Running 411 for Lana'i

This is an e-mail I sent to Renee:

Running 411 @ Lana'i

This is a long message, the result of geeking out over how we can run while on vacation. So, we both need to do some running there. I am sure we can get even better information there, but here's what to expect. First, a map of the island:

http://www.lanaicity.com/map.html

The Four Seasons Manele Bay is at the southern tip of the island at about 175 feet above sea level. Go more than 2 miles inland, however, and you are looking at very steep grades (12% and above) and steady gain for more than 1,000 feet! The smallest loop I was able to put together from the hotel is a 10k route that looks great on paper; it starts at 175 ft and maxes out at 1,234 ft. That is almost 2x the elevation from Hwy 224 up to the house in Park City!!

There is a beautiful hiking/jeep trail called the Munro Trail near the hotel, but the grade an elevation are even worse getting there. It would be fun to go there, but perhaps the four of us could rent a jeep and make the trek that way. Here's a link:

http://www.gohawaii.com/lanai/regions-neighborhoods/central-lanai/munro-trail

So, where do we run?

I usually like loops, but that isn't going to work for me given the topography. I have no interest in running those kinds of grades, up or down! We could have someone drive us to the NE coast of the Island to run along the coast, but that would be kind of a pain and would eat up time we could be doing other things. My idea is two out-and-backs that are just beyond the driveway of the four seasons.

1) West on Kapihaa Pl for about 1.5 mi before it gets hilly: there's a 3 mile route. This route goes past the golf courses and should be pretty scenic.

2) East on Kapihaa Pl and turn South onto Manele Rd for about 1 mi; there's a 2 mile route. This route goes down to the beach, which should also be pretty scenic.

The routes can be combined to just about any length (this is how I do my runs here at home). I'm scheduled to do a 20-miler that week, but I am not sure it's going to happen. With these little routes, I might be able to do it. The good thing about these routes is the ability to bail or head back to the room for a bathroom break/water refill. Do both 4x and there's a 20 miler, without ever getting more than 1.5 miles away from the hotel (and without doing any Tour de France style mountain climbing!).

Another good thing about the routes is that we could do different distances but still run together. It might change, but this is what my schedule calls for while we are there:

SUN / 6-Mar / 14
TUE / 8-Mar / 5
WED / 9-Mar / 10
THU / 10-Mar / 5
SAT / 12-Mar / 20

I can flex the days, and I prefer to run first thing in the morning so it doesn't get in the way of other stuff. Again, I don't know if that 20 is going to happen (this is the day we leave). I might get up super early and try to knock off as much of it as I can. The only other option would be to try to do it jetlagged on Sunday, which sounds no-fun.

Here are links to the routes.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/27941480
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/27941214