TS Restaurants renews partnership with XTERRA

The XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon returns to Kapalua on Sunday, Oct. 27.
KAPALUA – Four TS Restaurants on Maui have renewed as title sponsors for the XTERRA Kapalua Trail Runs on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The four events are known as the Hula Grill XTERRA 5K Trail Run, Duke’s Beach House XTERRA 10K Trail Run, Kimo’s XTERRA Keiki Run and Leilani’s XTERRA Run Course/Leilani’s Run Prime Awards.
“We at TS Restaurants are pleased to support such a world-class organization as XTERRA on our home turf in West Maui,” said Ross Anderson, vice president of Hawaii operations for TS Restaurants.
“We feel like our beach front restaurants are a natural fit for the XTERRA athletes and their families.”
These running events will be held in conjunction with the XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon on Sunday, Oct. 27.
The XTERRA World Championship is the pinnacle event of more than 100 off-road triathlons held in 20 countries. Last year’s field represented 30 countries and 42 states.
The XTERRA Kapalua Trail Runs offer a chance for everyone to experience the same course as this stellar international field.
“We are thrilled to have TS Restaurants back as the title sponsor for our XTERRA Kapalua Trail Runs,” XTERRA President Janet Clark said.
“This partnership allows runners from all over the world to compete on a world championship course in a new and unique setting. It is truly a great opportunity for both Maui residents and visitors to the island.”
To drive home the partnership with its employees, TS Restaurants created a race within a race.
The “TS Restaurants XTERRA Challenge” features employees from each restaurant against each other in a team competition for the 10K race. The restaurant with the fastest cumulative times from its top five runners wins a trophy that it can display in its restaurant for the year.
Hula Grill Kaanapali finished with an average time of 53:33 last year to win the challenge, while Duke’s Beach House won the trophy in 2011.
The Hula Grill XTERRA 5K Trail Run and Duke’s Beach House XTERRA 10K Trail Run are open to runners of all ages and skill levels. Online registration is available at http://www.xterraplanet. com/maui/mauiTrailRun.html.
Runners will be treated to picturesque and challenging courses that will take them from the beach, up to the mountains and then back to the beach.
A Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon will be held at the site of the race. Runners and their families can get their hair cut by professional Paul Mitchell stylists, with all donations benefitting the Challenged Athlete Foundation.
The Kimo’s XTERRA Keiki Run is for boys and girls ages ten and younger. It is free, although parents must be present to sign a waiver form at the site of the race.
Race distances will vary from 100 yards to one kilometer, depending on the age of the child. Parents are welcome to stay on the course as well.
The Leilani’s XTERRA Run Course will actually be part of the XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon. The Leilani’s Run Prime Awards will go to the competitors with the fastest times on the Leilani’s XTERRA Run Course during the triathlon.
Gift certificates from Leilani’s restaurant will be awarded to the fastest male and female in three categories – professionals, age-group amateurs, and Maui residents – for a total of six certificates.
At last year’s XTERRA World Championship triathlon, winners of the Leilani’s Run Prime Awards were Javier Gomez Noya (pro men), Lesley Paterson (pro women), Daniel Molnar (amateur men), Mimi Stockton (amateur women), Douglas Piil (Maui resident men) and Pamela Garcia-Neveu (Maui resident women).
Hula Grill, Duke’s Beach House, Kimo’s and Leilani’s are all located within a short driving distance of Kapalua.
“The unique feeling and setting of West Maui is exhibited at each of these four restaurants, and it is in keeping with what the XTERRA athletes and their families have come to expect when they get to the island of Maui,” XTERRA President Clark said.