Start of the 2008 MIdway Atoll-Sand Island 5K Race

[phillippibeard]

As a fleet tug sailor in the 1960s, I spent a lot of time visiting Midway, Johnston island and a half dozen other atolls with names that I can't spell. I found them very boring. They were essentially just military (or civilian contractor) bases, and if you'd seen one, you'd seen them all. They had 50K rules (49,999 of which began with the words "Do not "). Those bases didn't have towns like Yokosuka or Olongapo nearby where one could go and shack with a mama-san. I see no reason to go there.

[lgar2708]

hey! so glad to see this! i could say i was one of the few that enjoy running everyday @ sand island, dodging albatross! what about the finish line? who made it? who won? was that john klaviter sprinting at the start of the race!?

[naturefinder]

Hello, Yes you are correct that was John Klavitter, and he was also the winner with a time around 19 minutes. One of the guys from the Fire Crew came in second (sorry I cannot remember his name). I think that they had another one this year also. Hope you make it back to check up on the albatross!

[Lagolop]

Geez, we just got back from Midway and I nobody mentioned the race. That would have been a blast!

[naturefinder]

Not sure what they have planned for 2009, but I will find out in a few days. We are set to arrive on the 13th April. Hope that you all had a great time and saw the Short-tailed Albatross and enjoyed the monk seals!

[Lagolop]

What a great spot! You will have a great time. You have been there before? Yes we saw the adult Short Tailed on eastern Island at a distance and saw the juvenile Short Tailed on Sand Island A LOT and CLOSE UP. I'll upload vids when I get to them. My wife is a wildlife photographer and has some terrific shots.

[freebird3535]

Have been there and would like to go back any info on how to go about it would be appreciated was there in 79-81 along with couple other people just recently reunited with have also expressed feelings about going back to visit

[bj616]

Do people actually live there? Isn't that place over 1,000 miles west of Hawaii?

[naturefinder]

Yes. Currently a US Fish and Wildlife Refuge and a National Memorial to the Battle of Midway. About 8 FWS staff live year-round and 50 contract workers (operating the infrastructure and FAA certified runway) from an Alaskan company called Chugach. Starting in 2008, a visitor program has reopened and about 100 to 200 people are expected to visit each year. Midway is about 1200 NW of Honolulu and is now part of the largest protected area in the US, The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

[roadkillontheweb]

Now that the military has left who walks the beached in the morning picking up the japanese glass fishing floats that wash ashore? I was only there for a couple days in 1981 and found one. That is if the japanese are still using glass fishing floats? I never got to stay there but I heard that the fishing was good and the scuba diving is great with all the old wrecks. I remember seeing some in the water as I walked the beaches