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Pacific Whale Foundation
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Please scroll down for contact information
Photos available upon request
MA'ALAEA, MAUI, HI -- Ocean views, sea breezes, lush tropical scenery and the presence of the humpback whales in winter -- what could be a better place than Maui for running in February?
Leave behind midwinter's snow and cold (and the layers of winter running gear) and sign up now to participate in Maui's Run for the Whales on Saturday, February 6, 2010. This popular running event is at the top of the list of Maui's best attended 5K and Half-Marathon runs, with more than 800 runners expected to participate. The Run for the Whales will take place in beautiful South Maui.
Hosted by the non-profit Pacific Whale Foundation, a local research, education and conservation organization, the Run for the Whales is timed to coincide with the peak of the whalewatch season on Maui, and is part of the Maui Whale Festival, an island-wide celebration of the humpback whales that migrate to Maui each winter.
The Run for the Whales will start at a new location this year, Makena Beach & Golf Resort, but will travel along much of the same route as last year, through the resort area of Makena and Wailea. Parts of the course are oceanside, in areas where you might catch a glimpse of a breaching whale or two as you stride along.
"This is a wonderful event that attracts runners from all over the nation," says Brooke Porter, Race Director. "It's a benefit for the marine education programs that Pacific Whale Foundation offers for Maui schoolchildren."
The Run for the Whales will be electronically timed, with ankle bracelet timing chips. Participants receive a free race t-shirt, plus a post-race breakfast featuring fruit, pastries, coffee and juices. There are medals and flower lei three deep for the top finishers in each age/gender group. The first place winners of each age/gender group will receive tickets for two on a Pacific Whale Foundation Whalewatch Eco-Adventure.
The entry fee is $38 for the half marathon and $30 for the 5K, if you register prior to February 5. For registration after 5 pm on February 5, the entry fee is $43 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K.
The age groups for the Half Marathon are 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over. For the 5K, the age groups are 12 and under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over.
The Half Marathon starts at 6:30 a.m.; the 5K starts at 7:30. Please arrive at least one half hour prior to the race.
For walkers, there is a 5K Walk for the Whales, held at the same location on the same date. Walkers receive the post-race breakfast and race t-shirt (no electronic timing available for walkers). The entry fee for the 5K Walk is $25, if you register prior to 5 p.m. on February 5. After that, the price is $30. The 5K walk begins at 7:30 a.m.
Got kids? Children can participate in the 2K race, which takes place on the car-free lawns of the Makena Beach and Golf Resort. The entry fee for the children's race is $20. Children receive the post-race breakfast and race t-shirt, plus age-group medals for the top finishers. (Children's race participants will not receive timing chips, but will be clock-timed.) For the 2K, the age categories are 5 and under, 6-8 and 9-12. The children's 2K race starts at 8:00 a.m.
Friends and family members can purchase event breakfast tickets for just $7 each. To purchase breakfast tickets, call 808-249-8811 by February 3.
A carbo-load luau will take place the evening before the run. For details, please visit www.pacificwhale.org after December 1.
The starting line and the post-race breakfast will be held on the beautiful oceanside grounds of the Makena Beach & Golf Resort, located at 5400 Makena Alanui Road, in Makena, Hawaii, just south of Wailea and located just before Makena Beach State Park.
Free parking for the Run for the Whales is located at the Wailea event parking lot. To access it, travel south on the Pi'ilani Highway, past Kihei, and follow the highway as it turns into Wailea Ike Drive. Turn left on Kalai Wa'a Street. The event parking lot is on the right. The free shuttle service to the starting line begins at 5:30 a.m. and runs every 10 minutes.
Registration can be done online at www.active.com. You can also find a downloadable entry form at mauiwhalefestival.org which you can print out to mail or fax to Pacific Whale Foundation at (808) 243-9021. Forms can also be picked up at Pacific Whale Foundation's Ocean Stores at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea or at 612 Front St., Lahaina. You can also register by phone by calling (808) 249-8811 or 1-800-942-5311 ext. 1.
The Run for the Whales is a fundraiser for the marine science education programs offered by Pacific Whale Foundation for Maui schoolchildren. These programs take place in the classroom/science labs at Pacific Whale Foundation's Discovery Center and in the field; they include water testing programs, eco-friendly tidepool explorations, whalewatches and career mentoring programs.
Sponsors of the run include Makena Beach & Golf Resort, Tropical Seas Sunscreen, Valley Isle Road Runners, USA Track & Field, Columbia Sportswear, Odwalla, and Coconuts Catering.
Volunteers are being sought to help with the run. All volunteers will be invited to enjoy the post-race free breakfast. To volunteer, call Pacific Whale Foundation's Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Vough at (8080) 244-8392 or email kelly@pacificwhale.org.
The Run for the Whales is one of the events of The Maui Whale Festival, a month-long celebration of humpback whales that takes place during February. Other events in The Maui Whale Festival include Maui's Parade of Whales (Saturday, February 20, Whale Day Celebration (Saturday, February 20) and The Great Whale Count (Saturday, February 27). For more information about the Maui Whale Festival, please call (808) 249-8811 or visit www.gmauiwhalefestival.org.
Founded in 1980, Pacific Whale Foundation was established with the goal of saving whales from extinction. The mission of Pacific Whale Foundation is to promote appreciation, understanding and protection of whales, dolphins, coral reefs and our planet's oceans. We accomplish this by educating the public -- from a scientific perspective -- about the marine environment. We support and conduct responsible marine research and address marine conservation issues in Hawaii and the Pacific. Through educational ecotours, we model and promote sound ecotourism practices and responsible wildlife watching.
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SHORT LISTING FOR EVENTS CALENDARS:
Run for the Whales • Saturday, February 6, 2010
Runners and walkers are invited to join in the popular Run for the Whales along the scenic coast of South Maui -- starting this year at a new location, the Makena Beach & Golf Resort in Makena. The run is hosted by the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation. Runners choose from a 5K walk or fun run or a half marathon run...plus a 2K children's race! Participants receive a free race t-shirt, a free post-race breakfast, and ankle chip timing (for the 5K and half marathon). There are medals for the top finishers and great prize giveaways; the entry fee is $38 for the half marathon, $30 for the 5K run, $25 for the 5K walk and and $20 for the 2K children&Mac185;s race. Fees benefit marine education programs for Maui schoolchildren. The Half Marathon starts at 6:30 a.m.; the 5K starts at 7:30; the children's 2K race starts at 8:00 a.m. Please arrive at least a half hour prior to your race. To register, click here for a downloadable entry form or visit www.active.com. Call (808) 249-8811 ext. 1 (or 1-800-942-5311 ext. 1 from the neighbor islands) or visit www.mauiwhalefestival.org. If you are bringing a guest and wish to purchase breakfast for the guest, the price is $7 per person. Additional breakfast tickets must be purchased by February 3, by calling (808) 249-8811..
To learn more, call (808) 249-8811 or 1-800-WHALE-1-1
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