Ron Pate

hirunning on December 26, 2022

Ron Pate moved to Hawai‘i in 1980 and ran his first marathon, the Honolulu Marathon, in 1984 in 3:35:08 which was the beginning of his transition from track to long distance running. After 13 years of successful road racing, he focused on running track in the masters’ division and went on to be a six-time National Champion in his age division in several events.

In 2004, Ron was ranked 3rd in the world in the M55-59 3000-meter Steeplechase and in 2017, won two bronze medals in the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, in the M70-74 800 meters which ranked 3rd in the world and the M70-74 1500 meters which ranked 4th in the world.

In 2019, Ron ran on the M65-69 4X800-meter relay team in the USA Masters National Indoors Championship in Winston Salem, North Carolina.  His team placed 1st overall, winning a gold medal.

He also measured and certified more than 100 road race courses in Hawaii, including the Honolulu Marathon.

He coached high school cross country and track & field at McKinley High School, Radford High School and at Mid Pacific Institute where he established the current cross country and track programs.

Ron served as a Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club Vice President for over 15 years and was the MPRRC President in 2000.  The Bob & Ron’s 5K race held annually in Honolulu is named after MPRRC Past Presidents Bob Doleman and Ron Pate.

Some of Ron’s many racing accomplishments include:

•Half Marathon, EOD Half Marathon1986;1:18:55 ,1st Overall

•RRCA 20KM Hawai‘i State Championship, 1987,1:13:10; M40-44 *State record as of 1987

•5-mile Run for the Diamonds, 1987, 28:17; M40-44* State record as of 1987

•10K St Francis Hospice, 1987, 34:43, 1st Overall

•8K Hawaiian Style, 27:41, M40-44 * State record as of 1990                       

•USATF Masters Championships 3Km Steeplechase, National Champion in 2003, 2004, and 2005, M55-59

2Km Steeplechase National Champion, M60-64, 2008

•USATF Masters Championship 8K, 2005, M55-59; * National Champion

•Honolulu Marathon, 2011, 3:24:39, 1st M65-69

•USATF Masters Championship 2012, M65-69 10Km, *National Champion

 Ron currently Lives in Honolulu with his wife Susan Block and their 2 dogs, Lily and PJ.

Rachel Portner

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 16, 2023

Rachel Portner started running in Ann Arbor Michigan in 1975 and fell in love with running right away. She was coaxed into running her first race, a 5-miler, which she ended up winning with a time of 29 min.

In 1981 Rachel moved to Hawaii with her family and quickly became one of the fastest female distance runners in the state. As a mother of four children, she always put her family first. But through her discipline and dedication to her sport, she somehow found the time for training.

Rachel qualified-for the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials at the Detroit Marathon, with a time of 2:50:41. She then went on to run her personal best marathon at the trials in Olympia, Washington in 2:46:51. Her two best Honolulu Marathons came in 1984 and 1985. She ran a 2:49:33 in 1984, 6th overall female and a 2:53:08 in 1985, 2nd overall female.

Most of Rachel’s road races were distances between 10K and the marathon, where she had great success. But she also enjoyed an occasional trail race and even an ultramarathon. She is a 5-time winner of the Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Marathon, and a 2-time winner and women’s record holder of the Run to The Sun; she was the first overall finisher (men and women) in 1993.

Rachel also had a passion for coaching. She wanted to help others have the same positive experience that she had with running. She coached the intermediate students at Punahou for two years, and then worked with Duncan MacDonald coaching at the varsity level for the next four years. She then accepted a position of head coach at Sacred Hearts Academy and coached four more years.

Rachel is married to Bernie Portner and they have four children. Maya, Talia, Liat, and Elan.

Running Achievements:

First place finishes:

6:12:0658.26 kmKahuluiRun to the Sun
3:46:29MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
3:43:08MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
5:39:0858.26 kmKahuluiRun to the Sun (Overall)
3:38:26MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
3:40:23MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
3:19:44MarathonVolcanoKilauea Volcano Wilderness
3:12:51MarathonKailuaWindward
36:1010 kmHonoluluWomen’s 10K

PRs:

36:10:0010KHonoluluWomen’s 10K
2:46:51MarathonWashingtonUS Olympic Trials

Coaching:

  • Punahou Intermediate students, 2 years
  • Punahou Varsity students, 4 years
  • Sacred Hearts Academy, head coach 4 years

John Salmonson

Kāne Ng-Osorio on November 16, 2023

John Salmonson was an accomplished runner who placed the utmost value on leadership, mentoring, and inspiring other runners to achieve what may have been thought impossible. Winning races was not a priority for John; sharing his love for running, particularly trail running, and encouraging others were his greatest achievements.

Johnʻs running lifetime was shared with his wife, PJ. They were married following their completion of the Vermont 100-mile race in 1989. They participated in all of life’s events together thereafter.

John arrived in Hawaii in 1974 from Santa Cruz to start his new business that continues to thrive today under the reigns of his son, Eric. John began running during his early years in Hawaii and completed his first Honolulu Marathon in 1981. In typical “Big John” fashion, he coached and trained a small group of close friends to complete the 1982 Honolulu Marathon together, then literally, tethered together as a bunch of reindeer for the Reindeer Run in 1985! Soon after, he tried trail running and quickly was pulled to the lure of ultra running.

John accumulated over 100,000 lifetime miles of running in Hawaii and around the globe on his many adventurous runs. Other marathons completed include Maui, San Francisco, Pikeʻs Peak and Volcano. Ultramarathons are where John excelled and felt most comfortable. John completed distances from 50K to 100 miles, 8-day relays, and 10-day running adventures, including the Lewis and Clark relay across Washington State, the Golden Circle Super Marathon (10 marathons over 10 days) in Russia and Haleakala Run to the Sun several times. John started the tradition of running your age in miles on your birthday by running home from Haleiwa on his 40th. Later, when John planned more birthday runs in places like Molokai, Maunakea, Mauna Loa, Kalalau, Lanai, and Saddle Road, there was always a big gang there to support him, learn from him, and celebrate the beauty of running together in the natural environment.

When running was no longer possible for John, he led the trail running movement in Hawaii and commanded that HURT develop events for the people of Hawaii. John boldly moved forward directing both road runs and trail runs. He directed many races such as the Schofield 50 Miler, Capitol 50 Miler, Honolulu City Lights, HURT 100, HURT Trail Series races, and Haleakala Run to the Sun for its final seven years. When John was the race director, everyone benefitted from his endless optimism and can-do spirit. More than a few HURT 100 finishers have John to thank for believing in them and inspiring them.

John supported and mentored many young and novice Hawaii ultrarunners in their attempt to conquer big races all over the world.  Anyone needing training plans, advice, and encouragement would go to John, who was always generous in sharing his wisdom and experience. John gave generously of his time and experience to Hawaii’s young runners by coaching at Mid Pacific for three years.

Most important to John was sharing his love of trail running, inspiring runners to go beyond their perceived limits, provide support and fellowship, and to develop a community-concious running group. HURT was born out of that love and devotion to the running community, his desire to give of himself, and his respect for Hawaii’s aina. HURT remains the ohana that John envisioned, with his protégées carrying on in his memory and perpetuating HURT’s mission to enhance long distance running and trail runs and to provide fellowship and support among Hawaii’s running community.

Running accomplishments:

  • 4 x Western States 100 finisher – PR 24:36:00
  • 3 x Run to the Sun 36-mile finisher – PR 7:28:39
  • 3 x American River 50-mile finisher – PR 9:06:32

John now rests on the trails that he so loved, and his family couldn’t imagine any better place for him to stay in eternity. The thousands of people that he has introduced to trail running and have received his encouragement over his lifetime feel his spirit there and hear his voice saying,
“We Wouldn’t Want it to be Easy”.

Steve Sobaje

hirunning on December 26, 2022

Steve Sobaje dominated the Hawaii running scene from the late 70’s and into the 80’s, primarily in long distance races.  He completed 15 marathons, 11 of them under 2:30, and placed first overall in six of them. Steve qualified for the Olympic marathon trials in 1984 with a time of 2:18 and earned the Honolulu Marathon top kamaaina finisher award five times. Steve also ran marathons outside Hawaii, consistently posting impressive finishing times under 2:29. All this from someone who did not start running until his senior year in high school!

Steve is perhaps best known for winning the daunting 36.2 mile Haleakala Run to the Sun (which he co-founded) four times, setting the course record of 4:45:31, which he held for 25 years until the race was discontinued in 2011. 

A talented and versatile runner, Steve posted top three finishing times in races ranging from 4 miles to 30 K. His personal best is 4:20 for the mile and 2:04 for 800 meters.

After 25 years as a firefighter on Maui, Steve is now retired and lives in Haiku with his wife Linda. Their son Chris lives nearby in Makawao.  Gardening, home maintenance, and long walks with his above average dog, Rocky, are keeping Steve busy these days. 

Norman Tamanaha

hirunning on January 9, 2022

Norman Tamanaha is considered the “Father of Distance Running in Hawaii.” Long before the running boom of the early 1970s, Norman dominated local races, was a key figure in promoting running in Hawaii through the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club (MPRRC) and the Hawaii Masters Track Club (HMTC), and coached track at St. Louis High school.

Records indicate that Norman won the inaugural Hawaiian Amateur Athletics Union’s Marathon held on Maui in 1943.

His achievements at the Boston Marathon are noteworthy. An examination of results compiled by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) reveals that Norman was the first Hawaii resident ever to compete at Boston, completing five marathons from 1952-1956. It wouldn’t be until 1965 that another Hawaii resident would run at Boston.

His five top twenty-five overall finishes came when he was between 45 and 49 years old:

  • 1952 – 5th place (2:51:55)
  • 1953 – 10th place (2:38:38)
  • 1954 – 13th place (2:45:45)
  • 1955 – 15th place (2:38:30)
  • 1956 – 25th place (2:38:46)

During the 1970s, Norman competed in HMTC track meets and ran some fast times such as 18:40.6 for 5k (age 65), and 10ks of 41:36.0 (age 66), and 43.46.0 (age 67).

After he passed in 1977, HMTC sponsored the first Norman K. Tamanaha 15K Run in 1978 and is still one of Oahu’s most popular races.

Mike Tymn

hirunning on March 11, 2022

Mike Tymn is a prominent figure in Hawaii’s running history for his outstanding race performances throughout his running career, especially as a masters runner over the age of 40 and for his promotion of the sport through his writing.

A runner since 1954, Mike began competing in Hawaii right after moving here from Guam in 1971.  At 42, Mike was the overall winner of the 1979 Maui Marathon with a time of 2:28:43, and was twice named Hawaii’s “Runner of the Year” by the Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club (MPRRC).

Notable achievements:

  • Won four national masters championships from 10K to the marathon and broke national age records at 10K, 15K, 20K and the One-Hour Run
  • Twice overall winner of the Kam Day Kukini (1977-78), Hawaii’s most popular non-marathon
  • Winner of the first Norman K. Tamanaha 15K and age-group recordholder in the 40-44, 45-49, and 50-54 divisions; still holds 40-over record at 49:43, set at age 45
  • Won the 30-39 division in the 1975 Honolulu Marathon (2:34), second in the 30-39 division in 1976 (2:32) and first in the 40-49 division in 1977 (2:32)
  • Represented MPRRC in the 1977 National Masters Team Championship, which was part of the New York City Marathon, with Jim Gallup and Johnny Faerber, winning the national team championship
  • Clocked 2:29:52 in leading the Hawaii team, including Gordon Dugan and Jim Gallup, to a second-place finish in the 1978 National Masters Marathon Championship in Anaheim, California.
  • Won the One-Hour Run at UH in 1979 with 11 miles, 542 yards, which was an American age record
  • Sponsored by Nike in 1978-81, won 40-49 division of the 1979 Cascade Run-Off 15K in Portland (49:24)
  • Won the 1980 Nike National 10K masters championship in San Diego, leading the Hawaii team, including Johnny Faerber and Jim Gallup, to a second-place team finish
  • Broke the then-existing national 10K 40-over road record with a 31:38 in Boston, Mass.
  • Won Road Runners Club of America national championship 10K in the 45-49 division in Portland, Maine in 1985
  • Coached the Hawaii state team in the international Ekiden competition in New York City in 1988 and 1989

Mike promoted an appreciation for long-distance running through his work as a reporter. He covered the running scene for the Honolulu Advertiser from 1978 to 2002 and contributed many articles to national publications, including Runner’s World, Running Times, and National Masters News. In his long career, he contributed over 1,600 articles in approximately 40 newspapers, magazines, journals, and books, and interviewed and wrote about more than 40 Olympians. Pictured below is Mike’s highly regarded book, Running on Third Wind (2009).

Mike is married to the former Gina Bernard of Kaneohe, Hawaii and has two daughters, both registered nurses, and four grandchildren, and lives in Kailua, Oahu.