XTERRA Trail Champs Return To Hawaii
A picturesque private working cattle ranch on Oahu will again serve as the host site.
A picturesque private working cattle ranch on Oahu will again serve as the host site.
From: Running USA
KUALOA RANCH, Hawaii — December in Hawaii. It really doesn’t get much better than that, but add the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship to that mix and now it’s a must-do.
The XTERRA Trail Run World Championship is three weeks away, and it will once again take place at the incomparable Kualoa Ranch on the island of Oahu. The Sunday, December 2 event is open to runners of all ages and skill levels from anywhere in the world.
It will feature three courses – 21 kilometers, 10K and 5K. There is also an “adventure walk” for those who want to take their time and enjoy the natural beauty of the Ranch. More than 2,000 runners from 15 different countries and 33 states have already registered to participate.
The 21K course will serve as the world championship course, and a $10,000 prize purse will be at stake for the elite runners (the top seven men and top seven women can earn money). Age-group runners will compete for medals and the chance to earn a title of 2012 XTERRA Trail Run World Champion.
But the biggest lure of the event is the destination. Kualoa Ranch offers some of the most dynamic natural backdrops on Earth. Major movies such as Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Pearl Harbor, 50 First Dates and Tears of the Sun, and television series such as LOST and Hawaii Five-O have used Kualoa Ranch as a filming location.
What’s more, Kualoa Ranch is a privately-owned working cattle ranch so its trails are normally closed to the public. Thus, even local Hawaii runners will get a rare opportunity to run at the Ranch for this event.
As three-time XTERRA Trail Run age-group world champ Lee Saltonstall said: “It’s difficult to stay focused on the trail because you just want to stop and gaze upon the surrounding ethereal mountains and valleys. Of all the trail races I have done, Kualoa Ranch is, by far, my favorite course to run. Challenging, for sure, but the setting embraces you with its bucolic beauty.”
XTERRA TRAIL RUN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
When: Sunday, December 2, 9 a.m. start
Where: Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii
Who: Open to runners of all ages and skill levels
Courses: 21K (championship course), 10K, 5K or “Adventure Walk”
Entry fees: $60 for 21K, $45 for 10K, $35 for 5K, $30 for Adventure Walk
Registration information: www.xterratrailrun.com