Athletes HI Camp Smith 5K Grueler

Camp Smith 5K Grueler

Review: John Burns

This 10th annual event was held on the Camp Smith military base. Registration, and the start and finish line, were at Bordelon Field, high above fantastic views of Pearl Harbor and what seemed like a million square miles of other majestic scenery below. Whatever average 5K time you might usually run in another race, then add about 3 or more minutes for this one. Because, two big factors continue to make this run the most challenging and difficult 5K race in Hawaii. First, it starts at 11:30am in the morning, just as the burning and dehydrating affects of the sun are on its way toward peaking to intensity. Second, the race immediately heads uphill, then quickly approaches several steeper U-Turns which slow everyone down to a crawl, while you grunt and gasp for that thin fresh mountain air. You then head up less steep terrain, where the top of the hill always seems like it is just around the next corner. Once at the top, everyone exerts a triumphal surge around a large soccer field, and mentally prepare themselves for the trip back downhill. However, the course slightly deviates near the finish, allowing everyone to charge about 100 yards up the final and very challenging steep hill at the finish.

The 5K Grueler - - - - what a great race during a scenic lunch break ! ! !

Last Updated: September 20, 2006