This 34-year-old has run marathons in 49 states. Hawaii is last on the list
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - In his New York suburb, distance runner Ben Jones is at it again. The 34-year-old has been training for the Honolulu Marathon, his seventh long-distance race this year.
”It will be warmer than I’m used to,” he said. “It’s a little nerve-wracking because I still need to do it under three in Honolulu.”
The “under three” he’s referring to is the three-hour goal he sets every time he laces up his shoes for the 26.2 miles a marathon covers from start to finish.
”If you run slow enough and can keep an even pace then you’ll be rewarded for it later on. It’s definitely something that comes with experience,” he said.
He has lots of experience running marathons. He’s won several, but his biggest accomplishment is consistently finishing them below the three-hour mark.
He’s done it in 49 states. Hawaii’s the last on his list.
”I know Diamond Head is the big hill that you have to go through around mile 8 and 24 or so. But it’s mostly flat along the coast which is nice,” he said.
Jones finished his first marathon in under three hours way back in 2009. Between then and now he’s run a lot of miles.
“It’s definitely in the thousands, probably tens of thousands. I don’t know. Too many,” he said.
He fits marathons around family time and his career in finance, and he’s very picky about the races he chooses.
”I mostly choose ones that are flat,” he said. “They’re easier to break three for. I also pick based on my own schedule.”
This will be his first Honolulu Marathon. It’s such a big deal that his family is coming to watch him cross the finish line. And he’s already thinking about what he’ll do when it’s over.
”First, I’m going to get a beer somewhere in Honolulu. My sister is also doing the race. I’m really hoping she doesn’t beat me,” he said.
If Jones averages about 6.5 minutes per mile, he’ll break the three-hour mark again, and officially end his “Sub-three 50” challenge, something he’s been chasing for a very long time.
UPDATE: So did Ben make his goal?
He did, with plenty of time to spare. He finished the 2024 Honolulu Marathon Sunday morning with a time of two hours, 55 minutes and 29 seconds.
Congrats, Ben!
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