This year is my second time running the Maui 5k, and it is a well organized event with a large field of runners and their families, since it supports Maui schools. The organizers have a packet pickup the day before which makes the race morning easier. When my wife and I arrived, there was some light rain at the registration area, but it stopped by the time everyone was directed to the start line.

I did about a half mile warmup and some strides at the start, talking with some of my friends also running the race. The course was well marked and separated from traffic with lines of cones.

The start was a low key, with a quick set and go from the race director. It was a little congested the first 400m as we descended toward Maalaea Harbor, but eventually the runners settled into the pace and there was plenty of room. The first mile was mostly downhill and level, and as we turned up from the Harbor to the Honoapiilani Highway we began a gradual climb for the next mile and a half. There was a aid station at about the two mile mark before the turnaround with cold water and enthusiastic volunteers.

After turning around back to the start, you get to see most of the runners following, which is encouraging as they cheer you on. The lane is well divided with a line of cones, and it is a steady downhill back to the finish across from Carl's Jr. The volunteers at the finish were helpful to direct you toward the line, and there was a large clock to see your finishing time.

After the race, there were bananas and water, plus a Zumba class and pounding music to keep everyone entertained as the finishers came in. For the younger runners, age group awards were offered for every two years, and the adult age groups were five year increments. The age group prizes were a customized "Maui 5k" water bottle with your ranking printed. A number of door prizes were given away at the finish, it was a fun event with several hundred finishers. Timing and results were not chip timed, but an overall printout was available very shortly after the race was finished.