The 38th edition of the Visitor Industry Charity Walk on Saturday attracted thousands of walkers — and 163 runners — from around the island to the beautiful grounds of Waikoloa Beach Resort.
It is Hawaii’s largest single-day fundraising event for local charities, and is popularly known to be the only walk in the state where one can actually gain weight after crossing the finish line.
But that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Having the island’s best chefs crafting some of their most creative and delectable grinds along with live entertainment and random drawings, are well earned rewards that awaited for hungry participants who took on the daunting task of a 3.7-mile stroll.
“One of the most exciting things about this event is that people get up really early (6:45 a.m. event start) to come out to the Waikoloa Bowl and run or walk 3.7-miles to raise money for Hawaii Island charities,” said race organizer Kerstin Busse-Blunt. “This year there is about 55 charities that will receive monies from this event contributed by runners and walkers. Every dollar contributed will stay right here on the island so that’s really exciting.”
The statewide annual event traditionally held in May occurs on the Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Molokai, and Kauai. Yet only the Big Island features a fun running event that precedes the walk to help boost participation.
Busse-Blunt, who has been a part of the event over the last twenty years as a participant, volunteer and now, race organizer, said that each year the event moves to a new hotel venue for exposure and to encourage more participation from hotel staff and runners alike. Last year the event was held on the grounds of the Mauna Lani Resort.
“This year we have a new venue finishing at the Waikoloa Bowl,” she said. “We have a huge balloon arch finish line, all the food booths, excitement and entertainment all in one place so it’s a great venue.”
For nine-year old Kyle Ignacio, participating in the 3.7-mile run with his mother Kendra was a nice change of pace from the longer half marathon distance he has become accustomed to.
Last year Ignacio was the youngest Big Island competitor to complete the Triple Crown Half Marathon Race series – a combination of the island’s biggest 13.1-mile races — Hilo’s Big Island International Half Marathon, Kona Half Marathon, and the Volcano Rain Forest Run Half Marathon.
“I like running,” said a shy Ignacio. “It’s fun.”
Ignacio already has the first race of this year’s series under his belt. He finishing March’s Big Island International Half Marathon in an impressive time of 2 hours, 12 minutes and 1 second. With summer break just around the corner, Ignacio is looking forward to repeating the impressive accomplishment.
Beautiful clear skies and virtually no winds set the stage for what would become a hot and humid morning for runners taking on the 3.7-mile loop through Waikoloa Beach Resort.
Joshua Robinson lead the way for the men’s competition taking home his first Charity Run victory with an solid time of 24:13.
A few strides back was Rick Loy who crossed the finish line in 24:23, while Kona’s Tim Robinson rounded out the men’s top three with his time of 24:47.
The women’s race witnessed several exchanges for the lead with Kyle’s mom, Paauilo’s Kendra Ignacio, leading the charge over the first mile. From there, Sophia Cash used her long strides to sprint to the front to take control of the lead, and Alicia Greenwell moved her way up into third.
While it seemed that the top three women would continue to jostle for the lead position until the end, I too, decided to give it a shot while pushing my sons, Cole and Raen, in a double stroller.
I have to admit, finding myself in the lead as I pushed 90-lbs over a course that featured a few steep hills was no easy feat. But it helped to receive encouraging cheers from other runners and volunteers to keep my pace going all the way to the finish line to win in a time of 25:40.
Ignacio was able to pull away from Cash and Greenwell over the last half mile to finish second in 26:17. Cash sprinted in to secure third place for the women at 26:40, with Greenwell right on her heels at 26:42.
Kyle Ignacio made the run look easy as he finished with a fabulous time of 30:47.
While the thousands of walkers meandered their way through the course, occasionally stopping at various aid stations filled with sugar popsicles, fruit, health bars, and chocolate candy, John Kale also enjoyed his morning stroll – with use of crutches.
“I just got my cast off yesterday,” Kale said of his broken right ankle. “It’s been about six weeks since I injured it and so I still need to use crutches. But I wanted to do this as I do it every year with my family. It’s a good charity, good support, gets you out there, and gets you having fun.”
At the end of the morning, it was yet another great turnout for another amazing event and Busse-Blunt couldn’t have been happier seeing everyone’s smiling faces, all gung-ho to break a sweat for charity.
“We are all committed, we are all one community, and we are all doing this together. Runner, walkers, young kids, older people – it doesn’t matter who you are, we are in this community together and this is what this event is all about.”
Off-island racing
Podium finishes went to two Big Islanders last weekend at Sunday’s Honolulu Triathlon Olympic Distance event featuring a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run.
The extremely fast bike splits were credited to having a slightly shortened bike course with Honolulu’s professional triathlete, Ben Williams taking the overall win with his time of 1 hour, 49 minutes and 49 seconds.
Kona’s Luis De La Torre placed an impressive second overall with his time of 1:53:12, and Japan’s Yuki Umeda finished in third at 1:55:27.
On the women’s side, Japan’s Marina Kitagawa claimed the women’s title with her time of 2:13:32. Right on her heels was Honolulu’s Katie Crowder in 2:13:35, with Kona’s Winona Chen rounding out the women’s elite three with her time of 2:14:17.
Also on Sunday was IRONMAN Texas, the North American Championships in Woodlands, Texas that featured a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
Kona professional triathlete, Bree Wee, braved severe rainstorm conditions that forced race organizers to shorten the bike course to 94-miles. Wee finished in 14th overall in the women’s division with her time of 9:10:38.
Overall winners for the men and women’s title went to Germany’s Patrick Lange in 7:13:13, and Julia Gajer in 8:11:01.