XTERRA Trail Running World Championship

The XTERRA Trail Run is just another thing I decided to do on a whim-​something fun to do on the weekend and I thought to myself-«Meh, won’t be too bad. You do other 5k’s with no problem!» Problem is-​the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship isn’t just any old run. It consists of a 21k, a 10k, 5k, and a children’s run. I knew I definitely wasn’t ready for a 21k or even a 10k so I stuck to my normal 5k and still had my work cut out for me.
The trail was at beautiful Kualoa Ranch where they utilized the ranch’s hills and gorgeous scenery. Parking was pretty organized and they had many volunteers to help guide drivers through the bumpy and muddy parking lot. For me, the very beginning of the trail was the most brutal. We took off on flat ground and shortly after the first bend, we had to run uphill. For the most part, the 5k trail didn’t have too many other hills to run over but it consisted of everything else-​mud, water, cow dung, beautiful views and a few aid stations with water, Gatorade and some other refreshments.
XTERRA’s sponsors are among the best for runs-​we were given your not-​so-​average freebies after the run. At the finish line, refreshments consisted the typical water and bananas but also included Duets (half brownie, half Madeline), chips, grapes, bagels with cream cheese, you name it! Just beyond the finish line was a tent where a Licensed Massage Therapist was giving free 3 – 5 minute massages and Muscle Milk was handing out free bottles of Muscle Milk. Muscle Milk also had foam rollers under their tent for everyone else to use. CVS also had a tent and they were giving away some ginger candy and Tiger Balm. If that weren’t enough, Paul Mitchell was there giving away free samples and haircuts for a suggested donation of $ 15. You haven’t even heard the best part yet! LifeProof was there giving away free swag. Free swag included lip balm sun screen and yes-​their LifeProof phone and tablet cases. Basically, you had to spin a wheel to win and I must’ve stepped on some of that cow dung on the trail because by golly, I won myself a new LifeProof case. I was holding off on buying myself a new one after I upgraded my phone but thanks to Lifeproof, I just saved myself about $ 90.
I was totally content with my scenic run alone in the beautiful hills of Kualoa Ranch that boasted gorgeous views of the valleys and the ocean. With all of the extras, the XTERRA Trail Run was one of the best runs I’ve done all year and will probably continue to do for years to come. It’s definitely not your run-​of-​the-​mill event on even, paved ground and there sure aren’t any promises of you finishing mud or water-​free but if you enjoy the outdoors and love being challenged-​the XTERRA is worth checking out.

I had the wonderful pleasure of running in the Xterra 5K on November 24^th, 2013. Running and pleasure in the same place you ask? Are you insane? No! This was my first official trail run and it was AMAZING!
First off, the Xterra is a well organized organization. From parking to packet pickup to the end of the race, everything was seamless. This was the perfect place for the run and everything went off without a hitch. The beautiful scenery took away the pain in your legs and feet from running up and down hills. Ha ha ha just joking. The pain is still there. There was a 5K, 10K, and 21K (half marathon) course. I am telling all my friends to take part in this awesome event next year. I hope to one day do the Xterra half marathon! High hopes!
There were also kids obstacles and courses. Can’t wait until my son can do it with me one day!
Tips: Arrive early. Wear trail running shoes. Bring all your friends. Have fun!

Have I really not reviewed this race yet? This is one of the most amazing trails and races on this island, period. If you have seen those scenes from Jurassic Park, then you know what I’m referring to, simply the most breath taking views of the mountains.
Having completed in 2 races held here already (in two years, back to back), I have nothing but amazing memories of this place. This is easy one of my all time favorite races and favorite places to race!
I’ve done the 21K and the 10K. BOTH were TOUGH. Be prepared for a tough course, mad hills, crazy views of the Ko’olau mountains and an exhilarating experience. Sign up, now!

Where else can you go skipping happily through open grass fields amid the beautiful Koolau mountains where movies such as Mighty Joe Young and Windtalkers were filmed?
I’ve done tons of road races, but this was my first trail run and I loved it! The hills were killer, but the breathtaking views definitely made up for it! And cows were mooing as our cheering squad along the way too!
Xterra puts on a very organized race event. Parking was $ 5 on the grass field, walking distance from the start/​finish line.
Yay for packet pick-​up on race day! And thanks for the extra goodies and swag bag! Not like one or two random things you will never use in your life. Even got a cool temporary tattoo!
I loved how the announcer kept the crowd entertained the whole time, not like those boring radio disc jockeys you can easily tune out!
And not just one water bottle and maybe one banana at the end. There were plenty of free refreshments such as Gatorade recovery drinks, protein shakes, energy gels, powerbars, and blueberry muffins waiting for you! Wow, they really do take care of the runners!
They also set up free kids races by age groups. Even had a kids mini-​obstacle course that my son loved!
Thank goodness the ice cream truck guy made shave ice, too!
I also got to meet fellow Unilocaler Ed L. He is doing 50 marathons in 50 states! How awesome is that! We gave him a ride back into town. First thing he said was, «You have all these Unilocal stickers in the back of your car?» Oh, they’re for the kids. Not me.
We watched Team Xtreme and the wounded warriors sky dive into Kualoa valley and begin the race. Such an emotional sight to witness them finish the race as a unit as well.
Leave no man behind!

Just ran the 2012 Xterra Trail World Championship on Sunday, 12÷2÷2012. Had I known that this trail race was as amazing and scenic, as well as hardcore, I would have probably said no. Then again, with my extensive marathon resume and my curiosity for adventure and just for something to do on a Sunday, I signed up for this race in mid October not knowing what to really expect.
At least it was a half marathon I told myself. 13.1 miles of rugged terrain in the lush valleys of Kualoa Ranch on the island of Oahu, a place where I haven’t ever been, except passing by on Kamehameha Hwy on the way north to Laie and Polynesian Cultural Center. It was the first time running this race and my first trail experience in Hawaii. After tackling a 50K trail in Colorado in September (Bear Chase 50K in Lakewood, CO), I kind of knew what I was getting into. Well, not so much after all, it seemed. Maybe I probably should have known better, but surprises were out there for us all on the course.
I didn’t want to pay $ 25 for the private shuttle that the race provided, which was basically a rented yellow school bus. They shuttled runners from Waikiki to the race start at the backside of Kualoa Ranch. I got here by city bus, which is really affordable if you just plan ahead. The Xterra World Championship boasts the 21K /​Half Marathon as its marquee event, attracting some of the most finest trail runner elites from all parts of the country. They also have a 10K, 5K, and an adventure walk that attracts anyone and everyone to Kualoa Ranch for an epic Sunday. Race registration hovers from $ 40-​$ 55, so if you want the challenge, might as well register early. I held out and had to pony up for the later fee.
It’s bittersweet that I have signed up for this race, since the course was just as brutal as the majestic scenery that was the Koolau Mountains that surrounded Kualoa Ranch. It was great that I can notch another half marathon to my list of races, but at the cost of having virtually no trail experience whatsoever and my body and legs are telling me so. The course was basically mostly uphill and the first mile ascended like a bat out of hell and it didn’t really flatten out till those grassy downhills at mile 2. There were some reprieve in the course where it kinda did flatten to moderate downhill, which was miles 5 – 7, but that was it. We climbed back up at mile 8 and snaked through the back of Kualoa Ranch.
The biggest surprise was the massive hill at mile 10 and the rugged tippy toe über crazy down hill that you could not even really run, due to it being so crazy you may fall and roll off into the ravine. This part scared me, but I managed to get down one way or another and those ropes helped a lot! It helps also that Xterra allows everyone in, not just elites, so I could have help on the course, if I needed it. The last. 2.5 miles snaked around miles 3 – 5 of the course and it was a soft downhill to the finish line. Never in my life that I experienced something so powerful and epic that I would consider something like that next year. Maybe maybe not.
Thanks to Xterra for keeping the finish line open for the last finisher. Met new friends and 2 Unilocalers that morning too. It was awesome to see Unilocaler Zar N. running the 10K and meeting Unilocaler Chris P. from Kapolei. Big thanks to Chris P. and her husband whom gave me a ride back to UH from Kualoa Ranch that afternoon. I thought of DNF when I came across that tiptoe section of mile 10-​ish and I just wanted to cry. Knowing that I paid money for this made me realize that I can do this if I just break it all down and take each step one step at a time.
The finish time didn’t matter that day. What mattered was that I completed the course and survived.
Run more!
B+

The most scenic race you’d ever be in.
The parking wasn’t too bad but there was crap EVERYWHERE. Expect it! You’re on a ranch.
Near the starting line, there were booths giving away Sun screen, power bars and even a place for kids to run.
There were 3 different races going on. One was a 5 K, the other was a 10 K and the most grueling was the 21 K. All I can say is that the first 2 miles are ridiculously crazy!
Xterra, I will be back next year to conquer you.