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 more than 40 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.
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A perfect way to see Alaska
The race starts out at the park which allows for a perfect view of the city and coast. Although the course is a bit hilly, I didn't have much issue … MORE
The race starts out at the park which allows for a perfect view of the city and coast. Although the course is a bit hilly, I didn’t have much issue here as the scenery keeps you distracted through the race.
Aid stations could have been more consistent. Nice to have a free finish photo, as compared to the ridiculous marthonfoto prices. The medal is very cool with a focus on the summer solstice.
Overall, a perfect time to visit and experience Alaska.
Bucket list race checked off!
The race took place on Saturday, June 18, 2022. Every Summer Solstice, this event draws hundreds of runners and spectators from every state, and from many countries around the globe. … MORE
The race took place on Saturday, June 18, 2022. Every Summer Solstice, this event draws hundreds of runners and spectators from every state, and from many countries around the globe. After running this race, I understand why. This was by far one of the most beautiful courses I have ever run thus far in my 16 years of running. This was a point-to-point course that started at the ConocoPhillips Soccer Stadium at Kincaid Park and finished at the Delaney Park Strip in downtown Anchorage. The half marathon and full marathon both followed the same route until the groups split off at Eastchester Park. We could not have asked for more ideal weather on race morning – it 55° F, and partly cloudy with a gentle 5 mph breeze. The temperature was expected to remain consistent throughout the event.
My favorite part of the course was definitely the first mile, which took us downhill through a cottonwood forest to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, touted as “one of the most beautiful coastal trails in the nation,” which had stunning views as promised. Having a completely downhill first mile set the tone for a positive race right out of the gate. I’m going to throw it out there now that my absolute least favorite part of this course was the fact that the finish line was at the summit of a back-breaking, demoralizing hill. After the first mile through the cottonwood forest, the 8 miles after that followed along Cook Inlet with amazing views of the Alaska Range. The entire course remained at approximately 102 feet above sea level, with slightly varying elevation through out and some significant uphill portions, however it was not what one would consider a high elevation race.
The support for this course was top-notch. The volunteers were energetic and kept us hydrated, and laughing with funny signs, most notably, “Pain is just the French word for bread.” Speaking of bread: One of the key things I also wanted to highlight was the amazing post-race food. And I do mean amazing. I can tell you from experience that after running this race, I consumed what was the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had, and I’ve had thousands of grilled cheeses throughout my lifetime.
This race was awesome and lived up to every expectation. If I wasn’t a 7 hour flight away, I’d run this race every year.
Very good scenic race
This race is scenic, but be aware of inclining elevation. After mile 14, there is a 2 mile trail with rocks that's hard on the feet. There will be animals … MORE
This race is scenic, but be aware of inclining elevation. After mile 14, there is a 2 mile trail with rocks that’s hard on the feet. There will be animals along the course, but no one were attached or non of the animals were aggressive. Overall it was fun, but very challenging.
Soft shoulder to run on
The surface is 90% asphalt paved trails and surface streets. There are several tunnels. The tunnels are a little dark but less than 50 meters long. I did encounter a … MORE
The surface is 90% asphalt paved trails and surface streets. There are several tunnels. The tunnels are a little dark but less than 50 meters long. I did encounter a mother duck and her offspring in a tunnel but when all stayed to our side of the road and the truce held. The course requires running many many small tangents to keep on the soft shoulders. The course weaves uphill for about 10 miles. No major hills (steep)but plenty of quarter-mile inclines with 10-meter dips. There were 3 bear sights. There was a bear when I reached mile 11 but it was far enough off the road that I did not have to stop. I did not see the bear. It was in a very densely forested area. There was a large fresh deposit of bear scat(poop) at mile 20. My 50-state partner was stopped at mile 23 to let a bear cross the trail. She was about 300 meters behind me.
Scenic Alaska Vacation
I planned this as part of a 9 day family vacation in Alaska (Marathon #19, State #12).... A very scenic course along a mostly paved trail system( a couple miles … MORE
I planned this as part of a 9 day family vacation in Alaska (Marathon #19, State #12)…. A very scenic course along a mostly paved trail system( a couple miles were on a dirt/gravel trail… The scenery towards the beginning included the ocean and mountain range in the cool Alaska Summer air…The race day is during the Summer Solstice so there was like 21 hours of light…I know some people saw moose along the course and other years included bears…However, the course was pretty hilly to include the last 1/4 to 1/2 mile to the finish…The expo was very small but inside a hug venue that was easy to get to… as part of the packet pickup they had a Kid Mile that was free and I was able to run it with my 6 year old Son and Niece….there was enough aid stations with water/energy drink, gels, etc….Not alot of crowd support along the course….Very nice medals and the t-shirt’s were okay…They handed out Finisher shirts as well….post race included cookies, bread, grilled cheese, music, beer (49th State Brewing), etc….Overall one of my favorite marathons along my journey and I had an awesome and very scenic vacation around Alaska with my family….If i had to nit pick on some of the negatives I would say that there wasn’t alot of pre race hype or information on Social Media and the only water at the end of the race they had was cups of water…. I would highly recommend this race…
Anchorage ALASKA
First off I went to this race with 200 more, this was a large group. Fun was to be had. The scenery in Alaska was breathtaking, I couldn’t get enough … MORE
First off I went to this race with 200 more, this was a large group. Fun was to be had. The scenery in Alaska was breathtaking, I couldn’t get enough since I’m a mountain chick. The race was a fast start, downhill, it was on a paved trail in a park. I loved looking at the soft looking grass, the ponds, the inlet. It was a great run. They did however add .3 of a mile and it was all uphill… great race tho.
Flat and fast along the Anchorage coast
We received an email before the start of the race that due to some miscalculated measurements, the half marathon course would be an extra 300 meters, but when I finished, … MORE
We received an email before the start of the race that due to some miscalculated measurements, the half marathon course would be an extra 300 meters, but when I finished, my watch showed I ran 13.7 miles so that is why I can’t give this race a perfect “5 shoe” rating. Other than that, it was a really good race. Bib pickup was easy on the University of Alaska campus, but other than picking up your bib and t-shirt, there was really not much there. We took a shuttle to the start and that went smoothly. We were so fortunate to have absolutely perfect running weather – 58 degrees with cloudy skies.
The course is run almost entirely on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which is a multi-use trail along the coast. This means that though the course is paved, you have to contend with a very narrow width, and it is difficult to pass fellow runners. But after mile 3 or so, people generally find their groove and pace and you aren’t so bunched up. However, the closer you get into the city limits, the more you have to deal with other runners, walkers, bikers, and roller-bladers, etc. You will mostly find yourself running along a trail that is very shaded with trees, so you occasionally get glimpses of the bay, but it’s not very often. It also runs by the airport so you will get to see planes taking off and landing and that was cool. Due to the closed nature of trail too, there is little opportunity for spectators to cheer you on but that didn’t bother me too much. Around mile 10, the course begins the “out and back” portion and the full marathon dumps in there too, so you will pass runners until you get to the turnaround. But I never felt crowded or that I couldn’t pass people.
Course support was good with aid stations about every 2 miles serving up water and poweraid, as well as one station that offered goo. In general, the course is flat and fast, except for the last 200-300 meters which is all uphill in a neighborhood. And as I mentioned at the beginning, the half marathon course was mismeasured for some reason, so I ended up runing an extra 6/10 of a mile according to my watch.
Swag was decent – nice technical shirt and medal. Finish line goodies were OK – cups of water, bananas, grilled cheese, bread. All in all, I would definitely recommend this race if you want to do a race in Alaska! My family and I made a vacation out of it and did some touring before and after the race.
Love Alaska
Alaska is a must run state, make sure you do some excursions and she the wildlife. I use to live in Fairbanks and I must say Anchorage has nothing on … MORE
Alaska is a must run state, make sure you do some excursions and she the wildlife.
I use to live in Fairbanks and I must say Anchorage has nothing on Fairbanks
Perfect race to take in Alaska
The route was beautiful. We ran along the 11 mile Coastal Trail. The trail was paved but very narrow. If you are looking to P.R. definitely start at the VERY … MORE
The route was beautiful. We ran along the 11 mile Coastal Trail. The trail was paved but very narrow. If you are looking to P.R. definitely start at the VERY front. The whole half marathon trail was paved. There were areas of rolling hills but nothing like ATL or RNR Seattle hills…but definitely hill training. Wasn’t much course support since we were on a park trail. Mile 9 on up got a little sticky as we ran closer into the city. Remember this is a real park trail and unfortunately no signs so cyclist were out and some were rude AF🤬 going full speed zigzagging between runners. Mile 11 was the turn around. The race was extended by 300 meters meaning you ran 13.4 vs 13.1 and to add insult to injury the .3 was all uphill — fuqqers🤬.
Post race was nice with free beer, and vendors passing random food like grilled cheese and cookies🤷🏾♀️.
Overall Alaska was an amazing experience as a state. Save up, schedule excursions, drive the Seward Highway, experience the glaciers, keep an eye out for moose and 🐻..and just soak in all that daylight at 2 a.m.
It was ok
Race was fairly well organized, I liked the way they kept me updated on the race (except for that email about the course change that added 300 meters to the … MORE
Race was fairly well organized, I liked the way they kept me updated on the race (except for that email about the course change that added 300 meters to the 1/2, more on this later lol.) Course wasn’t too difficult with a long downhill start so your first couple of miles will be faster than your anticipated race pace goal. Course winds through the paved trail along the coast and was marked very well. The only major hills were those last extra 300 meters going to the finish line, definite quad burners. Getting to the race was very easy and stress free. My only complaint about the course was at about the 8 or 9 mile mark when the lead runners, marathoners, walkers and general public trail users were all sharing the same trail. There were people going in all directions and it was very crowded forcing you to weave in and out of people while trying to avoid people coming at you in the opposite direction for about 3-4 miles. Also the expo should not be called an expo. There are more exhibits at your local 5k. The race shirts left a lot to be desired, very drab and plain. The free finisher’s shirt was a million times nicer. Medal was nice. A big plus was being able to go to the scorer’s table and get your award right away, no waiting around for hours. Overall it was an ok race and I got to visit Alaska and check off another state.
Average Race—Great Trip
This race was state #41 in my quest for 50. First, I stayed in mid-town. It was a nice area but downtown is closer to race start, train station, and … MORE
This race was state #41 in my quest for 50.
First, I stayed in mid-town. It was a nice area but downtown is closer to race start, train station, and more restaurants/bars.
Bib pickup was at Kincaid Park. No expo, just pickup your bib and they had one table of merchandise. I did a little run on the Coastal Trail in the park. Saw moose 4 different times on my run.
The start was staggered with 50 people starting every 5 minutes. There was no way to enforce who started when other than the honor system. But it seemed to go well. A lot of the race is on the Coastal Trail and there are some pretty nice views on the trail. The course has some decent hills but there were plenty of aid stations and porta potties on the course. About halfway you have a stretch that is offroad for about a mile. Since it was raining the trail section was very slick.
At the finish, you get your medal, a bottle of water, and a banana. No postrace party. The shirt and medal were very nice.
Bottom line, the race was ok, nothing outstanding. But my trip to Alaska was fantastis.
Bears, hills, and oceans
The course is slightly uphill for 14 miles, then flat until the last .25. The last quarter mile is uphill and sucks! Plan on adding 5 minutes to your predicted MORE
The course is slightly uphill for 14 miles, then flat until the last .25. The last quarter mile is uphill and sucks! Plan on adding 5 minutes to your predicted race time.
Fun run to start a vacation
One of the reasons I like marathons is they take me to fun places. We used this race as the kick off to a fun Alaskan vacation. The race itself … MORE
One of the reasons I like marathons is they take me to fun places. We used this race as the kick off to a fun Alaskan vacation. The race itself was pretty good. I wish I would have listened to more people about the “tank road”. It was not a fun part of the course and it seemed to go on forever. Every step I took I slipped a little bit and it totally drained me. I wish I would have worn my trail shoes with a little more traction. The rest of the course was pretty nice though, some scenic trails and multi use paths with some shade on the latter part of the race. Handy when there is sunshine for 20+ hours
The logistics were pretty easy. The expo is a way out of downtown but I understand why they have it there for the kids run. It would be nice to have at a downtown location though if you were trying to get by without renting a car. The expo is small, I was in and out in about 10 minutes. I stayed at the Clarion right across the park from the morning shuttle and it is close to the finish line as well.
SWAG was pretty good, nice long sleeve tech shirt and a nice medal.
Beautiful Alaska!
I really enjoyed this race. Small expo with just necessary stuff. There were only 2 negatives: 1) the cups! They were hard plastic and I had to walk through every … MORE
I really enjoyed this race. Small expo with just necessary stuff. There were only 2 negatives: 1) the cups! They were hard plastic and I had to walk through every water station in order to drink and actually get some hydration in my mouth. Aid stations were good though but NO GELS! and 2) they post the gun time instead of chip time. If you don’t care about that sort of thing I’m sure it’s not a problem but I just do. I moseyed up to the start line then started my watch and started running. Oh well.
I loved the long sleeve shirts and the medal. Logistics were simple! I stayed at a hotel by the airport so Ubered to the shuttle and got there in plenty of time. Stayed warm inside the High School and checked my bag 6 minutes before the start!
Also, there is various terrain and I wasn’t quite prepared for the 7 miles of gravel/rocky terrain but I was rewarded when I saw a bear by the side of the road! The only time I’ve ever stopped to take a picture. There was some single track packed dirt which felt good on the feet and some pavement. It ended on the grass. I enjoyed all the Alaskan wilderness and greenery and water–but then I live in the desert 🙂 I definitely recommend it! Especially for us 50 staters! It was state #29 for me!
Such a fun race!
This was a "just for fun" marathon for me, and I have to say, it ended up being one of my favorites! The expo was small, but everyone was friendly … MORE
This was a “just for fun” marathon for me, and I have to say, it ended up being one of my favorites! The expo was small, but everyone was friendly and they did have several booths handing out things. On race morning, I got there over an hour early. This is a smaller race (less than 600 marathon participants) so I feel I could have been dropped off even later. While waiting, everyone was friendly and the DJ was playing music and having people come up and say where they were from or giving shoutouts. The hour went by quickly.
Race started on time and the first few miles were a bit congested, but that is normal. Around mile 4-5 we started running on gravel. I knew we would be doing this, but it took some getting used to. At mile 6.5 I saw a BEAR! He was merely crossing a side road, but what a rush! Race officials were there so I felt safe. The gravel continued for a long time until we reached the 2 miles of trail running. It was a single track, but no one was trying to get by and everyone was relaxed. I think around mile 15 we ended up back on the roads. There were plenty of water stops throughout and I felt that the amount of shade kept us cool as the sun was in full force so kudos to the race director for the route. The last 6 miles had the most crowd support as it was on a paved bike trail. Lots of friendly faces giving support. The last .3 miles are up hill and I’m not talking about a little hill. It was pretty steep so it took a good push to get up it. The final stretch to the finish is on grass, which I didn’t like as it was very uneven. Post race was amazing. So much food! They even had gluten free bread which meant a lot to me! Watermelon, oranges, grilled cheese, cinnamon bread with butter, and cookies! And everyone could eat it! Way to go! You also collected your shirt at this time and I really like the long sleeve.
I highly recommend this race. Organized and a beautiful route!
Beautiful mixed terrain race
Not a PR course. Beautiful point to point course in Anchorage. Weekend closest to the summer solstice, so it's light 24/7 (although the sun does set for a few hours.) … MORE
Not a PR course. Beautiful point to point course in Anchorage. Weekend closest to the summer solstice, so it’s light 24/7 (although the sun does set for a few hours.) The course is on bike trails, unpaved roads, single track trails, and back to paved roads and bike paths. The second half is generally flat or downhill. Beautiful scenery along the way. Good aid stations with electrolytes and water. Many stations have pretzels and fruit too. Fantastic volunteers! Expo is small. Shirt is a finisher’s shirt you pick up at the finish.
I really enjoyed this race.
Beautiful course, harder than I expected
The course was absolutely beautiful, but harder than I had expected. Most of the first 6.5 miles is sort of a false flat with a gradual uphill, so I was … MORE
The course was absolutely beautiful, but harder than I had expected. Most of the first 6.5 miles is sort of a false flat with a gradual uphill, so I was much more tired by that point than I expected. About the next 7 miles or so were on gravel road/tank trail which just beat up my joints. Most of the rest of the course was on beautiful paved trails through the city parks. The two worst hills on the course were between mile 26 and the end.
The race was really very well organized and volunteers were AMAZING.
Overall, definitely a race worth doing and I’m glad I did it…but I probably wouldn’t do it again.
Run scenic Alaska!
Beautiful scenic race! Watch out for wildlife along the course! I saw a bear!! Part of the course is on gravel. And a little on single track trail. MORE
Beautiful scenic race! Watch out for wildlife along the course! I saw a bear!! Part of the course is on gravel. And a little on single track trail.
Good race, scenic
Lots of aid stations, lots of out of state runners. Lots of bathrooms. Good trails as part of the course. Sunshine 20hr solstice race so plenty of time to enjoy … MORE
Lots of aid stations, lots of out of state runners. Lots of bathrooms. Good trails as part of the course. Sunshine 20hr solstice race so plenty of time to enjoy Alaska!
Gorgeous views, very enjoyable!
I was able to complete this race as part of my quest to run a half in every state while in Alaska for work. I was out there taking pictures … MORE
I was able to complete this race as part of my quest to run a half in every state while in Alaska for work. I was out there taking pictures the whole time because it was just so pretty! You run along the water for a good part of the race and spend a little under 2 miles on a trail. It’s really pretty but just be aware that you do go off road!