Solomon Airlines and the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau offers you a highly attractive travel package for this year’s running festival including the Fly Solomons Half Marathon on Sunday 12 September.
The run is just one reason to visit this South Pacific tropical paradise but is a fantastic excuse to book a flight and take in the beauty of the country and its people.
Packages start from AUD $599 AUD per person (twin share) Inclusions: Return economy airfare with Solomon Airlines, airport transfers, three nights twin share accommodation at the Pacific Casino Hotel (standard ground floor room), race entry, event t-shirt, electronic timing, welcome function at the Heritage Hotel and post event celebrations at the Cultural Village in Honiara.
The run is an out and back course following Mendana Way turning around at Bonegi Beach where the remains of the wartime transport, Kinugawa Maru lie close to the shore.
The run starts early in the morning to take advantage of the cooler temperature (averaging 26º C 72º F in September). Water stations are provided every kilometre and should it all get too warm, you can have a quick dip in the Solomon Sea.
When you book, make sure you plan to stay a few extra days and do some of the other activities available including snorkelling tours, amazing waterfall bush walks or a full day tour to the Florida Islands visiting a dolphin breeding area and the volcanic Savo Island. The Solomon Islands is also famous for its scuba diving, fishing and surfing.
Guadalcanal is well known for its pivotal role in World War II, with the battle of Guadalcanal turning the tide in favour of the Allies in the Pacific theatre. Many relics can be found in and around Honiara. Battlefield tours are available and take you to Bloody Ridge, Mt Austen and the Gifu area.
Guadalcanal is still filled with World War II relics and monuments that tourists can visit, and several companies offer organized military site tours.
Please note that Friday flights to the Solomon Islands fill quickly, so don’t delay your booking.
Your decision to come to the Solomon Islands will be a profoundly positive one. Developing nations benefit hugely from the event tourism and you will be guaranteed of a heart warming stay in the friendly isles.
Fast Facts:
- Languages: English (1-2%) (official), Melanesian pidgin (lingua franca), 120 indigenous languages
- Area total: 5,302 km².
- Capital: Honiara
- Latitude/ Longitude: 9° 32' S, 160° 12' E
- City Calling code: 677
- Time Zone: GMT+11
- Monetary Unit: Solomon Islands dollar
- Population: Solomon Islands: approx. 477,000. Honiara: approx. 68,000.
- Ethnicities/races: Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, Other/unspecified 1.3%
- Government: parliamentary democracy
- Guadalcanal is a tropical island with an average temperature of 29 °C and high humidity. Guadalcanal's wet season runs from November to May. At this time of year, the island is more prone to experiencing cyclones.
- Guadalcanal is 90 miles long and about 25 miles wide. It has coral reefs on the south shores and mountains up to 8000 feet high in the interior
- The western and eastern coasts of Guadalcanal were the sites of many World War II battles. Many of these sites have war relics, monuments, and memorials. The northern coast is the heart of the province, whereas the southern coast, called the "weather coast" because of heavy rainfall, is host to small villages and is less accessible.
Entry fees: Adults SBD $200 per person
Kids (U15) SBD $ 70 per child
Inclusions: race entry, t-shirt, electronic timing, post race celebrations including Solbrew beverages and barbeque.
South Pacific Mini Games Gold Medallist Chris Votu wins inaugural half marathon
SOUTH Pacific Mini Games gold medalist Chris Votu walked home with $3,500 for winning the inaugural Guadalcanal Half Marathon and Fun Run on Sunday.
His runner up Chris Tiva walked away with $2,100 while Australian Peter Wilson took the third position, collecting $1,400. Fourth place David Bako completed the 21 kilometres barefoot!
Around 350 runners including 30 international visitors participated in the long events that started from Art Gallery to Bonege and return.
It was a great event that everyone has enjoyed every minute of it.
Participating in the event are local residents, business houses, RAMSI military police, expatriate community, families and children.
There were water stations in every kilometre, and the runners on their return were greeted by the sponsors, Our Telekom, Westpac and Solomon Airlines with give away gifts for every runner.
Solomon Breweries tent become the highlight as the visitors and residents enjoyed free Solbrew beers and soft drinks as well as the free sausage sizzle and fruits provided by Flight Centre.
The Lazy Runners club from Queensland’s after taking part commended the locals for their hospitality.
Fourteen Lazy Runners participated in the events before left for Brisbane yesterday with a promise to return again next year.
Those who attended the event also won random prizes, including flights from Solomon Airlines, Motorola mobile phones donated by Our Telekom, product from Solomon Breweries and digital cameras donated by Flight Centre.
Over 70 volunteers turned up for the events to assist.
The organisers acknowledges the sponsors and supporting companies Solomon Airlines, Our Telekom, Westpac, Solomon Breweries, SI Visitors Bureau, Flight Centre Australia, Tailwind Promotions and Travel Solomon for making the inaugural event a success.
Read about Andy Iles' Solomon Island experience
So there I was, absolutely exhausted after my first Epic mountain bike ride, when my name was called out. Wow, I’ve won a trip to the Solomon Islands! For the inaugural half marathon! Why not. You only live once. So, within a month or two of intense physio and some acupuncture, I’m off on a white steel bird in the sky and soon find myself landing in a tropical wonderland.
We check into the spanking new Heritage Hotel. This is situated right on the beach, in the middle of the city. (In fact, I can hear the dolphins from my room – the ones that are bound for the Middle East. Must learn how to night dive and release the poor things).
Anyway, the Hotel staff are delightful. No sooner had we unpacked, when we are taken on the half marathon course, (which begins right outside our Hotel, doing a ten and a half k loop along the coast line). Dead flat. Perfect. Through two villages along the way.
That night, we get accustomed to the King Solomon Hotel for some of the local brew, Sol Beer. A fine drop I might add. Everyone ends up in a Chinese Restaurant for dinner, but I get caught up with some ex-pats, and find myself watching an interesting Karaoke night. Very surreal. Good singers though. I find my Hotel and crash out at 1pm, successfully avoiding the storm water ditches either side of the road.
At 2.30, an almighty alarm rang right outside my room. I immediately thought tsunami, (naturally), and panicked. After two minutes of sheer chaos – trying to dress, what to take, where to go, and by the way, I’m on the third floor) I realise that it was an electrical fault. Thank God no-one saw me.
Now waking up with a hangover in the Solomons is a good thing – you seem to fit in to their speed. You see, the humidity is so high, you soon realise that anything energetic is quite unnecessary. But, then again, I was here for a half marathon, and a bit of exercise to clear my head was needed. I manage to find a guide to take me on a trek to a nearby waterfall. The taxi driver takes me on a journey about 20 minutes outside the city, to an area called Cola ridge. (It’s called this due to the remains of the Coca Cola bottles the Americans left there from the War).
Within an hour, I’m in front of a Japanese War Memorial, overlooking the whole Islands. Spectacular scenery everywhere you look. I meet my guide Jerry at his village, he grabs an axe, and off we go. Within 10 minutes, I’ve fallen down a side of a mountain, hurting my ribs. He then tells me he hasn’t been on this trek for over a year. Five minutes later, we come across a 6 foot poisonous snake that won’t leave our path for a few minutes. No rush. An hour later, we hear the sound of a waterfall. And before I know it, I’m swimming in the most amazing water hole I’ve ever come across. (I feel like I belong in a Phantom comic).
Too steep to climb up the way we came, we follow the river through the jungle. We come across many WW2 remnants – water bottles, ammo shells, helmets, belt buckles, etc. And then Jerry shows me a cave that he found over 2 years ago, where an American soldiers’ remains were. His family was eventually tracked down and they came to the site several months later to lay him to rest in the USA. I must admit, I was quite naïve to the area’s history. It’s unbelievable, the sheer scale of the battles that occurred. You just need to see a map of the wrecks that are in the area to give you an idea. (It’s not called Iron Bottom Bay for nothing I suppose).
We eventually get back to his village. I don’t feel the need to do the Kokoda Track anymore! His uncle scampers up a tree and within minutes I’m downing a fresh coconut. Don’t quote me on this, but it was better than a Sol beer! I hang out with his family until the taxi takes me back to the Hotel, just in time for the much awaited ‘all you can eat’ pasta night at the King Solomon Hotel.
After the meal, we were spoilt with an energetic traditional dance show. No Karaoke this night. Early to bed. I make sure I have an early morning call of 5am.
6.05 I awake. Great. I try and jump out of bed and my ribs are killing me. I shove coffee and panadol and GU down my throat, and get to the starting line. Really apprehensive at this stage. Went for a 100m jog and wasn’t good. But, you get caught up in the moment. Before I know it, I’m off, in a sort of ‘I’ve just been shot in the guts shuffle’. I man up and try to get into some sort of rhythm. The road wasn’t closed to traffic, which really wasn’t a concern. Sunday in the Solomons is really quiet. If anyone’s up and about, they’re getting ready for church. But nevertheless, it kept you aware. The drinking stations were every kilometre and the more you got into the run, the more they were appreciated. The heat/humidity took it’s toll quite quickly. I’ve never drenched myself more frequently in any race. My shoes were saturated by the 5km mark. Even the several rivers we ran over seemed like the perfect detours for a cool down. But more than anything else, I remember the locals lining the way. I even had a 5 year old bare foot boy run with me for nearly 2 kilometres. (Similar to the Sydney Olympic marathon run I did, 6 weeks before the Olympics, where several colourful locals in drag were running along Oxford street with us, but different, if you know what I mean). 2 hours exactly later, I cross the finish line. No PB by any means, but a wonderful experience.
The Sol beer tent was a welcomed sight. Trouble was, I was too sore to get up for about an hour. Finally threw myself into the pool, and the afternoon was spent back at the King sol for the presentations. A deaf group of runners sang several songs to the crowd, which was incredibly emotional. I met the Vice President of the Solomon Triathalon Club and wish I had some spare money donate to his vision of a local pool, let alone second hand bikes. We do take our country for granted, don’t we? Anyway, had an early night, and next day brought some local artifacts – stone masks and idols, woven bags, shell money.
Before I knew it, I’m back on the steely bird for Brissie. My wife sends me straight to the local Doc, I get an x-ray. Fractured front L9 rib. Four to six weeks. No wonder the bloody thing hurt. So, would I do it again? Absolutely. But take a trek after the run. Thanks Peter and crew for organising such a unique event.
