calendar icon Oct 31, 2024

Marathon Details - Kenai River Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > AK > Kenai > Kenai River Marathon

Kenai River Marathon

Kenai River Marathon & Half Marathon, Relay, 5K

location icon Kenai, AK USA

calendar icon September 29, 2024

calendar icon http://www.kenairivermarathon.org

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Race Details

Begins at the Kenai Visitors Center...thru Historic Old Town Kenai, along both sides of Kenai River, thru neighboring Soldotna.

Contact Information

Name:
Address: Kenai Convention and Visitors
Bureau
11471 Kenai Spur Hwy
Kenai, AK 99611
Phone Number:  (907) 283-7951
Email: Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (4)

Course Rating Course 4.0 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.8 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.5 
 
 
Number of comments: 4


 

d. s. from Texas (9/30/2021)
"Beautiful scenery, well organized" (about: 2021)

50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This is an extremely well organized, small marathon/half marathon. Most of course is on a paved bike/hike trail with stunning views of the Kenai pennisula. Plenty of water stops with port-a-lets, fruit and sports drink. The long-sleeve shirt and swag reflect the personality of the race and pennisula. The weather was perfect - bright blue skies and great running temp. Highly recommend this race. The course is a loop with the half running 1/2 the loop (i ran the half this year)

 

J. I. from Houston, Texas (9/30/2014)
"Hidden Gem" (about: 2014)

2 previous marathons | 1 Kenai River Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I would absolutely recommend this one to anyone looking to run a marathon in Alaska. The course is fairly flat, the weather is always cool at this time of year. The tourist season is basically over so hotel rooms and everything else is easier to come by and cheaper. There were people out cheering but on many sections it felt like you were out there on your own on a Sunday jog, no pressure. The only thing I would change in this one was the frequency of aid stations (there were 9, one or two more would be better), and the cup sizes at those stations (too small). Overall it was a very small marathon (and half / 5K) that was still set up and run very well. The view going down Bridge Access Road with the sun coming up, a mist on the river and the mountains across the inlet was epic.

 

D. B. from Palmer, AK (12/22/2011)
"Great Run!!!" (about: 2011)

1 previous marathon | 1 Kenai River Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


If you want to get a PR this is the place. Plenty of elbow room for running. You can bust out at your own pace or hang with the pack. Everyone was very friendly. Had to slow down for a cow and calf moose to get off the road. There were times that when I looked ahead and behind and there wasn't another runner in sight. The cool weather was great. Plenty of aid stations and the volunteers were wonderful.

 

Stephen Brown from Palmer, Alaska (9/27/2010)
"Grizzlies, Salmon and Moose Oh My!" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Kenai River Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was a really fun small marathon. The volunteers were awesome and enthusiastic. However, talk about wind! It was at our backs the first half, but pushing into it for the last half was brutal. At least it was a sunny day in the low 40's.

The course is pretty and very flat with the exception of two hills around mile 15 that look much worse than they turned out to be.

You've got to pay attention though. There are many twists and turns as it winds through Soldotna. The course is basically a big loop from Kenai out K-Beach Road to Soldotna and back on Kenai Spur Road.

This race had the most enthusiastic aid stations workers I've ever seen. There are so few runners that the volunteers must feel like the Maytag Repairman.

Overall a great race. Excellent for the first-time marathoner (of which there appeared to be many). Beer and hot dogs at the end made for a nice plus.


 
 
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