By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Shoe laces, with the H-3 logo on the guard,
are made by Feel Goods!

Start lacing up
for the H-3 race

Get your running shoes in gear. Dec. 31 is the early entry deadline to sign up for the Great Trans Ko'olau Trek on the H-3 freeway. Early applicants will be assured entry in the race and avoid late-entry fees.

You say running's not your bag? Well, maybe the $100,000 prize purse for the winners is more of an incentive. There is $25,000 designated for each first place male and female finisher in the Elite Division.

The 10-mile May 11 race, Heihei 'O Halawa 'Ekolu, spans a USA Track & Field-certified course on the soon to be open H-3 freeway. The race will start in Kaneohe and finish in Aloha Stadium, and is expected to attract 100,000 runners and nonrunners who simply want to walk the route.

Hawaii residents will pay $39 to run, while visitors will pay $44. "Late" to "Very Very Late" entry fees range from $49 to $80 for residents and $54 to $80 to visitors.

To request a race entry booklet, call Race Headquarters at 521-4351, or visit one of its websites at http://www.h-3run.com or http://www.fhb.com.

Meanwhile, while you're picking up those shoes, check out Feel Goods!, springy, colorful, elastic laces that never need tying. Normally, these run $3.99, but for the race there will be 20,000 available at $4.99, specially designed with the H-3 logo and the name of the race.

Let's compute: 20,000 laces, 100,000 runners. One best be getting these souvenirs soon at Runner's Route at Ward Warehouse or the H-3 store at 50 S. Beretania St., Unit C-211-A, which will also be stocked with key chains, T-shirts and other keepsakes, as reminders of the experience.

As merchandiser Jerrold Kam says, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime happening! Just think, if you come in last you'll hold that place forever because it'll never happen again."

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Star-Bulletin