Alex Feels the Heat in Maui

Having seen the many wonderful ways my colleagues have benefited from the Live Free Fund, I thought long and hard about how I could find my adventure, and challenge myself along the way.

Actually, that’s a lie. I didn’t think long and hard because I knew exactly which part of my life needed a bit of momentum, and that was my running.

By all accounts, taking on a challenge isn’t something I find myself doing too often, with the path of least resistance the one most often trod. So it was with some surprise that after having my first baby, I found myself signing up to run a half marathon.

In those wonderful but exhausting months after my lovely girl was born, I tentatively got back into running, with gentle jogs turning into longer slogs. I’d never have believed I’d be the person that runs 13 miles as frankly it sounds exhausting (spoiler alert: it is!).

I had always chosen half marathons taking place in winter because I truly detest running in the heat. But, in the spirit of seeing how far my running had come and wondering what I could do next, my thoughts turned to attempting a run in sunnier climes.

That’s when my application saw me look towards the Maui Oceanfront Half Marathon. The course itself was beautiful, and if I wanted hot, Maui was the place to be! Not to mention it would be a real privilege to run somewhere so spectacular.

So, in early 2026 (slightly later than originally planned due to baby number two putting my running temporarily on hold) I found myself in the Maui sunshine ready to begin the race. And what a race it was! Starting at sunrise with a Hawaiian blessing and a real conch in place of a starting gun, before I’d even crossed the start line it was already so different to any other race I’d run. But what made it really special was not only running oceanside almost the entire route, but seeing humpback whales breaching the water’s surface as I ran.

As well as providing welcome distraction, encouragement and camaraderie (it’s hard not to form a connection with other runners when you’re all yelling “whale!” at frequent intervals), these beautiful creatures also reminded me just how spectacular nature can be, and how lucky I was to enjoy this unique viewpoint.

The wonder of nature was a recurring theme of my trip, from sunset dinner whale watching cruises to snorkelling with tropical fish and — to my joy — sea turtles. A real treat was the group of spinner dolphins that unexpectedly emerged leaping through the waves during the return journey from our snorkelling trip.

I experienced the wonderful and laidback ways of the island — the people of Maui are generous, kind and so relaxed. The scenery too was something to behold: it is the quintessential ‘paradise island’, complete with lush rainforests and dramatic volcanic landscapes to marvel at.

I must also mention the cuisine, which combines Polynesian, Asian, Portuguese, and American to form the most incredible and delicious melting pot. Plus an extra special mention to their legendary coconut cream pie, which I’m still thinking about weeks later.

While my initial plan was to volunteer with the wonderful Maui United Way, who offered so much support to those caught up in the devastating 2023 wildfires, they unfortunately didn’t have any opportunities while I was over there. But they referred me to a shelter for the homeless small animals of Maui, where I was able to help by sweeping, mopping, doing laundry and — most memorably — reading to the lovely dogs during their Quiet Hour.

Maui United Way says that volunteering in their community is the very definition of the word aloha, which means love, affection, peace, compassion. I am truly honoured that as well as finding my own adventure, I was able to give a little bit back to this beautiful island, and to enjoy all of the rewards its people and culture had to offer.

And if you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned the heat of the run – the whole basis of my application – the truth is that such was the wonder of the race and the island, that I didn’t even notice it. So I fully expect my colleagues to check that I’m running during the summer months this year…even if races in the UK don’t have a Mai Tai calling at the finish line!