Alaska is a beautiful setting and the wilderness is right there along the path. Lots of hills if you like them. Sometimes a little rocky. Also, can get lonely if you are the only one running your pace. The best part of this is the scenery and the midnight sun which is a crazy experience in itself.

This course ascends quite a bit and has some sections on gravel roads and trails (I fell once) but it's a nice part of the world and a pretty course. My main complaint is that for the first time in 36 marathons I was unable to get my award. They hadn't even done the 1/2 marathon ceremony which came first when I needed to leave. Instead of making the awards available at a local running store for pickup, they had them miles from town. And they refused to mail them even if I paid for time and shipping. If they're too lazy to provide one of these solutions, they should just give them to you at an awards table near the finish when the results are in. All of these solutions are used successfully elsewhere.

The course is pretty and doesn't spend much time on the roads. Most of it is on the paved bike paths that extend all over Anchorage. Shortly before mile 7 you start running on the 'tank trail'. From here to mile 14 is gravel road. I was wearing Kinvaras and it wasn't kind on the feet. Around mile 14 it tapers down to a dirt and rock trail through the woods for a mile (I was fearing I'd run into a bear or moose). These are also the hilliest miles of the course. Afterwards you get back on the paths before merging with half marathoners (start 1hr after marathon) and hitting a 100 foot hill at mile 25.5.
Despite the remoteness of much of the course, there are still many people on the course cheering. Afterwards they had plenty of food and drinks and even little swimming pools filled with ice water.

Many of the people who run this race make a once in a lifetime trip to AK to do so. I found the customer service on the part of the race staff to be non-existent. NO response to e-mails even months before the race - even though they are paid to do this event. We also incurred additional cost because they did not completely up-date the web site with the 2011 date making it look like the race was on Sunday.

TNT runners get special treatment - coaches access where others are not allowed and 'special' food and drink between aid stations - not available to others. IF this were a sanctioned race it would be a rule violation - just not good sportsmanship.

SKIP the Sheraton Hotel - rooms are over-priced and ANY change results in high $$ penalties - even after careful reading all of the very fine print. Also the staff there was not knowledgeable about tourist info - duh...

The course was very wooded and Alaska was a great place to visit. Had I to do it over, I'd have picked another Alaska marathon I think.

A great marathon!

Course was awesome and scenic. I saw a bald eagle fly over while running on the trails in the hills. Aid stations were well stocked. Event is well organized and course was well managed. Nice medal and finishers shirt.

Only gripe is the fund raisers who run 2+ across on the narrow paths and only cheer for purple/green shirts.

Alaska is an amazing place. So glad I did this event. Thanks Anchorage!

This was my 43rd marathon and I have to say having ran Big Sur in May that this race, in my opinion, is right up there with regards to the beauty. In fact as beautiful as Big Sur is, it is really ocean, ocean, ocean and tons of hills. Alaska offers a different terrain every 7-10 miles with very little hills. Running over streams and up the most lush trails. The dreaded 'tank trail' was good to be mentally prepared for but not too bad. Didn't have all the hype of the big races and I loved that as well. Reminded me a little of Napa, but flatter. I'd say for all of you out there trying to hit as many places to do marathons as you can this is a must.

This is an excellent marathon. There were about 1000 runners. The organization - from the expo to the start and finish lines was very good. In past years, people complained about the running shirt and medal - those problems have been fixed. The blue technical shirt is good quality and the medal is robust.
Most importantly, the race is a pleasure to run. It is mostly trails and parks with great views. The race is a net 200 or so feet downhill (I got a PR here). There is much talk about the 'tank trails' from miles 7-15. Basically, this is a stretch on a dirt road with small gravel. It is better (softer) to run on than asphalt and I never felt at risk of tripping or twisting an ankle. It isn't like a trail marathon. It is a plus, rather than a minus.
There weren't many spectators, given that much of the race was in the secluded tank trails and other non-urban settings. But everyone I encountered was friendly, helpful, and supportive.
There were many water stops that were well stocked and staffed.
This was an excellent experience. For me, it was worth the 3500+ mile trip .

I don't know why everyone is complaining about the buses. I'm from Louisiana and jokes are made about our intelligence, but maybe country boys know how to read maps and follow directions a bit better. The correct buses were at the correct places at the correct times, if you read the instructions.

The course was scenic and challenging. The weather was perfect. I'm more of a road guy and my racer flats were not used to running on big gravel rock! I started way to fast on the bike path and hit the tank trail hard! That made all of the difference for the rest of the race. The "Heartbreak Hill" around 41K was intense, but its a good challenge, knowing that you are almost done!

Cons: The buses??? What buses?? What about the shirt? The worst shirt ever! Small crowd for a small marathon. And their sport drinks sucks....

BUT, running-wise, I enjoyed it and it was a hard one! My 3:10:59 result shows that it's challenging, but not that BAD!

The Mayor's Marathon is #47 in my ongoing quest for 50 states plus DC. The course was actually GOOD - challenging - and there were only 2 significant hills (one of which was in the last half-mile). But take out the 7 miles of "tank road" and it was a good, long run. I LOVED being inside for the long wait for the start (I learned a long time ago that you don't try to get on the LAST BUS). But I do have to say that, in the over 500 races that I've run in my lifetime, this one gave us ABSOLUTELY the WORST T-SHIRT ever (at any distance). Skinny Raven had some GREAT shirts for sale at the expo - YOU COULD HAVE WARNED US !!!