Anchorage

Review

• I went back home to Cleveland a few days before the marathon

  • My family and I flew out of Cleveland on Thursday (6/20) to adjust to the time difference of 4 hours

  • Plus, it was the summer solstice! It was definitely hard to sleep since the sun was out nearly the entire day!

• There were 5 race options Saturday morning

  • Solstice Classic (4.7 miles), Half Marathon, Half-Marathon Relay, Marathon, Marathon Relay

  • All of the runners had to finish by 3PM, so technically people could be on the course for at least 6 hours

• The weather was very comfortable at first, but it got hotter as time went on!

  • I believe it reached low 70s by the time I finished

• The race started in ConocoPhillips Soccer Stadium at Kincaid Park

  • We saw a moose on our way in on the road, and I'm glad it didn't hit us! 

  • Marathon Maniacs and the 50 State Marathon Club took a large group photo!

• The first mile was the most downhill through a cottonwood forest to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The miles 2-8 were along Cook Inlet with breathtaking views of the Alaska Range 

• At mile 9, the course heads east—towards the Chugach Mountains—and the Coastal Trail meets the Chester Creek Trail

• At mile 13, the race crossed Northern Lights Blvd. to Goose Lake, following forested trails to the University of Alaska Anchorage. 

  • We ran through the UAA campus and Alaska Native Medical Center, Tudor Road and Far North Bicentennial Park.  

• Miles 18-21, the course looped around University Lake Park and returned to the Chester Creek Trail. 

• The last four miles follow Chester Creek back to Westchester Lagoon through several neighborhoods, parks, and roadway tunnels. Here, runners hit the home stretch and head north on N Street through Anchorage's oldest neighborhood. 

  • The race finishes at Delaney Park Strip in downtown. 

• The race is primarily on pedestrian pathways, gravel, and forested trails. The final half mile runs through an urban Anchorage neighborhood. 

  • The gravel miles (approx 13-16) were hard to maintain a solid balance!

• I ran this marathon because it was its 50th anniversary race! Additionally my parents and brother came out to Alaska since we wanted to make it a vacation!

  • My mom finished her first half marathon! She walked the entire way and finished after about 4 hours

• I won a group award! Since I identify as non-binary, I won second place for this group! As a reward, I received a 64 oz growler for the 49th state brewing company

  • I won 10 free refills to be redeemed by the end of the year. Sadly I don't have access to Alaska 9 more times before the end of 2024 :(

• I didn't have any major complaints during the run since the volunteers were nice, the course was well marked, and police officers made sure that the cars didn't hit us, etc.

• The biggest surprise for me was seeing 3 moose! I'm glad they didn't trample us!

• I highly recommend this race as a destination race!

Race Website: Anchorage Marathon 

Some post-race pictures!