The Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon and Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips Alaska, has a rich history. Once known as the Midnight Sun Mayor’s Marathon, the starting gun went off in the early evening, instead of the traditional morning start time in recent years. After all, Land of the Midnight Sun means just that…midnight …
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The Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon and Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips Alaska, has a rich history. Once known as the Midnight Sun Mayor’s Marathon, the starting gun went off in the early evening, instead of the traditional morning start time in recent years. After all, Land of the Midnight Sun means just that…midnight sun! With the event taking place on the Saturday closest to summer solstice, roughly 22 hours of functional daylight illuminates Anchorage.
For over 50 years, the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon, Half-Marathon, 5K, and relay event has been a summer solstice tradition attracting runners from all over the world. Hosting an event of this nature is a significant undertaking, which is led by a partnership between the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department and the University of Alaska Anchorage Athletic Department. Race proceeds help support the MOA Parks and Recreation Department, which is responsible for beautifying parks, natural areas, and operating community recreation programs for all ages and abilities in Alaska’s largest city. Race proceeds also help support the UAA Athletic Department and its 160 Student-Athletes, who represent the University and Anchorage community in pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.
The finish line at Delaney Park Strip is just blocks away from the heart of downtown Anchorage, which is full of summer activity, great eats, and unique shopping. Toast your success at a nearby brewery and replace all those burned calories at one of Anchorage’s many fine restaurants, food trucks, or other local eats. Just beyond the city, you can find some breathtaking sights. Glacier and wildlife cruises, flightseeing tours to Denali or Prince William Sound, and day tours are great ways to add Alaskan sights and adventures to your race in Anchorage.
The Marathon course is certified by USA Track and Field as a Boston Marathon qualifier.
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Special race in a special place
A lot of people finished this as their final 50th state marathon. I know, because we were all wearing our shirts on the southbound Princess cruise out of Whittier same … MORE
A lot of people finished this as their final 50th state marathon. I know, because we were all wearing our shirts on the southbound Princess cruise out of Whittier same day all throughout the next week. I figured I was the only one crazy enough to cruise out the same day as a marathon but apparently not!
I think ^ that dynamic underlines what a special race this is. I took my whole family + extended out to Alaska and it did not disappoint. And yes, I saw a moose. Fairly challenging, hilly course but I never minded because I was taking in the sights. A lot of this race is in peaceful bike trails and I was constantly on the lookout for wildlife. If you’re the type of person who’s on a website like this reading a review like mine, you probably don’t need further convincing to go to Alaska for this race. Grateful to go to Anchorage to participate in an event like this in good health.
Anchorage is gorgeous
Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon is a great choice for those seeking a race in Alaska. Set on the Saturday of the summer solstice, it starts in Kincaid Park and finishes near … MORE
Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon is a great choice for those seeking a race in Alaska. Set on the Saturday of the summer solstice, it starts in Kincaid Park and finishes near downtown Anchorage.
Race logistics are easy: two options for shuttle pickup to the start. Getting there was a breeze, with plenty of time to spare and minimal restroom waiting time.
Course: Stunning. One of the more beautiful marathons I’ve done. Coastal views, wildlife, scenic parks throughout. In terms of elevation, there are some short punchy rollers around mile five and six, and then a very gradual climb from 11 to 17. It’s mostly downhill from there, with the exception of a very rudely placed Hill at mile 25.5. If you’re a quicker runner, make sure you seed yourself near the front at the start, as the opening downhill is somewhat narrow.
Swag: decent technical shirt, and a nice finishers medal. Not much for options at the expo.
Support: not a ton of spectators, but the aid stations were frequent and enthusiastic.
Advice: recommend booking some nearby Alaska travel for after the race. Don’t waste a trip to the last frontier. Did a little hiking and exploring the day after, and then we hopped on a cruise two days after the race.
The Last frontier
So I did like this race. There are some minor cons of what I didn't like. What I didn't like that I was only pave/unpaved trails. So not a whole … MORE
So I did like this race. There are some minor cons of what I didn’t like. What I didn’t like that I was only pave/unpaved trails. So not a whole lot of crowd support unless your family members are running. I understand why you couldn’t have a good amount of crowd support. I did get a little confused when we went into the college. The cups were all over the place. Like some water sports had “regular” cups and some of them were plastic cup. Which I waste able to squeeze the cups. With everything else was fine!
Beautiful
Had to settle for a half due to nagging knee pain, but will be back for the full someday! Beautiful scenery and fun finish line activity. We had perfect weather … MORE
Had to settle for a half due to nagging knee pain, but will be back for the full someday!
Beautiful scenery and fun finish line activity. We had perfect weather too. Highly recommend
Beautiful course. Long rollers.
Well produced. Plenty of water stops and port o pots. Beautiful course. A lot to look at and take in. The long rolling hills sneak up on you. Legs were … MORE
Well produced. Plenty of water stops and port o pots. Beautiful course. A lot to look at and take in. The long rolling hills sneak up on you. Legs were dead at the finish which is on a hill. Would highly recommend this one.
Alaska
Overall a great race production. The course is exactly what I hoped for, paved trail beautiful scenery but unfortunately no moose sighting. I would highly recommend! Met lots of great … MORE
Overall a great race production. The course is exactly what I hoped for, paved trail beautiful scenery but unfortunately no moose sighting. I would highly recommend! Met lots of great people most on the 50 states journey like me.
Great Alaska race
Decent race. Most of the half marathon runs on a trail, so it was pretty wooded. Some decent views, but nothing that really screams Alaska. Although, there were a few … MORE
Decent race. Most of the half marathon runs on a trail, so it was pretty wooded. Some decent views, but nothing that really screams Alaska. Although, there were a few moose in the woods when we ran, so everyone stopped to take a few pictures. I had checked out the area by the airport the night before (for the midnight sun experience) and seen a bear, but alas, no bears on race day. The race ends with an uphill (brutal!). There was a nice finish area with a beer garden (free beer included), and some food vendors. The day got hot and sunny, so keep that in mind as well. We took a shuttle from downtown to the start, which was nice, and walked back to our downtown hotel from the finish area. The medal was gorgeous, and the shirt is decent.
Definitely stay longer in Alaska and drive out of Anchorage – the state is so beautiful!
Easy Logistics for Alaska
A race in their capital and largest city makes the logistics of this race pretty easy when coming from out of state. The race started in Kincaid Park then traversed … MORE
A race in their capital and largest city makes the logistics of this race pretty easy when coming from out of state.
The race started in Kincaid Park then traversed down the Coastal Trail; I enjoyed the scenery in this section. I didn’t enjoy the race running a bit long at 13.4 miles and ending uphill! LOL.
The after party was pretty good with food, beverages, nice medal, and a few picture opportunities.
Amazing Race
I picked this race and then added on a cruise 3 days after. The temperature was perfect coming from NC in July. It was slightly misting at race start which … MORE
I picked this race and then added on a cruise 3 days after. The temperature was perfect coming from NC in July. It was slightly misting at race start which felt great once you started running. Some runners saw a moose on the course – I was very bummed that I missed it!
The after party was great, I loved the grilled cheese sandwiches and the coffee!
Peaceful and Mooses!
I very much enjoyed running the Mayor's Marathon to complete Alaska for my 43rd state. It is very easy to get around in Anchorage which made logistics simple. Nice airport … MORE
I very much enjoyed running the Mayor’s Marathon to complete Alaska for my 43rd state. It is very easy to get around in Anchorage which made logistics simple. Nice airport and reliable public mass transit. I rented an Airbnb that was 3 blocks from the finish line as well as walkable to downtown.
The expo was a bit on the small size, but very organized and easy to get your bib/shirt. I took a mass transit bus to the expo.
On race day, they provided a free bus to take you to start line from near the finish area in Delaney park. It was on time and very well organized. On my way to the start line I saw two mooses walking along the road! Race started in Kincaid park at an old Nike Missile base. The Mayor of Anchorage welcomed everyone and the race started on time. It was congested at the start as all 700 marathoners entered an 8-10 foot wide bicycle trail. The race eventually thinned out to make it easier to move around. It was very scenic at points and quiet. At one point during the race we had to stop to allow a moose and her two calfs to pass by! That really made it feel like I was in Alaska!
I would say 90% of the race is on a paved bicycle trail There is a small part that goes through a wooded area for about 2 miles. It should be noted that from mile 11 to about mile 19 you go all up hill. It is not steep, but it did wear me down. Near the end, there is a very steep hill to get to the finish line area. It is not long, but steep! The finish area was very nice with grilled cheese , beer and even root beer! You could also sit on “Hank the Moose”, a large stuffed moose, and get a free picture.
I thought this was a wonderful race and we had perfect running temperatures. I would have liked more of the course to be in the city of Anchorage so I could have seen the downtown. The medal was very nice and shirt was ok. They also provided free pictures.
I had dinner at 49th State, Glacier Brewhouse and Moose Tooth Pizza. All excellent meals with the Glacier Brewhouse having the best dessert, peanut butter chocolate pie!
I took a cruise a few days after the race was done to Vancouver to make this a true destination race.
I would recommend this race!
I saw a moose
The race is well run. We were able to get to the expo on the public bus system for $2 each way. The expo was not huge but had everything … MORE
The race is well run. We were able to get to the expo on the public bus system for $2 each way. The expo was not huge but had everything you need. There were some local vendors selling last minute runner essentials.
I took the bus to the start from the location that was a church parking lot. There were volunteers that made boarding the buses very efficient. The starting area has plenty of porta potties. The start has a 15 minute window to cross the start line. This shouldn’t be a problem for anyone.
The course was on a paved bike path. There were some inclines but nothing to worry about. The aid stations were well managed. One thing to note is that the fluid cups were a little small. If you’re someone that needs to drink alot, carry your own. The mile markers seemed accurate. The course had views of the water, lots of trees and ferns. The highlight of my race was when runners had to stop because a moose with two babies were near the path. We all stopped and they crossed the path ahead of us to get to the other side. Being from the midwest, seeing moose in the wild was a real treat.
The course ends in a local park. The race did a nice job with providing post race treats: water, bananas, chips, grilled cheese, nachos with dip, coffee, and a beer. Some might think it was silly but there was a life sized taxidermy moose called Hank in the finisher area. You could mount Hank and get a free printed photo. The finisher area also had a live Navy band that was very entertaining.
We enjoyed the race and would recommend it to others. We stayed in an Airbnb near the finish line and were able to get by without renting a car. The day after race we took a hike on the Matanuska Glacier that departed from Anchorage. Before the race we visited Seward via the Alaskan Railroad. We enjoyed all the aspects of our trip to Alaska to run the Mayor’s Race.
Perfect weather, beautiful, and hilly
I forgot about the reviews for this race saying it had some hills until I was on the course. Beautiful course along the coastal trail, and I saw THREE moose … MORE
I forgot about the reviews for this race saying it had some hills until I was on the course. Beautiful course along the coastal trail, and I saw THREE moose heading into Kincaid Park for the start of the race, and I saw a momma and baby moose along the course.
It was a cool, drizzly 55 degrees for race start, but it quit drizzling about mile 3 and the weather was perfect the rest of the way.
The course was a bit long at 13.45, but they did have good after race food of grilled cheese, chips and queso, beer, and cinnamon bread as well as coffee.
The expo was tiny, and we got an ok shirt and medal.
This is a first timer and slow people friendly race with a beautiful course, so I’m glad I did this one to check off Alaska.
Decent race, no issues, saw a Moose!
Decent overall event. Nothing spectacular about any of it, but no complaints either. Expo/bid pickup was average, at local university area. I was dropped off at event, so no idea … MORE
Decent overall event. Nothing spectacular about any of it, but no complaints either. Expo/bid pickup was average, at local university area. I was dropped off at event, so no idea how shuttle buses or parking was. Like most races, could’ve used a few more porta potties. Light rain at start, but nice temps. Course was fine. Mostly asphalt paved bike/hiking trails through wooded areas. Nice, but no great scenic views or anything really special. I was lucky enough to see a Moose trot by me along the running path! Various wildlife is common in the area. Course did have a few streets also. And a few hills, mostly near the finish. Finish area was ok, could’ve used more areas to sit down, other than just inside the 21 and up beer area. Food was fine/average. Disappointing this race does 10 year age brackets. I would’ve been #2 in my age group had they done 5 year brackets like most other events. Instead got 5th. Not a big deal though. Swag was fine. Typical race shirt, and average, or slightly better than average finisher medals. It felt kinda special running on the summer solstice, although that had no effect on the race. Otherwise a fun family trip for me. Lots of beautiful scenery, hiking, and other stuff to do in and around Anchorage.
Good add-on to the Alaska vacation.
The course starts with a out-and-back in the Kincaid Park, not ideal. Rest of the course are mostly on paved trail, not much to see except the trees. MORE
The course starts with a out-and-back in the Kincaid Park, not ideal. Rest of the course are mostly on paved trail, not much to see except the trees.
Meditative course!
Alaska was my 32nd state raced in and overall a great experience! I was able to have a family member pick up my bib on Thursday which was helpful since … MORE
Alaska was my 32nd state raced in and overall a great experience! I was able to have a family member pick up my bib on Thursday which was helpful since the hours were somewhat limited for those trying to pack as much punch as possible exploring Alaska in the short time
Smaller race made things smooth for arrival. I was able to get dropped off and walk just a few steps to the starting area, long bathroom line but moved quickly. It was raining unexpectedly but it ended up being pretty light overall and stopped within a few miles
The course took place on the coastal trail which was a paved path that mostly went through the woods – very peaceful, like a “cruise control” type of race just putting one foot in front of the other without needing to manage a bunch of twists and turns. Rolling hills to start, then a lot of downhill which was a welcomed surprise. My only cons were the last mile – when the hills made a return with a long steep one right before the finish. And my watch clocked a full 1/4 mile longer than 13.1 (13.36).. I had been pretty lined up with the mile markers until the end.
Festive finish area, photo station with Henry the faux moose. Loved the medal!
beware
I wasn't aware that several miles of this course were on gravel. It made for a very difficult run and messy conditions as we also had some unexpected rain. If … MORE
I wasn’t aware that several miles of this course were on gravel. It made for a very difficult run and messy conditions as we also had some unexpected rain. If you like bands and crowds this is NOT the race for you. Not a lot of pre-race communication, and the expo was very low frills and kind of far from the downtown area.
Beautiful Race
I decided to run this race as a vacation race with the kids. I am so glad I did it. I had no idea it was during the summer solstice … MORE
I decided to run this race as a vacation race with the kids. I am so glad I did it. I had no idea it was during the summer solstice so to see the sun 22 hours a day was so cool. The expo was small but had many vendors. Was able to purchase a marathon poster. Race morning was chilly but it warmed up fast. When the race started it was super congested. It was pretty bad for the first 3 miles, the course was a narrow trail. Not many people ran the marathon so when the half and the marathon split it was pretty lonely. Towards the middle of the marathon there is a trail you run thorough. It was pretty tough running through gravel since I never run trails. The finish festival was great, I suggest you stay and relax at the festival.
Great for your destination race
We had great weather in 2024. The course was great t embrace the nature but without seeing the Glaciers. The post-race party was great. It was 50th and we did … MORE
We had great weather in 2024. The course was great t embrace the nature but without seeing the Glaciers. The post-race party was great. It was 50th and we did not get to see the Mayor. I strongly recommend the memorable race and take some days for sightseeing.
Beautiful course
The race takes you through a forest preserve along a bike trail. I didn’t see them but a few other runners saw moose and brown bears during the race. You … MORE
The race takes you through a forest preserve along a bike trail. I didn’t see them but a few other runners saw moose and brown bears during the race. You also get to run through the Anchorage college and on the ceremonial start line of the Iditarod (sled dog race). There are a few climbs on this course, so get some hill training in.
I’d run it again if I was local
It was beautiful weather which means it was a bit warm for my liking. I’m so glad I met friends to do this race with. Sad we didn’t get to … MORE
It was beautiful weather which means it was a bit warm for my liking. I’m so glad I met friends to do this race with. Sad we didn’t get to see the moose but the course was nice.