Your plan in four answers
Set for January 17, 2027, about 12 weeks out.
- Distances
- Marathon, Half marathon, 6 miles, 5K
- Terrain
- Rolling
- Taper starts
- December 30, 2026
Course
The Maui Oceanfront Marathon course
The marathon is point to point: it starts at the Shops at Wailea, makes a one-mile out-and-back south to the Fairmont hotel, then heads north on South Kihei Road through oceanfront Kihei and turns onto Highway 30 near Ma'alaea Bay. From there it follows the coast west past Ukumehame to finish outside Launiupoko Beach Park, about 2.5 miles south of Lahaina town, with the last 2 miles on closed road.
Read the full course notes
Most of the route is flat and right beside the water, with the main rise where Highway 30 climbs around the sea cliffs beyond Ma'alaea before dropping back to the shoreline. You run on asphalt shoulders and bike paths often only 4 to 6 feet wide, and runners start at 5:00 a.m. in the dark (walkers and early starters at 4:00 a.m.), so a headlamp is required. The half starts at Ma'alaea, the 6-Miler at Ukumehame Beach Park, and the 5K is a double out-and-back at the Launiupoko finish.
- Terrain
- Rolling
- Distances
- Marathon, Half marathon, 6 miles, 5K
- Weather on race day
- January on Maui's leeward coast is usually mild before dawn, around 65–70 °F, warming toward 80 °F with strong sun after it rises around 7:00 a.m. Trade winds can blow along the coast, so start conservatively, drink at the 18 aid stations from the reusable cup you carry from the start, and wear sunscreen for the second half.
What to train for
Most miles here are flat and fast, but the climb on Highway 30 past Ma'alaea comes in the middle of the race, so put a sustained 5 to 10 minute hill into the middle of your long runs.
Do a few early long runs in the dark with a headlamp so the 5:00 a.m. start feels normal, and practise drinking on the move from a soft cup or bottle, since there are no paper cups.
Build long runs to 18 to 20 miles with the last few at goal pace. If you are training through a northern winter, add some indoor or overdressed runs to prepare for warm sun in the final hour.
Sample week
A sample Maui Oceanfront Marathon training week
A week from the middle of the build, about six weeks out. Your plan sets the real distances and paces from your own fitness and adjusts them every week as you train.
- Monday
- Rest, or 20 minutes of mobility
- Tuesday Key session
- Intervals: 5 × 1 mile at 5K to 10K effort, easy jog between
- Wednesday
- Easy run, 6–7 mi
- Thursday Key session
- Goal-pace run, 10 mi with 6 mi at race pace
- Friday
- Recovery run, 4 mi, or cross-train
- Saturday Key session
- Long run, 16–18 mi, the last 4 mi at race pace
- Sunday
- Easy run, 4 mi, then 6 relaxed strides
Your build to race day
Taper
Tapering for the Maui Oceanfront Marathon
Start the taper two to three weeks before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course rolls, so keep one short session on undulating ground in the first taper week. With the race on January 17, 2027, your taper starts around December 30, 2026.
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Build me a training plan for the Maui Oceanfront Marathon on January 17, 2027. I run [distance] a week, [days] days a week, easy pace [pace].
Maui Oceanfront Marathon training questions
How long should I train for the Maui Oceanfront Marathon?
Most runners give a marathon sixteen to twenty weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The plan above counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
Is the Maui Oceanfront Marathon course hilly?
Rolling. The marathon is point to point: it starts at the Shops at Wailea, makes a one-mile out-and-back south to the Fairmont hotel, then heads north on South Kihei Road through oceanfront Kihei and turns onto Highway 30 near Ma'alaea Bay.
What is the weather usually like at the Maui Oceanfront Marathon?
January on Maui's leeward coast is usually mild before dawn, around 65–70 °F, warming toward 80 °F with strong sun after it rises around 7:00 a.m. Trade winds can blow along the coast, so start conservatively, drink at the 18 aid stations from the reusable cup you carry from the start, and wear sunscreen for the second half.
When should I start tapering for the Maui Oceanfront Marathon?
Start the taper two to three weeks before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. The course rolls, so keep one short session on undulating ground in the first taper week. With the race on January 17, 2027, your taper starts around December 30, 2026.
Do I need an account to get a Maui Oceanfront Marathon training plan?
No. The plan above builds in your browser with no account, no email, and no card. Make a free account only if you want to keep it, log your runs against it, and have the coach keep adapting it as your training goes.