For the 29th year, the annual PATH Run will kick off IRONMAN week in Kailua-Kona.
Sunday’s spirited 5K and 10K out-and-back events, as well as a free keiki dash, start and finish at Hale Halawai and have a 7:30 a.m. start time. Race day registration will open up at 6:30 a.m.
“For some it’s a training run. For others it’s just a chance to get out and get some exercise. But everyone has a good time,” PATH Executive Director Tina Clothier said.
PATH — Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii — is a non-profit bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization headquartered in Kailua-Kona, serving the island of Hawaii. Founded in 1986, PATH’s mission is to safely connect the people and places on Hawaii Island with pathways and bikeways.
Approaching three decades of history, the annual kickoff to IRONMAN week has grown along side Kailua-Kona’s famous endurance event.
“When we started this in 1987, we had a couple hundred people and were delighted. We have done it ever since,” Clothier said. “Back then there was not an IRONMAN week. It was still growing. It was just something we did because we knew a lot of people would be in town.”
Clothier said they are expecting around 500 participants at the race, with a pretty even split between local athletes and people in town for IRONMAN.
“There is a lot of mingling,” Clothier said. “It’s all about having fun. At the end, everyone gets a medal.”
Proceeds from the race will help support the PATH Bike Safety Education program. The program has educated more than 1,000 students and adults on bike safety this year.
PATH’s passion for educating becomes even more important this time of year, when the yellow “Athletes in Training” signs are out on Queen Kaahumanu Highway. The group works with IRONMAN to encourage safety on the roads.
“People from other countries that come here are used to having a little more leeway on the roads while biking,” Clothier said. “Sometimes we do get those situations when people are riding two or three abreast and motorist find that inappropriate. We try to get the word out about what the expectations are.”
PATH has also been named the Safe Routes to School coordinator for the County of Hawaii, working with Kahakai and Keaukaha Elementary schools. The purpose of the program is to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.
Going back to the advocacy aspect of PATH, Clothier said the year has been a busy one for the organization.
The widening of the shoulders on Waikoloa Road started recently, something the group had advocated for in recent years. It came into a clearer focus after a tragic accident took the life of a cyclist in March.
Another project PATH has encouraged is the Queens’ Lei — a 16.75- mile shared-use pathway that would safely connect North Kona. The group also helped design and present a plan to the Department of Transportation to take care of the floating bike lane issue from Henry Street to Makala Boulevard. Clothier said both projects should start taking shape within the next few months.
“I think we have progressed tremendously,” Clothier said. “Part of that was the adoption of the Complete Street Design. Now every time a road is touched, ideally, designs will be applied that allows all users to use the streets.”
For more information on PATH or Sunday’s event, visit pathhawaii.org.
