Hawaii Kai’s Jaxon Heads Jaxon Heads

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Carol Jaxon, this year’s Great Aloha Run race
director, and husband Ed Bugarin rappel from
a bridge on Koko Crater. Photo from Carol
Jaxon.

Hawaii Kai resident and all-around athlete Carol Jaxon usually competes in the Great Aloha Run, but this year when the starting gun pops she’ll be running the show for the first time as race director.

Jaxon’s best time in the 8.1-mile Presidents’ Day run came last year when she clocked in at 1:02. “This was my year to break one hour so I guess I’m not going to do that,” Jaxon said with a laugh.

The San Diego native came to Hawaii 16 years ago for work, married Leilehua High graduate Edward Bugarin, and has become a part of the active local community. A former cross country assistant coach and track coach at Kaiser High, she has competed in 12 Na Wahine O Ke Kai races as a paddler and coach for Lokahi Canoe Club (typically a top 10 finisher) and last year was head coach and program director for Team Jet’s Great Aloha Run training.

Jaxon directed the smaller-scale Windward Half Marathon from 1997 to 2001 as well as her husband’s STREND Fitness Challenge, a strength and endurance event held in Hawaii, Canada, San Diego and Minnesota.

But there was a lot to learn about putting on a race for 20,000 entrants, and she credits Claire Nakamura, a longtime Great Aloha Run supporter, with helping her learn “all the details of the race.” Jaxon said she got chicken skin recently after seeing a picture of 20,000 runners at the starting line.

“As a runner I’d take that for granted,” said Jaxon, 41, a part-time account executive at Bates/Lee Advertising.“I’d be in the crowd and no big deal. Now I look at that and start hyperventilating.”

Carol Jaxon on top of Kuliouou ridge with her
dog Butler. Photo from Carol Jaxon.

As race director, Jaxon oversees nearly 4,000 volunteers who organize everything from aid stations to packet pickup.“I coordinate with all the volunteer coordinators for whatever they need, making sure there’s water delivered to all the aid stations - and we’re talking 14 tons of water just needed to go to the stadium alone for the finish line.”

She’s also given her blessing to Great Aloha Runs for Schofield Barracks soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait, scheduled for this Sunday. Video footage of the races will be shown on the Aloha Stadium Jumbotron during the Honolulu race. Great Aloha Run supplied race numbers and sent box loads of special finisher T-shirts - donated by three local companies - on a Jan. 17 supply flight bound for the Middle East.

“We’re happy to support them, especially in something that is a fun activity ... something that is recreational,” said Jaxon.“We’re happy to support our troops.”

Jaxon and her husband, a civilian contractor currently in Iraq, plan to visit Paris in April to see their niece perform at a music conservatory.

Jaxon’s two dogs, Butler and Kelekele (Hawaiian for “mud”), are often recognized from their neighborhood walks by trick-or-treaters at her door on Halloween. But beyond walking dogs, however, Jaxon came late to sports.

She built a passion for the lifestyle after college in San Diego but has since competed in marathons, adventure racing, and Ironman competitions from Kona to Tibet.

The 23rd annual Hawaiian Telcom Great Aloha Run starts at 7 a.m. Feb. 19 at Aloha Tower. For

information or registration, visit www.GreatAlohaRun.com. Last-minute signups will be available at the race expo at Blaisdell Center Feb. 16-18.