Anchorage Runfest Humpy's Marathon (prev. Big Wild Life Runs Ma - Race Reviews

The weather was perfect and the course was nice. Better markings could be used but if you paid attention you would be fine. Support and entertainment along the course was great but not much at finish line. Bart Yasso was there and is awesome! I would recommend for all 50 staters!

Cool, as in more than 40 degrees cooler than what it was for my last training runs before the race. Yeah, I know it makes no sense to comment on the weather, be it lousy or great, but this was darn near perfect for running. It allowed me to better enjoy the scenery along the paved path, which included Cook's Inlet and a variety of wooded areas. I'd recommend this race if you're a 50-stater, or if you just want to use it as a kickoff to a visit to beautiful Alaska.

I've only encountered this type of wind speed when I'm waiting for a tropical storm to make land fall in Texas! Nicely run event on paved trail. A few spots had some serious wind but overall it was a great race. If you're coming to check off Alaska as part of your 50 state goal, you'll be more than satisfied. If you're thinking you'll sample the magic of Alaska, well, Anchorage will leave you a little disappointed. Nothing special to see in town but be prepared for a lot of homeless wandering the downtown area. I thought the effort was worth it but a suggestion....I cannot recommend the AVIATOR HOTEL based on my experiences as a guest. Some great staff but they are overwhelmed by how this place is run.

This was the last marathon in my quest for 50 States and I completed it successfully. Sharron, the race director was very nice, informative and accommodating in every aspect of the race. Sadly, this was her last year as the RD, so we wish her well. The expo is in a large convention center that's just too big considering the number of vendors that show up. The free t-shirt has a groovy design and is kind of unique. The race itself is fairly small and is almost entirely on a paved narrow running path that is scenic in certain areas with the water to one side and woods to the other. It has 2 out and back sections, so you get to see where your competition is. The course is fairly flat, with the exception of one hill that comes towards the end of the run, but is only about 200-300 feet at the most. There are plenty of aid stations and the volunteers are awesome. There are not that many spectators on the course and you'll see the same few several times. We were very blessed with good weather this year with overcast skies and temperatures in the 50s, with the exception of rain the last 20-30 minutes of the race.

My kind of race  scenic, small, along a bike path. Half was along the Coastal Trail, so lots of ocean sightings; other half was also along a bike bath, also scenic. Saw a moose! Lots of porta-potties at beginning. Easy to park. Nice post-race (beer tent) but ran out of some foods for slow people. Memorize the course map, as there were a few spots I wasn't sure which way to go (no one in sight in front of me. Recommend this race

This was my 49th marathon/state and I was injured, yet still excited to be in Alaska. I wish the weather would have been better - the temps were perfect, but there was rain and lots of clouds covering all the spectacular background scenery (which we saw on a bike ride along the course 5 days later!). I heard that August is the rainy season for Anchorage - so be prepared. Downtown was not what I expected - not a very 'Alaskan' feel to it and there were lots of homeless people wandering around and following us. The expo was good and I was really surprised with the pasta dinner, although it was actually a lunch. But the food was delicious. The medal was great and so was the post race spread. Now, for the bad as everyone else has pointed out. The course was a mile short and the first turn around was placed incorrectly. My husband blames it on the inattentive teenagers they had volunteering along the course. A lot of them were glued to their phones and not paying attention. But nonetheless, at least they were there. But it is unacceptable to have a certified race end up not being certified due to lack of attention to detail! My 50 state finish will not be certified and I cannot afford to go back to run it again, although the race director did offer me comp entry next year. There were ways they could have extended the race at the end somehow to make up for the mistake - they had time to do this before anyone finished since they heard about the issue early on. As a race director, you need to have a plan for when things do not go as planned. I'm sure she has learned from this mistake.

How can you advertise a course as 'certified' if you don't know where the course markers are supposed to go? All of the runners in the marathon this year were cheated out of an accurate course by a careless layout of the course markers and incorrect placement of the first marathon turn around. After putting on this race on this same course for this many years, how is that even possible? Other than that, its a nice event, but a long (expensive) trip to get cheated out of a marathon finish.

Second time at this marathon as had completed it when I it was called Humpy's. The Good: Great spectators and volunteers which was wonderful. Nice marathon shirt and medal, and nice to see free beer at the finish. Nice to see the handing out of free coffee mugs after the finish in the beer tent. The bad: The course mile markers were all over the place on this marathon - Mile 4 was close to 4.5 and who knows what mile 7 was supposed to be. The 1/2 way point was 12.8 on my watch - which will lead way to the ugly. Light rain at time and then heavier rain, but no real weather issues during the run. The course overall was not marked well and several runners had gotten lost on the course which will need to be corrected for future marathons. The Ugly: The race was apparently 1 mile short which the RD apparently had adjust to .9 short course. BQ times where adjusted, to technically a BQ qualified. This immediately confirmed what was suspected that the race director had never corrected the distance issue on the marathon, and apparently now is being reported that she never even attempted to correct it. This will count as a marathon, but not for those seeking a 'certified finish.' Race director sent immediate email on the BQ times being accepted, but continues to refuse to address issue with lack of acceptance of a 'Certified course finish for those seeking this. She admitted she never checked accuracy or setup of the marathon course before the marathon. Once she heard the course was short for the first several runners she informed everyone that the marathon course had been corrected. She had informed the news media and runners that this had been corrected. Unfortunately, she later she never worked on correcting the issue during the marathon causing every single runner to be charged with running a short distance marathon no matter what distance you actually ran on the marathon course. She adjusted everyone's time and posted that on the website. She continues to ignore repeated requests to address the 'non-certified Finish' issue for 50 staters after repeated requests. Her lack of professionalism as a Race Director is simply appalling.

This was a beautiful course, and the volunteers were great. It was a treat to see moose along the course. I was devastated, however, to learn that the course was short. This would not have mattered so much if it had not been my 50th state to complete. Because the course was not measured correctly, my completion of a marathon in all 50 states cannot be certified. I have been telling my friends that I completed a marathon in all 50 states, but now I've learned it is not so. This was a very costly and disappointing mistake.

This was my least favorite race and location of the 50 plus marathons I have run. The race director did a fantastic job with organizing the race, however, the volunteers were somewhat lacking. I received the wrong drink while running through half the water stops- it didn't matter if I said water or Gatorade- it was wrong. Twice, volunteers were texting and failed to direct a couple of us in which direction to run to stay on course. **The course was almost a mile short** Anchorage: if you have not been to the area, prepare yourself. It does not look like the images you see online or in magazines. Downtown Anchorage was a huge disappointment and my hotel had a curfew of 11pm due to safety concerns (I stayed in a nice hotel). Positives: As mentioned above, the organization of the race and expo was great. I also met some wonderful people from all over the world who were very encouraging while running in the cold rain!

The organization and course support were the highlights for me and I like the size, small but large enough. Except for the aid stations virtually no spectators but that's fine with me. The aid stations were frequent, well stocked and staffed with friendly students and adults. I don't appreciate the two hills, especially the one at the end. They could both be avoided. Do remember that Anchorage is in a rain forest!

My favorite part of this marathon was the ease of getting to the start line and the first mile+ that took us through the city streets. After that the course was run mostly on a bike path which was crowded with runners from the other races, bikers, walkers, dogs etc. The lead marathoners had to weave around the slower half marathoners and walkers and the out-and-backs made for lots of crowding with the two-way traffic. Personally I'd rather run on city streets that are closed off to the public than on a crowded bike path, which is fine for a training run but not good for a race. The late 9am start probably contributed to the crowding. The start should be earlier, as the weather and amount of light was the same at 6am/7am as it was at 9am. There were some nice brief ocean views but no signs of wild life.

I flew to Anchorage for my 13th marathon and am happy that I did. It rained the entire week I was there but as far as the marathon was concerned, the 50's-60's rainy temps made for comfortable running conditions. One moose spotting at mile 19.5 made my day. And the delicious grilled cheese at the finish line was a welcomed bonus. With about 384 runners (and many more half marathoners who started 20 minutes later), the size of the race is comfortable and with two out and backs you never really felt like you were running alone. We stayed at the Anchorage Grand Hotel and were able to quickly walk to the start which is always my preference. I'd highly recommend this marathon.

I ran this year's marathon (called Moose's Tooth) and I have absolutely no regrets. In short it is a well run scenic marathon! Before the race you see lots of maniacs and 50 staters and that is always a sign of a well run race. In fact I spoke to three runners who were using Anchorage to complete their 50 state quest! This a smalish race (330 in full; 1000 in half) but large enough that you feel part of something. The expo is modest but about what you'd expect for a race of this size and I got my packet effortlessly. Runners could get some gel or socks but not too much more. It is held in the dowtown convention center only a block or two from the race start-finish area. The race runs about 1.5 miles in the city to thin out the crowds before hitting a paved bike path where the rest of the race is held. The half begins 20 minutes after the marathon start so early race crowding isn't an issue. The course is very scenic and much of it is tree lined offering protection if you get a sunny day. There are 2 or 3 hills on the course and a few gradual ascents/ decents but I would say this course is more flat than not and is pretty fast. There is a short steep hill the final mile however so runners need to keep that in mind. This year we had cool, drizzly weather which made for perfect running weather. Temperature wise I think runners can expect cool conditions most years. There were ample water stops along the way. All had water and Gatorade and there were some gel stops too. Unfortunately each one was organized differantly. Sometimes water was first, sometimes Gatorade. Sometimes the water was in plain cups but other times it was in cups marked gatorade. I know this is nitpicky but late in a race when fatigue is an issue little things like continuity really help. Unique to any race I've ever run this is a race where you may encounter a moose. I did about mile 18.5 and that was an amazing moment. We didn't get many fans. Perhaps the weather kept folks away but the turnout is about what you'd expect from a race of this size. There a modest post-race spread but I did enjoy the bread! A local bar Humpys had a post race celebration but I didn't attend so I can't comment on that. You get a nice long sleeve tech shirt and a nice medal. Anchorage is a little pricey so I avoided the Host hotels. They were walking distance to the start line but I opted to save a little and stay a few miles away. I made the race the start of a vacation and spent the rest of the week up in Denali National Park. If you travel up to Alaska consider doing the same.

If you've never visited this state, put it on your bucket list. This is my second visit; and I'll return. Alaska is wild! Pros: 1. No traffic problems. Small town. Convenient hotels. Ramada was great. 2. Good weather. 57 at start with sprinkling rain. 3. Asphalt trail along a marsh. Saw a moose! No real hills. Gentle up and downs. Finish and start in same place, within walking distance of all hotels. Cons: 1. 9am start. Why not 7:30?? Lucky it was not hot. A few weeks before the race, temps were in low 90s here. 2. Post race food below average. 3. Tech shirt was better a few years ago when Humpy's colorful logo was featured. Get a new artist for the shirt. 4. Age bracket awards were pitiful. Cheapo mug. We give nice Lucite awards in our little 5K back home. C'mon, this is a marathon. Volunteers were enthusiastic and kind, as are many Alaskans. This city is central for trips north and south. So much to see, so little time. Forget Europe, visit AK.

August is a great time for a marathon in Anchorage. After two years in a row roasting in the late summer heat in the lower forty-eight, it was nice to find mid-50s and cloudy. The expo was small but adequate for the size of the race. The pasta dinner was quite a bargain for the advance ticket price. The downtown area was a fairly short cab ride from the airport and there were several hotels within easy walking distance so a car was not necessary. The course was scenic but had lots of little ups and downs. No split times but there was a mat at the start. Many water stations; little entertainment (but the native drum corps at the last turn around was inspiring); crowd support was intermittent and mostly concentrated where the relay exchanges were. Great shirt/medal and the post race was nicely done with bread, fruit and pretzels. There are more choices than youd think for Alaska but this was a good one. If you havent been, plan some extra time on the back end for touristy things (there are lots to choose from).

The Big Wild Life Runs Marathon is a fun race held mainly on a bike/walking trail. Spectator rating is low but those that were out were most enthusiastic. Because you're on a bike trail it doesn't lend itself to the throngs of city folks lining the streets like most city marathons. The course is relatively flat but the back half does have some small grades and the hill on the last mile is a real time killer if you're close on time. Despite that I still PR'd. Good water stations and volunteers. Thank you so much!! Long sleeve tech shirt and finishers medal is very nice. Only complaint is that the course is open and there were lots of bicyclists and walkers later in the race. Some with loose dogs following them. One guy on a recumbent bike came within a whisper of clipping a group of us. This is not cool when you're 17 miles into a marathon dodging all this. I'm not sure why they have to start the race so late in the morning. 9am is really late. A 7 or 8 am start would make more sense. Lots of great places to eat and drink in Anchorage. Definitely try some of the local brews. Everybody was 'in tune' with the race weekend and so nice and helpful with info when needed. If you're doing the 50 state and DC deal then this is my pick for Alaska!

Most of the course is on a relatively flat paved bike trail in the woods and it was great to not have to deal with vehicle traffic. The last half mile of the course is back in the city of Anchorage and the finish is down a straightaway that seemed pretty dramatic-at least to me, because I was about to PR. Spectators were very sparse but the volunteers at the aid stations were good. However, I will complain that some of the course markings were iffy on the bike trail--some forks in the road were not marked with anything except chalk or sticks, and we almost made a wrong turn late in the race. There were teenaged volunteers at the intersection looking bored, and if I hadn't called out 'which way?' we could've gone off the course. This was about 4:30 into the race, we weren't really straggling. This is a small complaint. BWLR was well organized and the fact that the RD was hosting a half and a 5K on the same day didn't get in the way of the marathon. If you need a reason to go to beautiful Alaska, let this race be it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this marathon as my choice for running in the state of Alaska. Convenient start/finish line to all downtown hotels, friendly and plentiful volunteers, great course. I personally enjoyed the out and back in both locations so I could see the leaders twice. Very few miles on roads, so no traffic issues. This is a great marathon put on by the Anchorage Running Club and I highly recommend it as a nice change from the huge, crowded, corporate type marathons. A lot less crowded in Alaska this time of the year too. My only complaint/question was to the start time of 9am - it's light by 5:30am that time of the year, so not sure why such a late start. I did not attend the expo or pasta dinner so I can't comment on them.

I loved not having any cars around. Run was on paved trails in mostly wooded areas. Very nice, very comfortable weather. First turn-around was just past the airport. Had a 747 landing directly overhead. VERY COOL. Less than a mile later, a moose and baby. MORE COOL. Lots of water. Great support. Nice finish area with food and music. Very festive enjoyable end zone. THANKS !!

Pros: 1)The marathon was run almost totally on a bike trail. Most of the course was fully treed and nice to stay cool and out of the sun. 2)The event was well organized. 3) The pasta feed was great and at a very reasonable price compared to local restaurant prices. Cons: 1)Walkers and bikers were on the trail at the same time as the runners. It seemed a bit dangerous with the bikers, because the trail had lots of curves and sometimes it was hard to see the bikers who were coming at me. Also, I had to go around many casual walkers who walked three abreast. 2)The Expo was one of the smallest I have seen. More effort needs to be put into finding more vendors to participate. 3) More work needs to be put into finding sponsors for the food/drink at the end of the race. It was almost non-existant. Great Harvest had some bread. There were a few slices of watermellon and small cups of pretzels. This was a real disappointment.

Well organized and well worth running. We got lucky with the weather; race day was the 1 day it didn't rain. Temperature was between 50 and 60, partly cloudy, perfect running weather. Plenty of aid stations on a scenic course. I work in aerospace so I enjoyed running directly underneath two 747's landing at the airport. I also want to recommend the pasta feed. My experience with pasta feeds is not great so I didn't plan on going, but there seemed to be a lack of Italian restaurants in Anchorage so I bought a ticket, really worth it. Very good food, lots of it, in an upscale convention center banquet hall. And finally, the Moose's Tooth pub has really great pizza. Also about 20 microbrews on tap for those of you that like that sort of thing. (Like me.)

Okay, we got very lucky. After days of rain and fears that this race would rival my worst experiences with wind and rain, I woke up Sunday morning to realize they actually get sun in Alaska. The race organizers did a really good job. The expo was tiny and did not offer any last minute products to purchase and no discounted merchandise. The expo was disappointing and why there was not a booth at the expo for the Skinny Raven running store did not make sense. Thankfully, the running stores downtown were close by, so I walked over to get the normal last minute products I normally buy at the expo. The course was very nice on running trails around a lake and along the water. It was well shaded which was important because it actually got warm (after 5 days of rain and cold it actually was nice to see the sun). My big issue with the course was that both directions where out and backs so you saw the same things twice. As a visitor to the area it would of been nice to see some other parts of the city. Also the path was narrow and with people coming in both directions, bicycle riders and walkers it got crowded and you where trying to avoid people. The spectators where sparse but more then I expected considering where the race was held. Finally, post-race there was no food, or to be fair barely any. I do not know if it was because I ran the marathon and they ran out, but when I got to the food area there was little if anything and no water bottles to be found. Generally it was a nice experience but could use with some improvement.

If you are going to run a marathon in Anchorage, choose this one. It's much smaller than the Mayor's Marathon in June with a much more interesting course. This course features two main "out and back" sections along beautiful coastline or lakes and streams. The last hill coming into downtown and the finish line are brutal, but that makes for good stories. If you are not from Alaska, don't miss this race's namesake bar (Humpy's), which is an Anchorage icon. The Midnight Sun IPA (8% alcohol) will quell any post-race pains you have!

I agree with the other posters... I highly recommend this marathon. It's a small marathon, but you never feel like you are running alone. I really enjoyed the course and was fortunate to see a moose and her calf feeding near the 18-mile marker. Having Bart Yasso calling you out as you come down the home stretch was really cool and a really nice way to finish the race. Great finisher's medal and great-looking, long-sleeve, technical tee to boot.

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!

My complaints are as follows. The course is very boring, unless you enjoy seeing nothing but trees and a little bit of water. The course was not marked except for some signs on the second leg. I did not see one volunteer, except for the police in the city, telling runners where to go. I was told that it was impossible to get lost. I followed several other runners for almost a half-mile before we realized we were going the wrong way. If you sign up for the walk (or slow runners), you will not b eligible for awards. They had sports drink at only 2 stops. No port-a-potties on the course or at the start line. The race director announced that, in Alaska, every tree is a port-a-potty. I followed the arrows labeled "MM" on the second leg only to find out after I finished that they were painted on the street by the Mayors Midnight Sun Marathon (but it did take me to the finish line). The half marathon medal really sucks. It does not even indicate "half marathon." The front reads, "Skinny Raven Sports Anchorage, Alaska" in such small letters that you must magnify it to read it, and "2008." The back of the medal is an advertisement for Oxford. At least the full marathon medal indicates that marathon, but it also does not have the date of the event. They did have mile markers at each mile. Humpy's bar/restaurant serves a very good, free pasta dinner.

This course was exactly as described on the website, so there should be no complaints on that front. Lots to do in the area, as long as you rent a car. The race started on time, and the course workers were enthusiastic. Lots of good things for the RD to be proud of. Only two negatives come to mind: 1) Need to put sports drinks at more aid stations. Lots of them only seemed to have water. 2) The parking garage charged $1/hour for parking on race day. Neither of these are big problems - just something to look at. Overall, great job!!!!