This is my second time running a marathon in Anchorage, with the first being 14 years ago in the other race in town. Humpy's is a great race because of a great course, great organization, and great volunteers. It also isn't full of the purple sea of Team in Training (like Mayor's). The pasta dinner was free and very good. I've had other free pasta dinners where I would have preferred to pay for better food and others that were expensive and were not worth the money. This one was really good and had plenty of food. Packet pickup was easy but there was no "expo" as such, so we walked to Skinny Raven, a very good running store in town.

The course is pretty flat - mostly out-and-backs on a paved bike trail. Very pretty and never boring. There was one hill at about mile 6, then again at about mile 12, and then miles 16 to 20 composed a gradual uphill until you turned around and came back down. Very tough but short hill in the last mile.

Great volunteers, including local track and cross-country teams pointing us in the right direction and handing out water and Gatorade. Although it was a BYOG (GU), I saw gel at a couple of stops plus pretzels and M&Ms at others.

I didn't need a porta-can, but they were a little sparse. Of course, we were in the woods for much of the race.

I enjoyed the out-and-backs because I got to see a lot of fellow 50-Staters and Maniacs. This is a great destination marathon. Try to combine it with some vacation time - cruise, fishing, train to Denali, etc.

I have been to ANC several times fishing but this is the first since i began running almost 6 months ago. A great city filled with some of the most friendly people ANYwhere. Race organization was very good, and I was able to meet and greet four members of the race committee. I also met and talked at length with Jeff Galloway and his wife Barbara - as well as Bart Yasso at the pasta feed. Nice touch having Bart at the finish line calling out the names of the finishers. Bart and the RD did a great job also MC'ing the 1K run for the little kids; nothing but superlatives for the entire city, organizing committee, volunteers, medical support teams, mayor, and Humpy's Alehouse. You ALL did a GREAT JOB. THANKS!!

I fell on the course around mile 16 and ended up finishing in tears and with my arm in a makeshift sling. I slipped on one of the wet wood bridges and went down fairly hard. I finished, and the volunteers helped me splint my arm with cardboard and duct tape. I can't wait to see the pictures!

Well worth the trip from Colorado. I'd say 90% of the run is on well paved trails next to the water or beautiful forest. Even had a moose 20 feet from the trail. Very flat except for a little hill at mile 26, but there was a great-looking cop at the top of the hill flashing a bright smile. Perfect, cool temperature (about 60 degrees), but very humid. No mosquitos. If you are going to be on the course awhile, definitely bring your own treats. This marathon is truly fabulous if you like small races. Awesome, long-sleeve, wicking t-shirt.

If you enjoy friendly, small, well-organized races in stunning settings, this marathon is for you.

Much of the course was along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which was lovely. My only disappointment was that I didn't meet any moose on the course. I'd never been to Alaska, so what better excuse to go than to run a marathon? I currently live in the NYC area, so I loved the wonderful, clean, crisp air! Breathing that in alone made the trip worthwhile.

My only suggestion: Please provide more aid stations along the way - especially in the last 8 miles or so, when we need them the most. I started hitting the wall just before mile 18, and was looking forward to the next aid station. Unfortunately, Mile 18 only had water. I needed more than that, at least Gatorade. The next aid station after that was just after mile 21 (more than 3 miles later) and by then I was about to fall over and was seriously doubting I would finish. When I finally reached the next aid station, I was thrilled that one of the volunteers was thoughtful enough to provide banana bread and M&Ms. I consumed as much of these as I could and I have no doubt that if this angel had not appeared just in the nick of time, I would not have been able to continue - let alone finish the marathon. So whoever you are, thank you!

Bart Yasso from Runner's World Magazine was at the finish. As we ran across the finish line, he announced our names and hometowns, and had a little factoid about where we were from, which was a nice touch.

Humpy's was terrific, definitely worth the trip from NJ. I highly recommend this marathon.

P.s. After the race, I rented a car and visited Turnagain Arm, Denali, Mount McKinley, Talkeetna, Seward, Whittier, Homer... what a stunning state. I will be back next year.

Yes, the course is mostly on a bike path, but a very long stretch of it runs along Cook Inlet. It was overcast in the morning, but I was fortunate enough to be slow, so that by the time I reached the coastal section the last time I could see the snow-covered mountains begin to peak out across the water. The part through the woods is green and lovely, and last year I saw a porcupine. My son saw a moose on the trail in 2007. (There are customarily a lot of moose in this area, but they tend to be a little more shy on marathon day.) The marathon is small enough that I have placed in my age group 3 of the 4 times I have run it, and like I said, I am slow. The finisher's medal features a picture of a humpy, which is a type of salmon, and it says, "fishiner" on it. The age group medals are similar, but there is no ad on the back, and they are made into key chains, so you have an excuse to actually carry them around. The race has improved each year, and it seems that they clearly respond to feedback. I would strongly recommend the race, especially to those who run to savor the experience.

If you're going after the 50 states, there are limited options for Alaska. I chose this one because the date worked and I prefer the start and finish near my hotel (versus being bused out to the start). Now, there is always a thrill with traveling to somewhere remote for a race, and Anchorage is a cool town. If you can build in a vacation too, I would recommend that (although I didn't have that luxury).

The pre-race logistics were OK. The packet pickup is easy to find, and is right by the race start and finish the next day. I appreciated that the "last chance" pickup was also provided the morning of the race, since the day before it closed at 4:00 p.m. There was really nothing of interest in the "goody bag," other than the bib, chip, and shirt (which is long-sleeved, technical, and a pretty color). Double check the size shirt you get, as I ordered a medium but there was a large in my bag. Fortunately, they let me exchange it at the "last chance" packet pickup on race morning. The timing chip was a bit odd; it looks like it should just slip over your laces, but most people tied it on with their shoelaces to ensure that it didn't fall off. I saw at least one person who had lost their chip by not tying it on.

I didn't much care for the 9:00 a.m. start, but they did let walkers start at 8:00 a.m. Still, the sun was up a little after 5:00 a.m. there (this time of year), so why the late start? At the same time, it was good that the 5K and half-marathon had slightly later start times, so that helped reduce congestion at the beginning. The course itself is, well, boring. Rather than the "Alaskan wilderness" I pictured, it was basically a paved bike trail through rather "average looking" parks and woods. Other than a couple of views of water and Anchorage, you wouldn't have known you were anywhere special. While I couldn't find an official elevation chart (I think there is sort of one in the upper left corner of the race map), be prepared for some hills! Also, in the second half, the trail winds around quite a bit, and I could see how runners could take a wrong turn. Some of the volunteers were very good at indicating which direction to go, but some weren't. At one point, I had to stop and ask the person who looked like a volunteer (he was busy talking to his girlfriend) which way to go.

The finish area was adequate, and I liked the fresh watermelon and big cookies! Beer would have been nice. Having Bart Yasso announce the finishers was a nice touch. The medal is somewhat small, but of good quality. However, the back of the medal is an advertisement for the company that apparently made them (with phone number and all). I hung around for a while waiting for them to post results, but they were about 40 minutes back in posting. So I went to the hotel, cleaned up, and was back in plenty of time for the "awards ceremony." I was fortunate enough to win an age group award, but I was hoping for something more special than a key chain. I'm appreciative of the recognition, but certainly a bear claw or something more Alaskan would be more fun.

So, overall I would say that this was a decent experience to check off Alaska in the 50 states quest, but not one of my most memorable runs.

What a beautiful race! I was very impressed by the course (definitely enjoy running along the coast, and through a forest with a bubbling brook beside you) and all the support! The Kodiak Cross Country team was stationed all along the course to cheer runners on and provide support as needed. The water/aid stations were eager to provide you with liquids - there was no waiting for water to be poured or asking for water. The mile markers were easy to see, and the course was fairly flat (a few rollers in the first 2 miles, which you repeat in the last 2 miles).

While it rained every day the previous 1.5 weeks, I was in Alaska, and the weather was ideal on race morning. It was around 55 degrees, with a light breeze, and overcast skies - perfect conditions!

I would agree with the comment below about post-race food. I wasn't able to find any food after the race and ended up eating at my hotel. There also wasn't any food on the race route (no pretzels).

I've completed over a 100 half marathons/marathons and can say this is one of my top events! I've recommended it to all my running friends and look forward to returning again. Would highly recommend Humpy's over Mayor's Midnight Run.

This race is comfortable in its skin as Anchorage's 'lesser' marathon. I chose it rather than the purple circus Mayor's Marathon has become. I had no problems following the course or spotting the mileage markers (the staked ones, which were clearly marked with Humpy's Marathon logos). Spectators and fellow runners were surprisingly friendly and enthusiastic throughout. I was warned about path crowding later in the race (marathoners, marathon walkers, marathon relayers, half-marathon walkers, and non-race path users [particularly bikes]) and luckily the only problem I had was a loose dog crossing 10 feet in front of me; people managed themselves well.

The packet pickup and start/finish locales were in a nicely accessible spot downtown, and I saw reasonably close free street parking within a half-mile of the area. The race lit also mentioned free parking at the Conoco-Phillips lot, which is also near the start.

Two minor complaints:
I too think a long-running race should have sports drink available at all aid stations. It's not hard to do, as the number of aid stations needed in this out-and-back course is smaller than along a point-to-point course. And a pre-race pasta feed should be held at the evening meal time, rather than the odd noon-four period.

Running this marathon was an incredible experience! We arrived late Friday, which was typical (most Alaskan flights start and end in the middle of the night). Rented a car and drove to the Kenai Peninsula on Saturday: saw the Portage Glacier, salmon swimming upstream (could have plucked one out of the stream), snow-capped peaks next to the saltwater fjords, and had dinner in Seward, a quaint fishing village.
The marathon course was delightfully flat (a small hill at the end); volunteers and high school runners/cheerleaders were terrific; saw a porcupine on the course; weather cooperated - 55 and cloudy. Views from the course of the marsh and forest qualify it as one of America's most scenic routes.

Post-race food could have been better, but I don't feel like eating after a marathon, so that was not a factor for me.

Downtown Anchorage was a complete surprise: beautiful flowers everywhere, lots of shops; a wonderful museum on Anchorage/Alaska history; many fine restaurants.

Took a few days to visit the national park about four hours north. An easy drive on well-paved highways!! Denali on a clear day was spectacular. Snow-capped Mt. McKinley, at 20,000-plus feet, is something I will never forget. Took a full-day bus tour of the park: grizzlies and cubs, moose, caribou, fox, Dall sheep, etc.

And it's very hard to find an Alaskan who is not friendly. We never did. Hope to return in a few years!