HURT Hogsback 12 Hour Race,
Honolulu Hawaii

Reviewed by ultraDave

One of Oahu’s toughest runs, the annual Hawaiian Ultra Running Team’s Hogsback 12 Hour Trail Race, took place on October 13, 2007. Located on Tantalus, in the Ko’olau Mountain Range, high above Waikiki and Honolulu. It’s a simple race, to see how many loops you can complete from 6am to 6pm. However, the thing that makes it tough, is the course itself, which is not so easy. In fact, I personally think that it is the most difficult 2-1/2 mile stretch in the Tantalus trail system. It is the thought of having to face the first climb after leaving the check-in point, that freezes many runners in their tracks, and keeps them sitting comfortably near food, family, and friends.

During the first 7/10 of a mile, you climb 700 feet straight up Hogsback Ridge. The ridge gets its nickname because of the tangled web of roots that appears like the backbone of the famed wild pigs that roam the area. The climb itself seems never ending, but it’s really the roots that are thick enough to trip you up. After finally reaching the top, you briefly proceed down the trail to a stream crossing, where you are immediately greeted by another steep incline. After you reach this second top, you descend for a second stream crossing, and then climb for yet a third time. This one is less severe, but slightly longer than previously. You have now just completed the area nicknamed the “Dips”. It is also in this plateau area, that you are treated with a great view of downtown Honolulu, so far down below, that it seems like a small scale erector toy set. From there you begin a long winding decent of knobby roots, more stream crossings and a rocky , muddy trail. Oh, did I mention, that it was muddy. It has been raining in the valley consistently over the past few months, so avoiding the mud was like avoiding muscle fatigue on this particular day, quite impossible. The 2-½ mile loop concluded where it all started, at the Nature Center in Makiki Valley. Kind of giving you the feeling like you’ve just been through so much, but never really got anywhere. At the same time, it was nice standing near the pavilion, because this was most certainly the only level spot in the entire valley. All day long, we were either going up or going down.

The race started promptly at 6am, still dark because of the cloud cover and light misting rain. With headlights and handhelds probing into the distance, the race started out quickly. The front runners set a fast pace going uphill. It was much quicker that I anticipated, and even I got caught up in the excitement. The ascent of Hogsback quickly spread everyone out along the course. At “Dips”, flashlights were no longer necessary, as it started becoming light outside. The light rain however, would continue for a couple of hours. In a little more than 30 minutes the first racers completed the first loop, checked in with the Race Director, and refueled before heading out for the next loop. This would be the routine for the next 11+ hours. There was water and Gatorade at the check-in point, along with some fruits, pretzels, and hot dogs - if you could stomach them. Most racers brought along their own favorites. Myself, I stuck primarily with water, 26 servings of Hammer Gel, and 3 electrolyte tablets. During the first loop, seven runners established themselves as contenders for top placing in the event.

I took over the lead during the second loop, and would maintain it for loops three and four. During the fifth loop, Paul Hopwood of Maui, the eventual winner, took control of the race. He would build a lead which seemed insurmountable. However, much later in the day he would run into some stomach issues. At the completion of loop 14, or mile 35, I would pull back even with him for an ascent up Hogsback. However, Paul was determined, and would resurge with a extraordinary effort during “Dips”. From there he never looked back. When the race concluded at 6pm, Paul completed 18 loops for a total of 45 miles. I would finish second with a total of 42.5 miles, and Gordon Lau rounded out the top three with 40 miles. Harald Eberling also got 40 miles in just before time expired, placing a very strong fourth.

A total of 20 men and women took on the Hogsback challenge. The race started with relatively cooler temperatures in the low 70’s. However the temperature rose quickly when the sun broke through, and reached 85 in the afternoon, though maybe not in the deep shade of the forest. The humidity was high due to the morning rain, and lot and lots of mud and water out on the course.

For anyone running the Hogsback 12 Hour, this race is destined to become a great one in your journal. Because it challenges you in a couple of different ways. First the amount of time. 12 hours is a long time to keep your body constantly moving. And secondly, the course itself. Each time you finish a loop you face the challenge of another steep ascent up Hogsback, followed by a bone jarring descent back into the valley. However, overcoming these two challenges is what makes the race so rewarding when you complete it.

Next year, if you are ready to step up and take the challenge of a lifetime, then go ahead and take on the HURT Hogsback 12 Hour Trail Race.