Hawaii from sea to sea: A trailrunning adventure part four

Our series on a Hawaiian trailrunning adventure comes to an end this week. When a running group consisting of professional runners Jason Schlarb and Julien Chorier and runner Bill Clements planned to run across Hawaii covering two volcanoes on their way, there was lots of tough running ahead of them. Last week they covered the second volcano of their expedition. Today they take on the last stretch as they descend back to sea level.

Down to sea
The next day of running sees many picturesque countryside scenes. Running through the island is magic. The colours in the sunrise match those of the previous sunset. Given how cold it is, the trailers don’t hang around but go almost straight downhill from an altitude of 4,200 metres to 4,100 metres to warm themselves up.

Julien, Jason and Bill are having a ball. At 3,000 metres of altitude on the Kaaliali Trail, they climb and descend over a 45 kilometre stretch. Having left the desert regions behind them, they are filled with emotion as they traverse incredible Hawaiian vegetation.

After racing for some 258 kilometres, crossing the rain forest on Mud Lane and the surreal Waipi’o Valley, they reach the finish line on a white sandy beach. The challenge has been met. They crossed the island.

Well done to all and especially to Bill, an amateur trailer who proved himself very much up to the challenge.