Anchorage Mayor's Marathon And Half Marathon

The Anchorage Mayor's Marathon and Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips Alaska, has a rich history. Once known as the Midnight Sun Mayor’s Marathon, the starting gun went off in the early evening, instead of the traditional morning start time in recent years. After all, Land of the Midnight Sun means just that…midnight sun! With the event taking place on the Saturday closest to summer solstice, roughly 22 hours of functional daylight illuminates Anchorage.

For more than 40 years, the Anchorage Mayor's Marathon, Half-Marathon, 5K, and relay event has been a summer solstice tradition attracting runners from all over the world. Hosting an event of this nature is a significant undertaking, which is led by a partnership between the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department and the University of Alaska Anchorage Athletic Department. Race proceeds help support the MOA Parks and Recreation Department, which is responsible for beautifying parks, natural areas, and operating community recreation programs for all ages and abilities in Alaska's largest city. Race proceeds also help support the UAA Athletic Department and its 160 student-athletes, who represent the University and Anchorage community in pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.  

The finish line at Delaney Park Strip is just blocks away from the heart of downtown Anchorage, which is full of summer activity, great eats, and unique shopping. Toast your success at a nearby brewery and replace all those burned calories at one of Anchorage’s many fine restaurants, food trucks, or other local eats. Just beyond the city, you can find some breathtaking sights. Glacier and wildlife cruises, flightseeing tours to Denali or Prince William Sound, and day tours are great ways to add Alaskan sights and adventures to your race in Anchorage.

Schedule:

7:30 AM - Marathon
8:30 AM - Half Marathon
9:00 AM - 5-Miler
7:30 AM - Marathon Relay
8:30 AM - Half Marathon Relay

Course Information:

Marathon

The Mayor's Marathon takes racers on a scenic journey throughout Anchorage. The race begins in Kincaid Park at the ConocoPhillips Soccer Stadium. The first mile meanders downhill through a cottonwood forest to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The next eight miles follow along Cook Inlet with breathtaking views of the Alaska Range. If you are lucky, you may see beluga whales bobbing in the water.

At mile nine, the course heads east—towards the Chugach Mountains—and the Coastal Trail meets the Chester Creek Trail. As you pass Westchester Lagoon, watch for birds, such as trumpeter swans, mallards, and arctic terns.

At mile 13, the race crosses Northern Lights Blvd. to Goose Lake, following forested trails to the University of Alaska Anchorage. Winding through the university and the Alaska Native Hospital complex, the race travels over Tudor Rd. and enters Far North Bicentennial Park.

Far North Bicentennial Park is over 4000 acres and is home to moose, bears, salmon streams, and other wildlife. After three miles, the race loops back through University Lake Park and returns to the Chester Creek Trail.

The last four miles follow Chester Creek back to the Westchester Lagoon. Here, runners hit the home stretch. Heading north on N St. through Anchorage's oldest neighborhood, the race finishes at Delaney Park Strip in downtown.

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

This race is certified by USA Track, and it is recognized as a Boston Marathon as a qualifying event.

Course Map

Half Marathon

The Mayor’s Half-Marathon starts in Kincaid Park inside the ConocoPhillips Soccer Stadium.  Racers will head east, out of the park on the main road.  (note: one lane will be closed for racers)

At about mile 1.5 the course turns west via the multi-use paved trail to return to the Kincaid Chalet area, where you prepare to head downhill on the trail following the same route as the full marathon. The course meanders downhill through a cottonwood forest to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail following along the Cook Inlet with breathtaking views of the Alaska Range. If you are lucky, you may see beluga whales bobbing in the water.

At about 12.5 the route heads north, up N Street.   Here, runners hit the home stretch through Anchorage's oldest neighborhood, the race finishes at Delaney Park Strip in downtown.

5-Miler

The Mayor's Five-Miler starts at the west end of the historic Delaney Park Strip, the first aircraft runway in the early 1920s. Racers are staged on 10th Ave., between M St. and N St. and the course heads south along N St. through Anchorage's oldest neighborhood before reaching Westchester Lagoon.

Once at Westchester Lagoon, the route heads east towards the Chugach Mountains while meandering along the forested Chester Creek Trail, allowing runners to catch a glimpse of the sparkling water and possibly fresh salmon heading upstream to spawn.

Two and a half miles in, the route passes through Eastchester Park and loops through Woodside Park— heading back the way you came along the Chester Creek trail. At this point, all runners are on their return to Westchester Lagoon. Finally, the course veers north back along N St., where you started through downtown to the finish line on the Delaney Park Strip.

Marathon Relay

This four member team event will cover the same course as the individual marathon (with much less individual effort). Team runners can only run in one leg of the event. See exchange zones below.

The Mayor's Marathon takes racers on a scenic journey throughout Anchorage. The race begins in Kincaid Park at the ConocoPhillips Soccer Stadium. The first mile meanders downhill through a cottonwood forest to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The next eight miles follow along Cook Inlet with breathtaking views of the Alaska Range. If you are lucky, you may see beluga whales bobbing in the water.

At mile nine, the course heads east—towards the Chugach Mountains—and the Coastal Trail meets the Chester Creek Trail. As you pass Westchester Lagoon, watch for birds, such as trumpeter swans, mallards, and arctic terns.

At mile 13, the race crosses Northern Lights Blvd. to Goose Lake, following forested trails to the University of Alaska Anchorage. Winding through the university and the Alaska Native Hospital complex, the race travels over Tudor Rd. and enters Far North Bicentennial Park.

Far North Bicentennial Park is over 4000 acres and is home to moose, bears, salmon streams, and other wildlife. After three miles, the race loops back through University Lake Park and returns to the Chester Creek Trail.

The last four miles follow Chester Creek back to the Westchester Lagoon. Here, runners hit the home stretch. Heading north on N St. through Anchorage's oldest neighborhood, the race finishes at Delaney Park Strip in downtown.

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

Half Marathon Relay

The Mayor’s Half-Marathon starts in Kincaid Park inside the ConocoPhillips Soccer Stadium.  Racers will head east, out of the park on the main road.  (note: one lane will be closed for racers)

At about mile 1.5 the course turns west via the multi-use paved trail to return to the Kincaid Chalet area, where you prepare to head downhill on the trail following the same route as the full marathon. The course meanders downhill through a cottonwood forest to the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail following along the Cook Inlet with breathtaking views of the Alaska Range. If you are lucky, you may see beluga whales bobbing in the water.

At about 12.5 the route heads north, up N Street.   Here, runners hit the home stretch through Anchorage's oldest neighborhood, the race finishes at Delaney Park Strip in downtown.

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