Island Girl Half Marathon & 5K

Be warned! I ran the "5k" and the course was short by at least 100 meters throwing off times and PBs. The race directors were not forthright with this information and offered nothing to compensate those of us who complained. Not sure about the half but I wouldn't trust that distance was correct.

I wasn't original planning to run a race this fall but when a friend couldn't run the island girl half,I stepped up. I went with the intensions to have fun and not care about time. How could you not have fun? Island music playing, hula Dancers, flat course with no traffic and ask tucked away on an island! I wore a hula shirt for the whole race, danced with the hula girls with each pass and still finished with a great time!
The ferry was easy to get and I loved being able to pick up the race kit the morning of.

This was a very poorly organized race. It had virtually no course marshalls - I did a half-marathon and these were very lonely miles. The energy level was not great either. Baggage check was very interesting - the only had one volunteer doing it - and it was quite messy. My biggest complaint is post-race food. They had volunteers giving the food and I was given two slices of pineapple, some chips, one slice of melon. Orange juice and they also had some dry cookies, but I was not into them at all. Like, really? After having run 21.1. not even a bagel? The good things about the race - the views were gorgeous - (but I can run there for free of course :) ) and the band was pretty good. Also the medal was nice. But would I do this race again? thanks but no thanks.

Ran this in 2013 with a group of my running girlfriends - loved it!! Kit pickup was quick and efficient and included lots of great stuff. Course was beautiful (not a completely closed course, but we didn't have a problem with people getting in our way - lots of friendly volunteers making people aware of the race). Runners were cheering and encouraging each other which was nice. Some unique food at the finish compared to other races.
Few minor suggestions - We took the ferry over at the time race organizers suggested and we had a long wait before the half race started and it was very cold that morning. So if that wait could somehow be shortened? The medal is very unique, but maybe having a fancier/custom ribbon or slighly larger medal?
Overall we had a fantastic time, would highly recommend it, and we will be back!!

Great race. Very well organized and a happy atmosphere even in the chilly weather. The course is beautiful: flat and along the water edge in some parts. Great place to record PBs. The race bag was also well stocked. I'll be returning next year!

I ran this race for the first time in 2012 and loved it. The course is flat and it's so beautiful to run along the water. Posted a PB time. The band was amazing as were the race kits and post race food. There was a great atmosphere and it was fun meeting new people.

I have run this women's race every year and I love it! There is good camaraderie between the runners and a lot of friends and mothers/daughters run this event. The steel drums add to the spirit of the event and a dance group leads the women in warm ups before the start. This is a perfectly flat route (2 loops), with a few kilometers along the boardwalk. The race gets better every year as the race directors act on suggestions for improvement and have more volunteers warning pedestrians of runners. The race kits are great and there is plenty of fresh fruit, cookies, bagels, coconut water, etc. at the finish line. (There is also a 5km event and two years ago they added a 2-person half marathon relay.)

2012 was the first year running this half on the island and I really enjoyed it for the most part. Had a great run and a great time with my friends, enjoyed the course, food, entertainment, medal and freebies! The only con would be that there were cyclists and tourists in the way throughout the entire race, especially at the end near the finish line. Some of us like to sprint to the end and that's hard when you have to dodge people! Keep non-racers off the running route for the entire race please!

Great race kit. Great race shirt. Great atmosphere and camaraderie. Great post-race recovery food. And a steel drum band!
I look forward to this race every year and can't say enough good things!!