Mount Marathon Race facts for kids
The Mount Marathon Race is a super tough mountain race held every year on the Fourth of July in Seward, Alaska. It's known as one of the oldest foot races in America. Runners race up and down Mount Marathon, which is a big challenge!
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What is the Race Course Like?
The race begins right in downtown Seward. It starts at Fourth and Adams streets and finishes nearby at Fourth and Washington. There are different start times for the races. The junior race starts first at 9 AM. The men's and women's races take turns starting first each year.
How Far Do Runners Go?
The highest point of the race is a stone marker on Mount Marathon. This spot is about 2,974 feet (906 meters) above sea level. It's also about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) from the finish line. The whole race course is about 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) long.
How Fast Do They Run?
The fastest runners usually reach the top of the mountain in about 33 to 40 minutes. They then race down to the finish line in another 10 to 15 minutes. Going uphill, runners average about 2 miles per hour (3.2 kilometers per hour). But coming downhill, they can speed up to 12 miles per hour (19.3 kilometers per hour)! Because the downhill part is so steep and rocky, it's common for runners to finish covered in mud or with small scrapes.
How to Enter the Race
To protect the mountain, only a certain number of people can enter the race each year. For the men's and women's races, there are usually 350 spots each. The junior race has 300 spots, split evenly between boys and girls.
How Are Race Spots Given Out?
Spots in the race are filled in a special order:
- First, runners who have completed the race many times before get a spot.
- Next, runners who registered last year but didn't finish enough races can get in if they have a special permission.
- Then, some people get a special invitation to join.
Any spots left over are given out through a lottery system. This lottery gives people who have applied before a better chance to get in. In 2019, they even added a waitlist for the first time. Past winners of the race can always enter, even up to the morning of the race!
What Does it Cost to Enter?
In 2019, it cost $20 for adults and $15 for juniors to apply for the lottery. If you were chosen, there was an extra fee. This was $85 for adults and $25 for juniors.
History of the Race
The Mount Marathon Race is thought to be one of the oldest foot races in America. People have different ideas about when it first started, maybe 1908, 1909, or 1912. But the first organized race with clear records was in 1915.
How Did the Race Begin?
Legend says the race started as a bet between two "sourdoughs." This was a nickname for people who had lived in Alaska for many winters. One person bet that someone could run to the top of the mountain and back in less than an hour. The other person said it was impossible! The first runner to try finished in one hour and twenty minutes. Since Seward is a port town, many sailors arriving on ships wanted to try and beat that time. This might be how the race became a regular event.
For the first official race in 1915, local businesses gave out prizes. They suggested the race happen on the Fourth of July. Back then, there was no set path. Runners could choose their own way up and down the mountain. The first winner, James Walters, finished in one hour and two minutes.
Important Moments in Race History
In February 2011, the race was honored by being added to the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2012, a 65-year-old runner named Michael LeMaitre went missing during the race. He was later declared to have passed away. This was the first time something like this had happened in the race's history. After this, new safety rules were put in place for the 2013 race to help keep runners safer.
In 2019, the junior race was canceled because of smoke from a wildfire nearby. All the young runners could choose to enter the race the next year instead. The race was also canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It had also been canceled in 1917–18 and 1942–45.
Films About the Race
- 3022 ft.: We All Have A Mountain To Climb: This is a documentary film from 2014. It shows the race and shares the personal stories of the athletes who compete in it.
Fun Facts About the Race
- The fastest time ever for the men's race is 40 minutes and 37 seconds. This record was set in 2024 by David Norris.
- The first girl to finish the race was Erma Jane Trigg. She was 18 years old and finished in 1 hour, 37 minutes, and 8 seconds.
- The fastest time for the women's race is 47 minutes and 9 seconds. Allie McLaughlin set this record in 2022.
- In 1985, 54 women finished the first-ever women's race.
- The oldest person to finish the race is Chad Resari. He ran the race in 2021 when he was 85 years old!
- The Junior Race is for runners aged 17 and younger. They run up to the halfway point on the mountain and then back down. Once a runner turns 18, they must join the adult men's or women's race.
- In 2014, Allie Ostrander won the Junior race overall, beating both boys and girls. She holds the records for girls in all age groups.
- Every year, a safety meeting is held before the race. People who didn't get a spot in the lottery can sometimes bid on an entry. Some bids have gone as high as $3,000!
