As first-time Great Aloha Run participants, expect the Freeman family to soak up everything the event has to offer this Presidents Day weekend.

John Freeman and wife Kaori will gear up for the Keiki Great Aloha Fun Run tomorrow with their children, Darian Bersch, 6, and twins, Grant and Evan Freeman, 2.

After that, the Freemans will participate in the 22nd Great Aloha Run on Monday, along with John's parents, Joe and Gail Freeman.

"It's an opportunity for us to get out and do something as a family," said John Freeman, a civilian Navy employee who lives in Kane'ohe, and whose family has also participated in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure, and the Honolulu Marathon Race Day Walk.

"I'm trying to instill that mentality in our kids that they can be active at an early age," he added.

The 8.15-mile Great Aloha Run has drawn more than 20,000 participants in recent years, and is recognized by Runner's World Magazine as one of the top footraces in the United States less than 15-kilometers.

Over the past 22 years, the Great Aloha Run — Hawai'i's largest participatory fundraiser — has raised more than $6.5 million for 100 non-profit health and human service organizations and community groups throughout Hawai'i.

John Freeman said his twins will alternate walking and riding in a double-stroller, and his stepdaughter Darian will likely walk.

"I may jog with the stroller for a good portion," Freeman said. "They'll catch up at the end. We'll see how it works out."

Freeman's parents are entered in the senior age-class division, and "they'll be walking it with us as well," he said.

Another participant, Greg Baker, will be running as coach for the 21st Infantry Division Best Ranger Team from Schofield Barracks.

The team uses the Great Aloha Run as a training event for an ultra-endurance competition scheduled for April in Georgia. The endurance competition features 2 1/2 days of non-stop running, swimming, shooting, parachuting and fitness events.

"We need a few race events to give these guys the feeling of being in competition," said Baker, who is an Army Ranger.

Like the Freemans, Baker's family — wife Christine, daughter Kiana, 11, and stepdaugher Holly Patrick, 11 — plan to participate in the Keiki Great Aloha Fun Run.

"They were excited about it," Baker said. "It was more about fun, and putting a little emphasis on being healthy."

WHEN: Monday

COURSE: Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium

START: At the foot of Bishop Street on Nimitz Highway

TIME: Staggered—6:50 a.m. for Sounds of Freedom; 6:55 a.m. Competitive wheelchairs and racing strollers; 7 a.m. Elite runners and yellow bibs; 7:05 a.m. Green bibs; 7:10 a.m. Pink bibs and back of the pack walking strollers

COURSE RECORD: Men's—Rachid Tbahi (Morocco), 1996, 30:02; women's—Darlene Mota (United States), 1995, 45:53

DIVISIONS: Open Runners, Military (active duty military personnel and family members), Sounds of Freedom (active military units running in formation), competitive race walkers, competitive wheelchairs, runners, back of the pack (walkers), strollers (must start behind the back of the pack).

DASH FOR CASH CHALLENGE: A new twist has been added to this race. Elite runners will compete in a 1-mile challenge at Aloha Stadium. Anyone who finishes the Great Aloha Run in less than two hours can enter into a drawing to also run in the challenge. One male and one female will be selected, and they will be given a head start based on their finish times. Prize distribution: $500 first, $300 second, $200 third.

EVENTS TOMORROW: Keiki Great Aloha Fun Run, 8 a.m. at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall; Silver Streaks Sunrise Walk, 7:30 a.m. McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana. Information: www.greataloharun.com.

STREET CLOSURES / PARKING / BUS SERVICE

STREET CLOSURES

• Downtown streets makai of King Street will close to automobile traffic from 4:30 a.m.
• Race will head west along Nimitz, going under airport viaduct, onto 'ewa lanes of Kamehameha.
• Participants will occupy all westbound lanes on Nimitz Highway from Bishop Street to Valkenburgh Street.

PARKING

Participants can park at Aloha Stadium and catch a bus downtown to the staging areas, or park downtown and catch a bus at the stadium back to downtown after the race.

DOWNTOWN PARKING

• Available on side streets. Holiday rates on meters apply.
• Garage parking available at most municipal parking lots: Kukui Plaza, Chinatown Gateway, etc. Holiday rate is $2.

ALOHA STADIUM PARKING

• Free but limited. Overflow parking at Kamehameha Lot.
• Gates open at 3:30 a.m.
• Salt Lake Boulevard gates closed to cars by 6:30 a.m. for runners' safety.
• Gates to Aloha Stadium parking on Halawa side, off Kahuapaani Highway remain open all morning to drop off and pick up runners.
• Free bus service to downtown is available starting at 4 a.m. Last bus leaves promptly at 6 a.m.

BUS SERVICE

Service is one way and for participants only.

BEFORE THE RACE

From Aloha Stadium to downtown:

• First Robert's Hawaii bus departs Aloha Stadium to downtown at 4 a.m. Service will continue until 6 a.m.
• Refer to Stadium map for bus pickup.
• Drop-off is at Vineyard Boulevard, mauka of Central Intermediate School.
• Follow instructions of volunteers when disembarking.

From Waikiki:

• Departs Sheraton Waikiki to downtown every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.

AFTER THE RACE

Return to downtown:

• Departs continuously from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. from Section 9E (north side of Circular Road).

Return to Waikiki:

• Departs for Sheraton Waikiki every hour from 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Source: Great Aloha Run