Events
Totem to Totem Half Marathon
Place
Ketchikan, AK US 99901
Description
The long, mountainous, and forested shoreline of the Tongass Narrows waterway is the setting for the annual springtime running of Ketchikan’s Totem to Totem Half Marathon, a 13.1-mile race that takes runners along a point-to-point course that starts at Rotary Beach Park, just southeast of the Saxman community.
The race takes runners north along Tongass Avenue for the next 13.1 miles, all the way to the finish line in Totem Bight State Historical Park, just northeast of the city.
All along the way, runners can expect to catch ample glimpses of one of the local features for which the area is well-known — totem poles, which they will see most prominently around the starting area at near Saxman Village and the Totem Bight State Park as they near the finish line.
The race takes runners along beautiful vistas with tree-covered mountains along the Tongass Highway, where runners can expect to see local wildlife as well as boats streaming along the water in the narrows all along the race route.
The event is open to both runners and walkers and usually features a smaller field of participants, as the race usually sees between 100 and 200 runners and walkers cross the finish line.
Race Contact Info
IMPORTANT Race Info
QUICK INFO
- Race Date: Saturday 5/04/24
- Registration Deadline: Online registration closes on 5/01/24 at 11:59 p.m.
- Packet Pickup: 5/03/24 at the Ketchikan Recreation Center from 11AM - 1PM and 4PM - 7PM
- Start Time: 9:00 AM for All Participants
RACE FEES
Registration for the half marathon is $50 and will increase to $60 after 4/1/24.
BIB PICKUP
Bib pick-up will take place the day before the race (5/03/24) at the Ketchikan Recreation Center from 11AM - 1PM and 4PM - 7PM .
There will be no registration or bib pick up the day of the race.
FINISH LINE CELEBRATION
Look for the Food Tent!! Use your MEAL ticket to enjoy a BBQ hot dog or sausage (vegetarian option available) with chips, snacks, desserts and drinks for all participants. Meals available for spectators for $10.
The Asylum will also be at the finish line with a beer garden, use your bib tag marked for DRINK TICKET to redeem your choice of drafts- available for participants 21+ years of age. Available to spectators (21+) for purchase.
For ALL participants there will be plenty of water, Gatorade, Green Bean coffee, chocolate milk, etc. along with fruit and other replenishing snacks available at the finish line snack table.
Race Morning
START AREA
The staging area is located at the north parking lot at Rotary Beach. Bathrooms are available in the south parking lot and portable restrooms in the north lot. Parking is limited, please carpool or use public transit if you are able to.
KRC Volunteers will be on hand at the start to answer questions and help take care of last-minute needs. Snacks and beverages will be available.
Opening ceremony with a land acknowledgment will begin at 8:50am.
Walkers and Runners will begin at the same time at 9:00am. Walkers please stage at the back of the starting corral toward the south parking lot, runners near the front; quickest paces at the starting line.
There will be NO race registration or bib pick up on race morning.
WEATHER
Located near the southernmost tip of Alaska in the state’s southeastern corner, overlooking the mountains of the Clarence Strait, Ketchikan typically experiences cool, sometimes cold and often rainy weather in May, which has brought record temperatures here as low as 23ºF (in 1971) and as high as 87ºF (in 1963).
On race day (May 4th), the average low is 39ºF and the average high is 53ºF.
Course
AID STATIONS
There will be 5 aid stations along the course and several public restrooms:
-Start Line Bathrooms at Rotary Beach will be OPEN - 8am
AID STATION 1) Petro Marine Propane Station (just north of the Coast Guard Base) (~3 miles)
-Bathrooms at Berth 3 (near the tunnel/promenade) will be OPEN (slightly off course, marked with KRC cones)
AID STATION 2) Ports and Harbors (south side of the parking lot) (~5 miles)
-Bathrooms at Ports and Harbors main building will be OPEN (marked with KRC cones)
AID STATION 3) Ketchikan Dray Heating (~7 miles)
-Portable restroom at Dray Heating- OPEN
AID STAION 4) Mile 10 (bottom of the Ward Cove Hill)
- Portable restroom at Mile 10 (Poole Engineering) - OPEN
AID STAION 5) Mile 11- (top of the Ward Cove Hill)
FINISH LINE- Potlatch Park ~ Beverages, snacks and restrooms! Let the party begin! ~
CLICK ON THE PDF BELOW TO SEE A MAP OF THE AID STATIONS AND RESTROOMS
RELAY HANDOFF POINTS
Relay handoff points will be at the aid stations of the relay team's choice.
COURSE SAFETY
Please stay on the water side of the side walk/path or the shoulder of the highway at all times in order to ensure your safety. Absolutely NO dogs on the course. Strollers are also a safety concern.
MEDICAL
Every aid station on the course will be supplied with a first-aid kit. If you are in need of any of these items, simply stop and ask the volunteers at the aid station and they will be able to help you.
Extra Ambulance service will be on duty race day to respond quickly in case of medical emergency. If you see someone in need of medical care, please dial 9-1-1.
SPECTATORS
Spectators are WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED along the route and at the race start and finish.
Click the icon below to download the attached PDF.
Transportation
Parking
Because of limited parking at the finish line, participants are encouraged to carpool and/or use the City Bus.
Pay attention to the areas marked for NO PARKING. The cones and tape mark off areas where no parking is allowed to ensure safety when busses, cars and runners are sharing the road.
Please look at the map below- NO PARKING is marked in orange - CITY BUS PICKUP is marked with a yellow X
City Bus
A one way pass is included in your registration fee. The Silver Line arrives at Totem Bite bus stop 13 minutes past the hour, every hour. The last pick up is at 6:10PM. Show your bib to the bus driver and your fee will be waived.
Finish line CELEBRATION
Post Race Rewards! Participants may use the tags on the bottom of their bib to redeem 1) a free draft beer and 2) a BBQ hot dog meal
Carlos from The Asylum will be at the finish line serving 3 different selections of beer for participants 21+ years old, be sure to bring your ID!
The local Ice Cream Truck will join us at Potlatch Park! (No host, please bring cash!)
Plan to stay a while and enjoy food, music, bubbles and other outdoor games! Let's celebrate Totem to Totem 2024 together :)
Age Group placement awards will happen post race- about 12:00pm
1st - 3rd Under 18
1st - 3rd 18-35
1st - 3rd 35-55
1st - 3rd 55+
1st Relay team
MapMyRun Map
Race Participant Survey
Please complete the following survey to help us better understand your race experience.
