XTERRA Trail Running World Championship - Oahu, Hawaii

KUALOA RANCH / OAHU, HAWAII | DECEMBER 2, 2012 - 9:00AM

The XTERRA Trail Running World Championship is an off-road half-marathon scheduled for December 2, 2012 on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The event will also host 5km and 10km trail runs, a free OC 16 Kids K race, an adventure walk, great food and stunning scenery.

Some of the world’s fastest trail runners will be onsite competing for $10,000 in prize money which is awarded to the top 7 men and women.  Everyone who conquers the half-marathon championship course will earn a finisher’s medal, as well the top three in each age group for every distance. Note: Winners must be present to receive their awards.

The spectacular Kualoa Ranch, on the northeastern side of Oahu less than an hour from Honolulu, will host this ultimate Hawaiian experience for the international field of trail runners for the third straight year.

The 4,000-acre working cattle ranch reaches from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea and the terrain varies from dense rainforest to broad open valleys and from beautiful white sand beaches to awesome verdant cliff faces. The epic nature of Kualoa Ranch has inspired television shows and Hollywood films such as Jurassic Park, Windtalkers, Pearl Harbor, Godzilla, Tears of the Sun, 50 First Dates, and LOST.

The XTERRA Trail Running World Championship is held in conjunction with the XTERRA Trail Run Series, a collection of more than 60 adventurous, off-road trail runs of various distances spanning the globe from Malibu to Japan.  

It is NOT necessary to qualify to run in the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.

SATURDAY IN WAIKIKI, SUNDAY AT KUALOA RANCH

Experience the best of both worlds.  Registration and packet pick-up will take place in the heart of Waikiki at the Waikiki Beach Walk on Lewers Street on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 9am-5pm (on the grassy area next to the Yard House on Lewer’s Street), while the race site for Sunday is Kualoa Ranch - a sacred place untouched by development.

Note: You can also pick-up your packet race morning at Kualoa Ranch starting at 7 a.m. (but there is no raceday registration).

Parking for Packet Pick-up:  Be adventurous and find your own in Waikiki or valet park at the Embassy Suites (enter from Beachwalk street) which offers free lunch parking - Valid daily, between 10am - 3pm with same day receipt. 

More information about Waikiki Beachwalk

Google Maps Directions

Shuttle from Waikiki – For $25 a 60-passenger school bus will take you from Waikiki to the Ranch and back in hassle-free air conditioned comfort.  Pick-up is at 7am at the Waikiki Beach Walk on Lewer’s Street, you’d arrive a little before 8am, and the buses head back to the same spot from Kualoa Ranch at 1pm.  Good way to save on parking, gas, rental car, and directional worries!  Book it now.

Parking at Kualoa Ranch - $5 per vehicle.
To speed up your entry to Kualoa Ranch, please purchase a pass at packet pickup in Waikiki and display it on your dashboard.

Registration Update – Online registration is open until Nov. 30, 2012, and after that you’ll need to sign-up in person at the Waikiki Beach Walk on Saturday from 9am-5pm. 

We are offering a discount for Students and Active Duty Military. Valid ID must be shown at packet pickup. Only the first 2000 runners total from all races (5/10/21km) are guaranteed a tee-shirt, so sign-up now to make sure you get yours. Late Entrants (on or after November 30) may not receive a shirt.

THERE WILL BE NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Length: 21km/13.1 miles
Starting Elevation: 50’
Lowest point: 27’
Highest point: 741’
Total climbing approx: 2,900’
Trails: Open dirt road, dual track dirt road, 10’ trail, single track

Starting from the base of Kaaawa Valley, just around the corner from the main Kualoa Ranch house, the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship will start easy enough - taking runners on hard packed dirt roads uphill into the western side of the valley (the right side if you’re looking mauka).

After the first mile runners descend through a pasture and head back towards the ocean and just after mile two they’ll pop out at an elevation of 200’ just above the Pacific with views forever. The temptation running along the ledge overlooking the turquoise water will be to jump in and call it a day, but the real fun is just beginning.

Runners quickly drop back down on pasture roads and at mile three come into the petting zoo at the main Kualoa Ranch area. The next few miles head into heavy rainforest umbrella with green all around and several stream crossings (a few inches to ankle deep depending on recent rainfall) along rolling, twisting double track. At about mile eight the trail gets narrow and steep on a path leading straight up the mountain that separates Hakipu’u Valley from Kaaawa Valley. Here runners get a rare chance to be on the very narrow spine of a volcanic peak, again – with incredible views of the valley and ocean beyond. Once at the top, a very neat trail winds its way sharply down into the back of Kaaawa Valley. At the bottom runners will find rocky dual track and twisting trails that traverse a few more stream crossings before a hard right turn takes them up to a long stretch of single track originally created by wild pigs.

Passing is possible, but competitors will want to watch their step as the trail is narrow and on a slanted slope. Sections of rocky, ankle bending chasms formed by the molten lave tens of thousands of years ago will test tired legs, but inspiration is soon to follow. Arising from the cover of green forested trails runners will find the wide open unusual light green fields of Hawaii. Many will think they’ve got déjà vu, as their memories recall the original Jurassic Park scene where the professor and the kids run and hide from the dinosaur stampede – because that’s exactly where they are.

Near the end, the course cuts through the main start/finish area to the cheers of friends, family and spectators before heading out on a final loop in the valley before the sprint to the finish.

Note that there is no pre-running allowed.

Aid Stations – There will be two aid stations for the 5km/3.1-mile race (at 1.7 and 2.5 miles), five for the 10km/6.20-miler (1.7, 2.5, 3.2, 4.7, and 5.8mi) and seven for the 21km/13.1-miler (1.7, 2.5, 5.7, 7.7, 10.3, 12.2, and 12.7).  Gatorade and water served at all stations, and GU Energy Gel packets available at the third station (5.7-mile mark) for the 21km race only.

Race morning parking – Its $5 for the good folks at Kualoa Ranch who are letting us play in their backyard.  Having exact change will help speed up the process. You’ll park right in the middle of the valley where we’re set-up, not at the main ranch house, and we’ll have road signs guiding you to the right spot.

Rain or Shine - The race will go on.  We actually think it’d be very cool if it rained.  Can you imagine how much fun we’d have slipping and sliding down the muddy slopes in the Valley.  It’d be like a scene straight out of an Indiana Jones adventure!  We’ll have a wash area for you to clean-up regardless.

$10,000 PRIZE PURSE BREAKDOWN

Place	Men	Women
1	$2,000	$2,000
2	$1,000	$1,000
3	$750	$750
4	$500	$500
5	$300	$300
6	$250	$250
7	$200	$200

In addition to the prize money, the overall men’s and women’s 21km winners get roundtrip airfare from Hawaiian Airlines, and there are a ton of great product prizes from Paul Mitchell, GU, XTERRA Footwear and more.

5KM TRAIL RUN/WALK, 10KM TRAIL RUN

Although not considered championship races, XTERRA will also host a pair of fun and beautiful 5km and 10km trail runs that take you from the base-to-the-back of majestic Kaaawa Valley.

THE ADVENTURE WALK

The adventure walk is perfect for those just wanting to take in the epic scenery of Kualoa Ranch, as this hosted stroll cruises past many of the movie sights in the valley.  It’s about a mile-and-a-half and easily paced.

Kids under 10 can join the Adventure Walk for free. Mail in/fax registration form before Dec. 1 in order to register them in advance.

OC 16 KIDS K (FREE)

The OC 16 Kids K is a fun way for the keiki to compete just like their parents in a supportive environment where everyone is a winner.  The runs are free to kids 12 and under and we’ll have different distances for several groups sorting out the big kids from the toddlers.  Parents are welcome to run alongside their little ones during the race.  Before and after the run the children can play in the XTERRA kids zone with a variety of activities including an obstacle course.

XTERRA UNIVERSITY Presented by Paul Mitchell

We’ll have two sessions this year, one at 10 a.m. and another at 2 p.m. Both will be at the Waikiki Beach Walk on Saturday, December 1. It will be next to the registration area and admission is free, so there is no excuse not to attend.

Both sessions will offer expert advice for trail running and preparation for the race. The clinic, presented by Paul Mitchell, is open to runners of all skill levels, and you can attend either or both sessions.

PAUL MITCHELL CUT-A-THON

Pro stylists from Paul Mitchell will be cutting hair from 9:00am until 1pm for just $15, and 100% of that will go to the Challenged Athletes Foundation – helping physically challenged athletes reach their athletic goals.

DIRECTIONS

Kualoa Ranch is only 45 minutes from Waikiki. To get there, take the H-1 Freeway west to the LIKELIKE Highway / Route 63. Proceed up the LIKELIKE Highway and through the Wilson Tunnel. Descend towards Kaneohe town and exit onto KAHEKILI Highway / Route 83, heading north. You will go straight through the light at the end of the KAHEKILI exit. 

Continue along Kahekili Highway - note that the road becomes Kamehameha Highway as you pass the historic "Hygienic Store" in the village of Kahalu`u. In about 10 minutes you will see signs indicating you are approaching the Kualoa Ranch entrance which will be on your left as you round the curve past Mokoli`i Island (Chinaman's Hat). Go past the main entrance to Kualoa Ranch and make your next left into the XTERRA festivities. Parking at Kualoa Ranch is $5 per vehicle. To speed up your entry to Kualoa Ranch, please purchase a pass at packet pickup in Waikiki and display it on your dashboard.

Detailed Map with Directions - PDF

POST-RACE PARTY AT JIMMY BUFFET'S IN WAIKIKI

Jimmy Buffet’s Restaurant & Bar at the Beachcomber will serve as the host site for the post-race party after the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship. The party is scheduled for Sunday evening, December 4, from 6 to 10 p.m. on the lanai area of Jimmy Buffet’s. The restaurant is located on the second floor of the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel (2300 Kalakaua Avenue).

All standard menu items will be available for purchase, and there will be several price specials on appetizer selections for the party. In addition, there will be a 15 percent “XTERRA Discount” off the food bill for runners who attend the party. See the MENU here.

Anheuser-Busch has agreed to provide Michelob Ultra beer at a special price – just $2.50 per bottle. Other brands of beer and beverages will be available at standard prices.

RENTAL CAR DISCOUNTS FOR XTERRA ATHLETES

We've partnered with the following rental car companies to offer special rates to XTERRA athletes nation-wide of up to 20% off your car rental. Click on the company logo to book your rental car today.

 

THE JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION

A portion of your entry fee is going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – Hawaii Chapter.  Did you know Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease also known as Juvenile Diabetes and there are more than 5,000 type I diabetics in Hawaii.  The JDRF is searching for the cure.

Food – Xtreme Tacos will be onsite serving authentic Mexican dishes with the Aloha Spirit, and Joe on the Go has got you covered for all your early morning needs.

Timing – We’re using JTL Timing, it’s a manual system so you won’t have to wear a chip on your ankle.

Tips – Bring sunscreen, an umbrella, a chair, maybe some mosquito repellent, a towel and change of clothes. You’ll have easy access to your car to retrieve whatever you need, and we'll also have a bag check at the ranch.

ATHLETE PHOTOS

We are happy to announce that Brightroom will be the official event photographer for athlete photos. Photos will be ready three to five days after the event. You can visit Brightroom now and sign up for email notification. They will alert you when the photos are ready for online viewing and ordering.

Photos from Brightroom

 

VOLUNTEERS

Join us for an exciting morning of XTERRA racing at the XTERRA World Trail Run Championship at Kualoa Ranch on Sunday, December 2, 2012. Amateur and professional runners will be competing for cash and the XTERRA World Trail Running Championship title. We are looking for people who have a few hours to spare to help with the event. We need volunteers for the following times and events. Volunteer Check-In will be at the XTERRA Expo at Kualoa Ranch- Kaaawa Valley Entrance.  All volunteers will receive an XTERRA event t-shirt, drinks, and lunch.

8AM VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN FOR TRAIL RUN EVENTS:

XTERRA World Trail Run Championship (21km trail run) -   9AM start
XTERRA 5km/10km trail run -  9:10AM  start

Run volunteer positions:      

• Course Marshal (direct runners)
• Aid Station (Hand-out water/ Gatorade to runners)
• Finish Line/ Athlete Recovery (cut-up & stock food at the finish line)

 *     Run volunteers will be needed for up 4 hours

                                   
8:30AM VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN FOR XTERRA Kids Zone (9AM-2PM)

Kids Zone volunteer positions:     

• Registration (sign-in kids )
• Course marshal (assist with obstacle course and kid’s races)

 *        Kids Zone volunteers will be needed until 2pm
            

What experience or qualifications are required to be an XTERRA volunteer?

• No experience necessary
• You must be at least 15 years old, or 12, if accompanied by an adult
• You must have a willingness and desire to help others
• You must have a few hours to spare

Please email or call the XTERRA Volunteer Coordinator, Dayton, with any questions:  email dayton@xterraplanet.com . Or just show up at the times posted above and we will find you an exciting spot. Hope to see you there!

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