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Long before the Honolulu Marathon and Hawaii’s lucrative triathalons became nationally recognized, a pioneer marathon runner named Norman Tamanaha pounded the highways and byways of Hawaii preparing for the Boston Marathon. His storybook career is a classic example of the kind of heart it takes to make a champion. Tamanaha did not win a world title or hold any world records, yet to this day, no runner from Hawaii has equalled his feat at the Boston Marathon. In 1952, at 45-years of age, Tamanaha participated in his fifth marathon in Boston and finished in fifth place (2:52:10). He was the toast of the islands and the running community. In 1978, the Hawaiian Master Track Club organized a 15-kilometer run, an annual event for more than 20 years, in memory of Tamanaha. |
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Historical Timeline: 1951, Color television introduced in the United States. |
Norman K. Tamanaha was
truly a pioneer of long distance running for the state of Hawaii. Tamanaha got a lot of
people interested in long distance running before it was socially popular and many years
before jogging became the "in" thing with people of all ages.