As one of the 24,000-plus runners competing in last Sunday's marathon, I was especially intrigued by what happened with the computer results.

I knew something was wrong when I saw my final time a few hours after I finished and then couldn't find it at all when I checked later to see if it got any better. (Maybe that was just as well.) Seeing that the top female runner, Alevtina Biktimirova, was listed as having finished the marathon more than seven hours after she started (according to the computer) made me realize something was seriously wrong.

The foul-up was not the end of the world, but to many runners, it was pretty disappointing. So it was refreshing to see Honolulu Marathon Association president Jim Barahal admit: "We screwed up."

He went into great detail about how the rain short-circuited the new chip system and how the system itself was confusing to many runners, who might not have known to peel the paper-strip chip from their running bibs or improperly installed them on their shoelaces. He acknowledged that sponsors were not happy, that runners might sue and that the marathon's reputation could be damaged. It has since turned out that every runner's time may be inaccurate.

"I think people understand that we don't do the timing ourselves, but they trust us to make the right decision," he told Advertiser staffer Michael Tsai. "Clearly this is not the right decision and I made it."

Try to recollect the last time someone who was not standing before a judge before sentencing made such an admission, bringing all the blame to bear on himself, and you'll come up with very few examples, if any.

Who is responsible for the Superferry fiasco? The homeless crisis? The lack of Sugar Bowl tickets? The cupcake UH football schedule? The inertia at the state Legislature? The Kaloko dam disaster? The fact that treated sewage flowing into our oceans does not meet water quality standards? You can throw the media in there, too. We're pretty good at assigning blame.

Forget it. Nobody owns up to anything anymore. Fear of lawsuits. Concern over votes. Worry over public image. It's so much easier to point fingers.

In this day and age, Barahal's admission is as astonishing as it is refreshing. His job is no small matter. He runs a $5 million nonprofit operation. He is paid about $115,000 a year. One of the worst possible scenarios that could go wrong for him occurred Sunday. He stood out there and made his mea culpas with David Simms, the head of the company (SAI) that set up the new computer chip stem that malfunctioned, whether by runners not attaching it correctly or because of the heavy rains or maybe both.

They apologized. They promised to go through the videotapes and match each runner with his or her finish time. They said they would send out finisher's certificates within a month.

Many of the comments that followed Tsai's story online were equally gratifying: Barahal was praised for his candor again and again.

"I commend Barahal for taking full responsibility for this extremely embarrassing tragedy," wrote "A runner with values" from Waipahu. "It takes a true leader to graciously take responsibility for something (even though it was beyond his control) versus trying to find a scapegoat or lay blame on his subordinates."

SCB of Honolulu said much the same.

"Mr. Barahal, it is refreshing to hear someone finally take responsibility for a mistake. Even though I consider myself to be a one-marathon guy (2000), you make me want to sign up again in support of your honesty. I have my certificate somewhere, or perhaps I tossed it at some point. It's not the piece of paper I'm proud of. It was a great marathon."

From "Never Ran" from Fairfax, Va.: "When the media is rife with stories of leaders that point fingers and dodge blame, it shows a great deal of character to stand up and admit to a mistake. While Mr. Barahal and Mr. Simms may not be the most popular people with those that had errors on their race times, they show the maturity and responsibility lacking in so many community, corporate, and government leaders."

This was my sixth marathon in Honolulu and the event has always been exceptionally well planned and organized. I cannot imagine all that goes into making it work and I am thankful for the volunteers who line the 26.2-mile course and give us the support we need to finish.

Years from now, few will recall the glitches of 2007. Far more will remember the honesty and integrity of Jim Barahal.

Mark Platte is senior vice president/editor of The Honolulu Advertiser. Reach him at mplatte@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8080.

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