LIHUE » A prominent marathon racer has been disqualified from the Kauai Marathon because his starting time was not electronically recorded.

The Garden Island reports Dean Karnazes was late to the starting line for the Sept. 1 marathon. An electronic mat that records times through a chip carried by runners had been removed when he began to run.

Karnazes was a host of the marathon. He’s known for his running exploit of 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days and he has written three books on running.

He completed the Kauai Marathon in 3 hours, 30 minutes, and won his age group.

He says he’s OK with being disqualified.

He says a road closure kept him from starting on time but that it’s his own fault.