Mayor's Marathon - Race Reviews

Like many runners, I did this one because...Alaska. We arrived in Anchorage a few days early, and we went to the group run at Skinny Raven running store on Thursday night to meet locals and get an idea of the course. VERY glad we did that. No bears on course. Thank goodness. I am afraid of bears to the point of phobia, and the sign at about mile 16.5 that said 'Caution: Black and Brown Bears frequent this area during salmon spawning season' did not help. I covered that portion of the course very quickly. We did see a moose in the first couple of miles. Hid behind bushes until the moose vacated the area. Spectators -- none to speak of. Lots of planes taking off and landing as we passed Ted Stevens Int'l Airport. Lots of people not connected with the race on the bike paths in miles 6-15 and 19-26. I cannot thank the woman who came out to run me in enough. We'd met her at the group run on Thursday night and when she heard I was still out there she headed out and accompanied me the last 1.5 miles. THANK YOU RACHEL. I probably won't be back to do this one again any time soon -- still terrified of bears! -- however I would recommend this race to people who want to see a bit of Anchorage and want to add Alaska to their state list.

Pre race involved a packet pick and not really an expo at a local college with free parking a little ways from downtown. Race day started at a soccer field that had sufficient free parking and enough port o potties for the size of the field. A pleasant course featuring Anchorage's extensive park trail system. The first few miles are downhill, including a very steep downhill first mile. Most of the middle of the course, after about mile 7, is relatively flat until you get to a very steep climb at mile 25.5 that was reminiscent of Marine Corp's finish. Not many spectators, but there is really not many places for them to be anyway. A solid finish line experience as well with a big, impressive medal. The parking/shuttle system worked for me, but I talked with some folks who waited over an hour for the shuttle back to the start. Happily, this was not my fate. Overall, a good, low key well organized race that got all of the important things right in my opinion. Several very good breweries in Anchorage with King Street and Turnagain being my favorites. As a first time visitor to Alaska, I was stunned by the beauty and encourage everyone to plan on enjoying the area for several days.

The organization and volunteer support for this race was top notch. This was apparently a new course this year which was almost exclusively on a bike trail in and around Anchorage. There was one small stretch (2 miles or less) of gravel/packed dirt trail but the rest was paved. A little bit of up and down hills, but a net elevation loss. I didn't notice the downhills as much as the up until my quads were less than happy late in the race. The course was very well marked with both signs and arrows on the path at intersections. If you are looking to BQ, this is probably not the race to try it as a bear on the trail caused at least a 10 minute delay for some runners (I was one of them) before a re-route around the bear added around 0.4 mile to the total distance. Post race food was minimal (banana, granola bar and water bottle), but this was likely due to Covid still being a PITA. We stayed at a B&B (Susitna Place) within walking distance of the finish area which worked out very well for the shuttle to the start area. All in all a fantastically organized race if you need to mark Alaska off your list.

I really liked the Mayor's Marathon! It was a smaller race - especially for being a race in a 'big' city. It was so very scenic with panoramic views of the mountains for the first five miles, valleys, rivers, more mountains, forests, etc. Alaska is a state you visit in order to see the wilderness in all of its glory and the Mayor's Marathon did a stellar job in showcasing that.The course can be challenging - especially from miles 10-14. You will run on a variety surfaces: road, loose dirt/gravel, trail, and a little bit of grass at the end. You will be taunted by two giant hills in the last half mile. The crowds are sparse, but you are running in the wilderness and on a bike trail, so that is to be expected. However, the runners are all incredibly friendly and supportive. This will probably not be your fastest marathon, so bring your camera and take in the scenery. As an East Coast dweller, this whole experience will be one I always remember and cherish. As other reviewers have said, make a vacation out of it and explore more of Alaska when you are done.

Course is run on pavement, gravel, rocks, road, single track trail, finishing on grass. My feet didn't get as sore as usual due to the diverse course. Aid stations with water and Gatorade every couple miles but no gels. Also the hard plastic cups forced me to walk through all the water stations in order to drink. Food after was nice with grilled cheese sandwiches; bread, cookies. Definitely not a fast course but not too difficult compared to other races I've run. I saw a bear by the side of the road! Course was beautiful!

First, Alaska is a beautiful state - one of the prettiest.....but the course is incredibly boring....most of it on a tree lined path or roads with virtually nothing to see....with all of the scenic beauty around - this is the best they could do? Nothing even through the city/downtown either...? Fans were virtually non-existent and even the most of fans that were on the course were very quiet and hardly cheered at all...really? The course safety people on bikes did NOT say anything either; just rode by said nothing....the water stations (lots of friendly volunteers), packet picket, shuttle buses and start/finish areas was all fine - so good job there! Also, why was there 2 steep hills in the last 1/2 mile? That's a bad design. Anyway, this could be so much better!!! Also, I had an epic massage at BKK Thai Massage with Carol after the event - 907.644.6224....look her up after next year's race....

Like many others, I came to Alaska to work on the 50 state challenge. After the fiasco with humpy's race last year, I decided to run the Mayor's marathon. I found the organizer to be unresponsive to e-mails. When I went to the expo, there was no dedicated information table and the volunteers were unable to answer my questions (shower availability after the race, gels being offered during the race). Most of the race is held off road to help minimize road closures and let you enjoy the scenery of Alaska. There is a 30' suspension bridge that you run over around the mid-point of the race. There were water stations about every 2 miles and several stations offered oranges or pretzels or candy along with water and gatorade. The finish is up a steep hill that is worse than the marine corps marathon finish. The finish line was pretty skimpy on food with very long lines for the grilled cheese sandwiches. Fortunately there was plenty of parking near the finish of the race so you could easily leave after the race. Alaska is a beautiful state. This race does not reflect the beauty. You spend too much time in the deep woods or on a bike trail near a major highway to enjoy what lies beyond. The swag is pretty skimpy (water bottle and a finisher's t-shirt). I would recommend runners to look for a different race if you are looking to complete the 50 state challenge.

I did this race, as so many do, to knock out Alaska. It's a nice race, to be sure. The course is beautiful, and the first half is mostly run in the training areas of the Army/Air Force base. Very few spectators until the very end. Very few aid stations, relative to other races I've run, but the volunteers were great. The up hill leading to the finisher chute is reminiscent of Marine Corps, but longer. Mean, little joke, but I can laugh at it. I don't know if it was when I came in, but there wasn't too much food available. Admittedly, I was in a hurry to catch a bus to a ship and may have just missed it. Lastly, runner tracking is offered as a courtesy, but I only remember seeing 2 timing mats and my wife never received a single update for my friend or myself. Would I do this again? Probably not. Had I the time, I would explore one of the other AK races.

Top 10 Reasons to Run Anchorage: 10) A nice escape from the mid June heat/humidity of the lower 48..its like natural air-conditioning. 9) The hills are largely at the beginning except for the last one right before the Finish Line which you actually get to run twice in the last half mile! 8) You can make a wonderful vacation out of running it 7) Since this is a true destination race, there are a lot of hardcore runners with some good inspirational stories  a 50-stater was finishing his 50th state, another was doing the 50 states for the 3rd time. 6) A variety of running surfaces  streets, bike paths, crushed gravel/dirt roads, single track trail and even grass (at the finish line) 5) Corollary to #6, the race is run on city streets for less than a mile total&this makes for a more pure running experience 4) Although you dont get a participant shirt, you do get a really nice long-sleeved technical shirt at the Finish Line 3) The finishers medal is great  it even has a moose on the back 2) One of the most beautiful marathons Ive run  mountains, creeks, rivers, meadows, ponds, the inlet, flowers, forests&absolutely gorgeous 1) If you are lucky enough to plan and afford a cruise afterwards, you can eat and eat and eat&totally guilt free!

INTRODUCTION: I am a race-walker with a median marathon completion time of 5:16:46. The Mayors Midnight Sun Marathon was my thirty-fourth 26.2-miler accomplished. COURSE: It was a great day for a marathon: weather conditions at start time were an overcast 57 degrees, 78 percent relative humidity with no noticeable wind. We started our marathon trek at Bartlett High School on the eastern outskirts of Anchorage. Within a half mile, we were relegated to a Glenn Highway bicycle path that was able to accommodate only three astride. Congestion cleared up a bit somewhere between miles 1 and 2 as we continued our way out of town, heading east. At mile 4, turning south, we left the trail and entered the grounds of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. With one unobstructed lane to travel in, we stayed on the undulating paved roads until reaching a point between miles 6 and 7, where we were diverted onto the gravel tank roads. Alternating between south and west directions, we remained at elevations ranging between 300 to 400 feet until reaching mile 13, where we started to climb to the highest point of the marathon (approximately 550 feet) near mile 14 1/2. By this time, when we left JBER, our final mile or so on the unpaved part of the course narrowed down to the single-track Tank Trail inside Far North Bicentennial Park, but the field had thinned out by this point that it was not difficult to pass a fellow marathoner if the need existed. At mile 15.2, we were back on pavement, travelling downhill on Campbell Airstrip Road for the next 2.6 miles. When we had reached East Tudor Road just before mile 18, we had gone down 250 feet in elevation. Now heading westward, we were in the southern suburb of the city, travelling once again on a bike trail for the next seven miles. (One of the nice features of the trail system and marathon is the existence of tunnels under and bridges over the major arteries of the city; no doubt, the motorists appreciated the fact they were not required to stop and wait for us to complete the crossings.) Turning north at mile 19.5, we stayed on trails that took us adjacent to University Lake Park, Alaska Pacific University, and Goose Lake Park, now resuming our westward trek toward the finish. At mile 21, we embarked on almost the entire length of the four-mile Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail, perhaps the most scenic part of the race. Winding alongside the forested creek on the southern outskirts of downtown Anchorage, we continued west passing through Tikishla Park, Eastchester Park, Chas Smith Memorial Park, Valley of the Moon Park, and finally, Margaret Egan Sullivan Park, all the while going down 130 feet in elevation. Just before the trailhead, we got off of at U Street, where we would travel through a west Anchorage neighborhood for the final half mile. Just before reaching the finish line at the western edge of Delaney Park, we were obliged to go uphill approximately 80 feet in elevation. Furthermore, when the course flattened out at the park entrance, we had to traverse a grassy surface for a hundred feet or so before reaching the race conclusion. Weather conditions at finish time were an overcast 61 degrees, 67 percent relative humidity, and wind from the west at 5 mph. ORGANIZATION: Average expo for a race of this size with a good selection of race merchandise to choose from. The guide provided to us gave good advice on what to do if we were to encounter a bear or moose during the race. Good course support during the race, but one can suspect misplaced mile markers at miles 15 and 25. (In the case of the latter, it was hard to believe the existence of a five-minute time differential between the last two mile splits.) SPECTATORS: Understandably, with exception of aid station personnel, there was an absence of fans during the first fifteen miles while we were alongside Glenn Highway, inside JBER, and on Tank Trail. Otherwise, we experienced average fan support for a marathon of this size. CONCLUSION: Despite being in a city of 300 thousand people, we rarely encountered evidence of such: for approximately two miles did we see any commercial structures; for the rest of the time we were surrounded by parklandan urban wilderness, if you will. In addition, the half marathon and four mile races were staged on separate courses in a different part of the city. Two reasons why this made it an enjoyable marathon to participate in. POSTSCRIPT: Race-walkers are few and far between in events such as these, and rarer still is to find one of similar ability. Russ, a national-class race-walker was instrumental in getting me to the finish line within the time objective. Furthermore, the miles seem to go by a bit more quickly! My thanks to you, sir!

I really enjoyed this race and was taken back by the scenery. Yes the hills at the end were tough but I enjoyed the wilderness and the fact that very few portions were actually on the roads. ' Host Hotel', the Sheraton left a bit to be desired. I am not certain they were even aware of the race, no welcome runners, no shuttle service, no pasta dinner in restaurant, no food on race morning. The rate was $350.00 a night.. save a few bucks and stay at the Westmark $ 288.00, walk to the shuttle right behind their hotel. They are closer to the downtown attractions where as the Sheraton was 1/2 mile from everything and 1 block from a seedy neighborhood. I asked about getting to the Expo & no one knew were it was, cab fare was $22.00 each way!! I like a cheeseburger after a marathon. The Sheraton does not serve hamburgers. I did have a great vacation while in Alaska and highly recommend the trip despite the flaws with the hotel and trouble getting to the expo. Oh yes & I did complete the 50 states here & went on a cruise the same day!!

The weather was my idea of perfection: temperatures in the 50's and overcast with a light drizzle every now and then. Unfortunately, the low clouds meant I never saw the surrounding mountains, and focused my attention on mile after mile of pine trees as we wound up and down the hills on the bike path, a wide gravel road, and then a narrow dirt path. No city running for this marathon until the last mile, which is awesome. I appreciate the bus shuttle to the start and stayed at a hotel within walking distance of the finish. Great organization at the start and finish and helpful volunteers. Anchorage is a wonderful city to explore and we took the opportunity to stay for another week and see more of Alaska.

So this was my first time running the mayor's marathon. The course was nice, of course there were hills but to see a moose at mile 24 was very Alaskan. The EXPO on the another hand was not very organized. The hours on Thursday were 4-8 but while waiting in line to spin for a free gift at 6. The booth personal says no more spinning and we are closing it was only 6 p.m. if you are going to be at the EXPO you should be required to stay open for the whole time. Getting the bibs was another major hassle. When we walked into the EXPO we had to search for the BIB PICKUP area. They was two volunteers handing out kids bibs we said oh we paid for our kids and the volunteers said no the kids run is free. Yes the kids run on Thursday was free but the kids run on Saturday was not. They had no idea about the another runs. FAIL. When we found the line for the bib pickup we had to wait and be told which one of the 10 volunteers to go check in with. seriously there was no one waiting to pick up bibs. Small fail. Then the volunteer did not check in our kids for the runs which meant after getting home I had to drive back to the EXPO and get the proper bibs. So on my second attempt to get my kids bibs for their race. I was assigned the same volunteer that once again had no clue about the kids bibs that had youth cup on top, lucky a wonderful volunteer sitting next to him in a flowery shirt corrected him and gave me the right bibs. So you would think that he would say he is sorry for not knowing, NOPE he just said whatever. I think yes I would run this event again but the EXPO Volunteer's need to be given answers to common marathon questions.

Weather aside, I knew this was going to be a challenging course going in and had mentally prepared for it. I met the athletics director for UAA at the expo and was impressed with his interest in a complete stranger. Very genuine and even ran into him again the next day standing in the rain directing runners to the start line, impressive. The course was hard to access in some area for spectators so am not suprised by the low turnout early in the marathon. I kept looking out for wildlife and wasn't disapointed as somewhere towards the end of the race we passed a moose standing by the bike path. I agree with the comments about the shirt and medal. All in all would recommend for an Alaska marathon.

This year, we had wind and prodigious rain at the start of the race. Luckily, we had some shelter and good support. If there is one suggestion that helps in a scenario like this, it's the liberal application of vaseline on your feet before you put on your socks. In spite of the wet and the mud, my feet came through unscathed. The course itself features rolling hills. The 'tank trail' is unpaved road .. reminds me of trails in Colorado. What I had not expected was that the sox or seven miles tank road becomes a single track trail for about a mile ... it got pretty muddy with a few big puddles, but was not too bad. The rest of the course is paved road. It ends with a pretty infuriating hill for the last quarter mile, but knowing the finish line is ahead keeps you going. FABULOUS beer at the end ... great aid stations well placed and very well stocked. Nice finisher's shirt and big medal at the finish line. This is a very well-organized race in a beautiful place. Had the weather been better, I suspect it would have been more scenic. Definitely a destination race for vacation of a lifetime. Make sure you get to the Kenai Peninsula ... absolutely gorgeous and easily accessible from Anchorage by car.

There was lots of great energy at the starting area and logistics were easy. It only took 15 minutes to drive to the start from my hotel. The course wasn't easy, but it was almost entirely free from any traffic, which was appreciated. The dirt road with rocks section wasn't too bad at first, but got really tough on the knees after so many miles of it. I was so happy to hit the trail and leave those rocks. I found the aid stations to be spaced perfectly and you could always get what you needed. Volunteers were energetic and helpful. They didn't have Gatorade, but the Altima wasn't too bad. I found the bike trail at the end to be a little lonely, but pretty. The uphill finish was a surprise to me, but it wasn't too bad. My family could get right in the front and high 5 me. I love these smaller races. The Finisher shirt was nice and the metal was huge. All in all, a great marathon in a gorgeous place.

Good course,however a bit boring. The tank trail is 8 miles on a dirt dusty road and only trees on eithet side to see. Did not run into any huge rocks or problems as some had warned, basically its an unpaved road no worries!

After completing the half marathon several times I finally managed to stay healthy enough to complete the full distance. This course deserves its tough reputation. If you like a lot of supports/bands/fanfare along the way this is not the race for you. However, if you enjoy running without the crowd while taking in fantastic scenery, you will love this race. Support is sparse, but the quality more than makes up for the quantity. Whoever thought of handing out popsicles at mile 20 is a genius.

As a lifelong Alaskan, I wasn't particularly impressed by the course. I enjoyed the time we spent on Anchorage's great trail system, but I thought there were a few too many roads, and the tank trail was really painful by the end. The new ending is also a bit painful - up then down then back up?! That said, the course support was great - volunteers were awesome, and it was fun to finish at the park strip. I'm glad I did this marathon but don't think I'd do it again.

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 !!!

The course was great and the vistas beautiful. I would say the course is fair in difficulty... not necessarily good for a PR but not a killer either. The buses to the start were a fiasco, particularly if you planned to get on at one of the later pickup locations. The T-shirt made NO differentiation amongst the different events, from the 1.3-mile to the 26.2-mile race. My biggest complaint was that I was unable to contact the RD at all prior to the race. My flight was cutting it close because the expo on Friday ended at 6 p.m. (on Thursday it went until 8 p.m.). There was no race-day pick-up, according to the website. Despite attempts dating as far back as March up to the week prior to the race, I received no response from the email address on the website or the contact phone number posted. I later leaned that another person did get contacted and made arrangements for race-day pick-up.

This was my 46th marathon and one of the most scenic courses. I was fully prepared for the tank road and dirt trail that makes up about a third of the race. The bike trails through Anchorage are great. The water stops were staffed well and had enough water and drinks, along with spirit. One even had helpers in animal gear. I did not see any Alaska animals, but I saw bear and moose droppings, so you know they were in the area. The bad part of the course is the hill with less than a mile to go. The other finish area concern is that the race ends on the track, along with the half marathon runners, and it did lead to little recognition for some marathoners. My wife watched the women marathon winner finish, and the race people did not know she had won. Something was missed here. The biggest issues were the lack of buses to the start, poor race shirt (same shirt for all 3 races), and a very poor website. The website was never updated on the 2010 event details until most of us were traveling there. They missed the chance to tell things that would of been a help to the out-of-state runners. The expo was small, with very few items for sale; again, someone missed the opportunity to sell things to the out-of-state runner. I would recommend the marathon, but do not come expecting a PR. The course is scenic with some hills.

We're trail runners, so we didn't mind the gravel roads on the army base or the one mile of single-track trail. The pavement actually bothered me more than the dirt, because the roads we ran on were pretty cambered. Luckily most of the paved parts of the course were on nice bike paths, which had soft shoulders to run on, especially near the end. I really enjoyed the course. We saw a moose at mile 19 or so, the volunteers were great, and I liked the variety of terrain and scenery, especially the finish around Westchester Lagoon. The medal was great - it was heavy and substantial, and had a unique design. Well done to the race for the medals. I also really appreciated the pretzels and oranges at aid stations - much better than just water and sports drink. My only real problems with the race are easily fixed, because they have nothing to do with the race itself. * More shuttles from finish line to start. We parked at the start, because we were more worried about missing the start than waiting for a bus. It looks like that was a smart move. There was some not-so-clear info about this on their website. Be sure you have a plan of how to get to the race and how to get back. I saw some people taking taxis. * Make it clear to the participants that the finisher shirt is junk. We bought tech-T's the day before for $25 at the expo for the race, and that was a great idea. The white, cotton, finisher's shirts say, "Finisher 26.2 13.1 5 1.3" on the the back. I guess you are supposed to circle the ones you did? I don't know why they bothered. They only had large and extra large when we finished (but we were slow, so no real surprise there), probably because they had them for all races. Anyway, a sample shirt at the race expo would probably make for more sales of the tech-T. * Ultima - I don't know where to find this stuff and I never train with it, so I just used water instead. Too nervous about tummy problems on a run to try something new on race day. * I think the mile-25 marker was off, but no big deal there. Overall, I really enjoyed this race and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to do a race in Alaska; there are just a few things the race organizers could improve to make it that much better.

I had a great time, though I can't argue with complaints about the shuttles, "chip timing," and T-shirt. Regarding the "tank trail," I was prepared for much worse. I didn't have any trouble with footing, as the loose stuff could be easily avoided. And some of the trail sections were quite pleasant, as were the bike trails that made up most of the course. I'm surprised anyone here is complaining about the course, since the comments from the previous years lay out the pros and cons. There were some nice spectator cheering during the second half of the race, as well as great support from the many aid stations. This is a great race that has a very scenic course without being too big or too small.

I was VERY disappointed in this year's marathon. First, the promised buses to the start failed to show up (apparently one bus showed up for the "6:30" pick up to let people at the later stops that it was full and that they should find some other way to get to the start). Note to all race directors who claim to have chip timing just because the runners wear a chip: Chip timing means that you record the actual start time of each runner (requires a mat at the start) and the finish. Otherwise it is just gun timing with a chip rather than a person writing down the number and the time. The 7-mile water stop lacked an important ingredient: water. And then the ultimate insult: race officials at packet pick-up made a big deal about us getting a finisher's shirt, but they gave us a cheap "poly-cotton, white T-shirt" that you got if you finished the marathon or the 1.3-mile walk. That really made me feel special. Charge a couple of bucks more and give the marathoners something to wear with pride... or just call it a participant shirt and be done with it.

Great scenery. Worth the trip. I saw two bears and two moose. The course was tough, but I didn't care about my time on this one. Lots of beautiful photos.

This was a big disappointment and not worth the overall expense. The promised shuttle buses from the over-priced host hotel never showed, and the course has over EIGHT miles of nasty gravel, which really mess up your pace. It seems like the organization just wants your money - trying to sell a $25 pasta party, a $35 poster, etc. For those who need to do Alaska, I'd recommend looking at another marathon.

Well-organized race. The course was shaded, scenic, and challenging. You get to see the best of this beautiful city's parks. Excellent course support, and attentive staff at the finish line. The hill at the end is no joke! If I read correctly, the 2009 men's champion had to walk up the hill. Concerning the shirt, the medal, etc., I was more than satisfied. The pasta dinner in the excellent new art gallery was fun, and much tastier than the typical pre-race pasta dinner. This marathon is running for running's sake. I had an awesome time!