feet of climbing, and 5000 feet of descent! The course is alongside Saddle Road from Hilo to Waimea. For the 200k, it is double this 🙂 with your challenging out and back, be mindful the way back is “easier” with the last 50k being a hearty 6000 foot descent.
For the 50k it is 100% Pavement with 700 feet elevation gain, and 5000 feet elevation descent.
For the 25k, it is 100% pavement with nearly 3000 feet of descent.
Relays: Your vehicle must completely pull off the road, and make sure it does not block traffic, runners, or other runners vehicles. If you cannot safely do so, you must not pull over to swap runners. At all times on the course one runner must be running.
Aid Stations:Â Runners will be required to be self sufficient. Runners are required to have their own “water and food drops” or crew meeting them along the course. We ask IF you have a crew that they, pull well off the road and shoulder allowing enough space for other runners to pass safely. Runners will be responsible for getting back to the start from Waimea to Hilo to Mauna Kea Access Road intersection or to Kilohana Hunters Station ( wherever they began ) .
Cut Off Times: 40 hours for the 200k, but you must be at the 100k point before 18 hours. It is 18 hours firm for completion of the 100k. You must reach the top of Saddle Road by Mauna Kea Recreation area in 10 hours.
Required gear list will include: Reflective apparel and lights is required for all runners. Temperatures could be between the low 40’s with strong wind and rain to the mid 70’s. You are responsible for your warmth and well being. Prepare accordingly.
History: If you would like to read more about the history of those who have run this route when it was a race organized by Kawika Spaulding please click here: https://hurthawaii.blogs.com/hurthawaii/2006/04/big_island_sadd_1.html It is important to remember we will be going from Hilo to Waimea this year.
Eager 100k runners showed up early to check in, in 2020.
We are thrilled to announce the date of the Mauna Kea Challenge will be April 18th,2020 with the 50 miler beginning at 5:30 am and the 50 k beginning at 6 am!
Above the clouds about 7 miles from the start of the course.
The course: will be a tough climbing heavy out and back, runnable 100% dirt course on 10jeep roads, that will make you wonder how the jeep made it up! The 50 mile will feature approximently 7500 feet of elevation gain, with the primary gain being the first half to the course, and the 50 k will feature around 5000 feet of elevation gain with the primary gain also being the first half of the course. Starting at 6000 feet it would be easy to underestimate these numbers, but the exposed style of jeep trail, and the intensity of relentless climbing will have you working hard all day.
50 k elevation chart50 k Map50 mile elevation chart50 Mile Map
Aide Stations/ Drop Bags: The 50 Miler will have 3 aide station options Mile 12/25/38, while the 50 k will have 2 aide station options Mile 12/19. Drop bags will be placed at the mile 12/38 for 50 miles and at the 12/19 location for 50 k racers.
Much of the course is very runnable, and you will enjoy pushing yourself to new limits as you climb into the clouds and above.
Cut Off Times: Due to the environment being unpredictable at night, permitting, and elevations, we have imposed cut off times that will require you to move consistently. For this course the 50 milers and 50 k must complete by 9:30 pm giving the 50 mile 16 hours and the 50 k 15 hours and 30 minutes. This means 50 milers must move a little faster than 3 miles an hour ( hiking uphill and running downhill is possible here), and 50 k racers would be able to hike the course for completion at 2 miles per hour.
The Hawaiian silversword– known by its Hawaiian name ‘ahinahina (“very grey”)– is an exceptionally rare and endangered plant unique to Haleakala on Maui and Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Required gear list will include: Jacket with a waterproof seam sealed lining, 2 headlamps or lights or 1 light with spare batteries in working condition, baseball cap or bandana, minimal 300 calories nutrition at all times, survival blanket, 1.5 liter water capacity as well as your own cup or container of choice – we are single use cup free, & your wag bag of choice. Blaze orange is the state of Hawaii’s recommended color choice, but any brightly colored outfit is allowed, please minimize black, grey, or camo colored clothing choices. This is a hunting location and we want to make sure everyone is as brightly colored as possible. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5330495.pdf
Pack it in, pack it out. This is a minimal style race and we expect you to pack in your own gear and pack out your own waste. Drop bags will be available for the racers, but you are expected to remove all of your own waste. This includes your own wag bag, as this is a environmentally sensitive location we expect you to “handle your own shit”, and leave wag bags only at marked receptacles. https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm
We can’t wait to see you out for the Mauna Kea Challenge course!
Packet Pickup: will be between 4 – 6 pm April 17th (the day before the race) at on the makai ( ocean ) side of LiliĘ»uokalani Park and Gardens in Hilo. Otherwise we will be at the race start early and able to give you everything then also.
One of the best parts of traveling is reliving the feelings imprinted from certain moments.
— Billy Barnett.
Hello world!
We hope you will join us as we launch Hawaii Mountain Running! We will have races, clinics, events, and coaching available. We hope you will travel to our island to run with us or experience a race here and expand your volume of memories to include our slice of paradise.
Hawaii Mountain Running 