KAILUA-KONA — The world has become a loud, busy place.
Luckily, a bit of solace is only a trail away — albeit, it might be a little off the beaten path.
Endurance athletes looking for a little adventure to go with their workout have taken to nature for their latest challenge — trail running.
“It’s nice just to get away from everything. When you get on a trail, there are no cars, no noise — you are in the wild,” said Grant Miller, co-owner of Bike Works and an avid trail runner. “It’s completely different. You have to be in the moment.”
There are a variety of reasons runners are taking to the trails. But for more than a few, the draw is the escape.
“Forget your watch, forget the pace, forget managing your heart rate,” local endurance athlete and firefighter Mikey Brown said. “When you are on the trial, that’s all you are thinking about.”
And for the most part, runners can’t afford to not focus on their footing. One misstep and the day can come to a screeching halt.
“As soon as you start thinking about what you are going to make for dinner or something, you will take a tumble,” Grant Miller said.
While the risk for a spill might be more, there are multiple benefits for runners who opt for the trails. The softer ground means fewer injuries, and it can also help build muscles in the leg that might not be used regularly, also helping prevent damage in the long run.
“You are going slower, but you are utilizing your whole body,” Miller said.
As the host of the Ironman World Championship, Kona has long been known as the mecca of triathlon, with Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Alii Drive being touted as some of the most storied stretches of running in the sport. But even with that history behind it, plodding along on the asphalt can become a monotonous task.
Knowing there might be a waterfall at the end of the trek is a little better inspiration.
“People are looking for adventure, and the exploration aspect of trail running is a big part of its popularity,” Bike Works co-owner and trail running enthusiast Janet Higa-Miller said. “They want something new.”
Social media might be an influence too, as more and more people are posting videos and photos of their journeys.
“Nobody wants to see a video of you running on a road,” Brown said. “That’s boring.”
What’s their why
The trails are open to everyone, from the casual walker to former endurance sport pros.
After retiring from triathlon, former Kona-based professional Bree Wee caught the trail running bug, although it took a little bit of convincing for her to buy in.
“I didn’t want to get slow,” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t want to lose my little six-minute miles.”
But joking aside, it helped fill a void left behind when the two-time Ironman champ decided to call it a career.
“When I retired, almost all of the women who were my mentors warned me of depression because most of them got it,” she said. “They told me I needed to find something else to do.”
The trails provided that and more. Wee is currently training for the grueling HURT100 on Oahu in January.
The 100-mile, five lap race has a 36-hour time limit and takes place 99 percent on single-trail tracks, and 1 percent on asphalt. There are a total of 20 stream crossings on the course, which runs through the mountains high above Honolulu.
“It’s kind of insane,” Wee said. “But I’m looking forward to it.”
While the sights will be plentiful, one thing there’s noticeably less of on the course is support, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“For me, the self-reliance is great, especially coming from a sport where there is an aid station every mile or so. It’s a nice change,” Wee said. “ I love knowing all I’ve got is what’s on my back.”
Grant Miller and Janet Higa-Miller are training for the TransRockies Run — a 120-mile team trail race from Buena Vista to Beaver Creek, Colorado in August. The six-day event navigates more than 20,000 feet of elevation gain.
“You can get yourself fit for these races, but the mental process is the biggest part of the preparation,” Higa-Miller said. “In a six-stage race, by the fourth day you have to be able to get yourself up knowing you will be going another 20 miles or something. Honestly, you have to be a little bit nuts.”
Growing momentum
Look no further than the retail world to see evidence that trail running has made its mark. It’s something Grant and Janet have seen first-hand in their Bike Works stores, as more shoes with steel plates and extra cushion have made their way on to shelves, along with other apparel targeted at the casual trail runner.
And the events are growing too, as big-name companies are starting to throw their weight behind the sport, most notably Under Armour. The company announced a three-stop trail running series earlier this year, which will include prize purses. The venues for the summer-circuit are Mount Bachelor in Oregon, Killington in Vermont, and Copper Mountain in Colorado, with lengths for every level of competitor (50K, marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, vertical challenge, 10K and 5K).
But those looking to dabble on the trails don’t have to head to the mainland.
The Big Island has a wealth of potential when it comes to off-road excursions, as evident by the success of the recent Mauna to Mauna Ultra event. The six-stage, 155-mile, self-supported race traversed through some of the wilder parts of the island, starting at Coconut Island in Hilo and finishing up at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.
Among the local events, the legendary Hilo to Volcano 50K Ultra Marathon is one that caters to the uber-athlete looking to enjoy something a little different.
But even for fun runs, trails in Kaloko and Pu’u wa’awa’a are breathtaking and sometimes otherworldly.
“If you pretend,” Brown said, “it really feels like you’re running through Jurassic Park.”
That being said, there won’t be any velociraptors popping out of the bushes and the lack of predators — like snakes, bears or cougars — actually makes the Big Island the ideal grounds for trail running events (although an angry boar might argue otherwise).
There are some hurdles from making more events happen, foremost land access and liability issues. However, the runners are optimistic the Big Island could become a nice home to more trail races.
“It has to start somewhere, and things like this usually gain momentum when there is an enthusiastic group of people,” Higa-Miller said.
“It’s definitely going to pick up,” Wee added.
The trails are waiting.
