Ben Babauta completes last marathon for 2015

Ben Babauta, right, poses with one of the volunteers at the Honolulu Marathon after completing the race. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI was represented in the Honolulu Marathon as Ben Babauta was among the more than 10,000 men’s finishers in the annual race held early this month.

“It’s an unbelievable experience because it’s one of the biggest races in the U.S.,” said Babauta, who completed the 26.2-mile run in 5:21:00.

According to Babauta, 33,000 did the race that started at Ala Mauna Beach Park and had runners going to downtown Honolulu, looping back to Waikiki Beach, up to Diamond Head, then to Kahala, passing Kawaikui Beach Park, Maunalua Bay Beach Park (24K marker and turnaround) and back to Diamond Head for the finish at Kapiolani Park.

Babauta competed in the 45 to 49 age group and was at No. 445 out of 1,145 finishers in his division. In the men’s overall division, he placed at No. 4,092 out of 11,343.

“Not bad, but I wanted to beat the 5-hour mark. However, there were a lot of people in the race area and it took me 17 minutes just to get to the starting line,” the 47-year-old runner said.

The Honolulu Marathon held last Dec. 13 was Babauta’s third 42.195K event. His previous two were the Guam and Saipan marathons. He also completed the Honolulu Marathon just a week after participating in the 2015 Hell of Marianas Century Cycle Race.

“I added it (Honolulu Marathon) to my bucket list early this year after Guam and Saipan marathons. I did these races for personal satisfaction,” said Babauta, who also saw action in Tagaman and XTERRA triathlons, Tour De Tinian, and a couple of local bike and run races this year.

Babauta trained for the Honolulu Marathon for three and a half months, biking and running two to three times a week. He had long runs on weekends.

Though he failed to meet his target time, Babauta was happy to complete the race and have his wife Linda and former Saipan residents greet him at the finish line.

“My wife was there and Team DFS Family—general manager for Waikiki T-Galleria Bruce Lorange and his Yurie assistant and general manager for operations Wolf Mojica and his wife Gezzel. I want to go back to Honolulu and beat my time,” Babauta said.

Kenya’s Filex Kiprotich was the overall top finisher in this year’s Honolulu Marathon, clocking in at 2:11:43, while his compatriot Joyce Chepkirui ruled the women’s division after submitting 2:28:34.