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Description
Giddy up!
This trail marathon covers some of the amazing trails in Girdwood, Alaska. Our town is known for over 30 plus meandering trails through the beautiful temperate rain forest. This is NOT the race to run if it's your first marathon. Maybe volunteer to sweep race course, or work at an Aid Station.
This run includes the infamous Winner Creek Trail, the Upper, Middle, and Lower Iditarod Trails, Nordic 5K Loop, Tiny Trail, Athabascan Trail, California Creek Trail, Abe's Trail, Beaver Pond Trail, Bird-to-Gird Trail, Winner Creek Extension Trail, Alyeska Bike Path, and various Alyeska Resort mountain trails.
This run is the brain-child of Brian Burnett who is constantly connecting trails for a fun day outside. I have a feeling he ran a solid 26 miles one day and thought, "More people should experience this fun...we should have a trails marathon". So if you love soggy October runs through Alaskan forests and perhaps losing the feeling in your toes running through Glacier Creek...come join us on OCTOBER 7th, 9:00AM for Full Marathon, and 10:00AM for Half Marathon (fewer cold toes). If you have someone coming to watch, or if you both want to check out the course and have unlimited access to Aid Station Gummy Bears - then volunteer your first year...or "volun-tell" your cheerleader to help out. (leave dogs at home PLEASE!)
AID STATIONS: 5K Loop / Winner Creek Trail connection, Alyeska Daylodge, Crow Creek Rd, and Bird-to-Gird Path / Beaver Pond Trail connection
Choose the full 26.2 (ish) mile marathon or 13.1 (ish) mile half-marathon. The race starts and ends at the Alyeska Daylodge in Girdwood. Aid stations? Yes, we will have four - and well stocked. YES - snacks and water! This is a BYOBS race (Bring Your Own Bear Spray), along with water and a smile. We will start the race IN ONE WAVE PER RACE from the Daylodge. Parking is available, as well as bathrooms, and a place to store warm gear. THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OFFERED. THERE ARE NO BIB TRANSFERS. PLEASE leave your dogs at home. Thanks.
NEW THIS YEAR! There will be a time cut off for the Marathon. We will have a 5 hour cut off time at Crow Creek Road for the Marathon. (at about 17.2 miles in marathon run) This cut off time will be in place for the safety and sanity of the volunteers that help create a fun day for all participants. Really, it's safety. These are wet trails in October and we encourage you to budget time navigating a few areas. If you are interested in walking the course, then sign up as a volunteer course sweep instead of a racer.
NO AIRPODS will be allowed so you can stay alert to wildlife and other runners
And again, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR DOGS AT HOME. This applies to racers and spectators. Thank you!
Race Day schedule will be emailed to all Race Participants and Wait List Participants. If you are on the Wait List, you have a 51% chance of running, so keep that Saturday open. We will notify you as space opens.
We will decide if Marathon Racers are running across Glacier Creek 5 days prior to the race. If the water level is too dangerous, we will choose Plan B.
This is a fundraiser for the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club. We use the funds to maintain the snow machines for winter grooming, maintain trails, and create trail signage. We will also dedicate funds to help maintain some of the trails on this marathon course. We do not offer refunds unless you have a really really good excuse like being deployed, or volunteering instead of racing. We appreciate all of you coming to play outside in Girdwood and sharing our love for the Girdwood trail system. Our trails are a safe space for all runners. We will have three categories for each race: Men's Division, Women's Division, and Non-Binary Division.
See you soon!
And remember - no dogs. We thank you for your understanding.
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Half Marathon Map
HALF MARATHON COURSE 2023 (counter-clockwise) UPDATED!! THE MAP PROFILE IS A CLOCKWISE PROFILE. READ DESCRIPTION!!
Start at the Alyeska Daylodge, run uphill on Chair 3 road, and down Chair 7 slope road to the bottom of Chair 7. Turnaround and run back up the slope on road to the marked right turn toward the tunnel under Arlberg Road. Before tunnel, turn left onto the Winner Creek Extension trail. Exiting this trail, turn left and run along Verbier Road, across the Challenge AK parking lot and the Alyeska Base Area Road uphill from the Sitzmark, and back to the Start/Finish area (Aid Station) between the Magic Carpet and Alyeska Day Lodge. Run through Start Area on grass towards Arlberg Road, cross Arlberg Road (Flagger on site), and continue along Alyeska Bike Path toward the Glacier Creek Bridge. Cross the bridge and continue to cross Hightower Rd (Flagger on site), turn right on sidewalk, turn left to remain on sidewalk, and then cross road to enter Town Square. Follow flags through Town Square and exit and cross road (next to Chair 5) turn left on sidewalk and then RIGHT to enter Tiny Trail. Tiny Trail will open up to school parking lot, cross the parking lot and continue on along flagged area to Athabascan Trail. Run on Athabascan Trail to Crow Creek Road. Cross Crow Creek Rd. (Aid Station) and enter California Creek Trail. Run uphill on California Creek Trail and turn at Abe’s Trail junction to run downhill on Abe’s Trail to Beaver Pond Trail. Turn right and follow Beaver Pond Trail to the Gird-to-Bird Bike Path (Aid Station) and turn left on Bird-to-Gird Path towards Girdwood. Run past the Railroad Station, uphill along the sidewalk and turn left to run along the sidewalk. At flagged crossing (USFS Parking Lot with Flagger on-site) cross the Alyeska Highway and run downhill to the Lower Iditarod Trail. Follow this trail as is turns north up valley, and continue through Lion’s Park and run UNDER the Glacier Creek Bridge to access the Alyeska Highway Bike Path and run back to the Alyeska Daylodge on bike path, cross Arlberg Road (Flagger on site) and run up grassy area to FINISH!!
(Link to Garmin map by Lauren O'Connor) https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/166964209
Full Marathon Course
WE REVERSE DIRECTION EVERY YEAR SO READ DIRECTIONS
MAP PROFILE IS CLOCKWISE PROFILE.
MARATHON COURSE 2023 (counter-clockwise) - PLAN A (Crossing Glacier Creek)
**NEW this year - cut off time at Crow Creek Road (4 hours and 30 minutes)
Start at the Alyeska Daylodge, run uphill on Chair 3 road, and down Chair 7 slope on work road to the bottom of Chair 7, transition to the Winner Creek Trail and at the flagged connection trail, turn left on the Nordic 5K Loop (Aid Station) and proceed counter clockwise around the entire 5K Loop. Exit the Nordic 5K Loop, turn left to continue on the Winner Creek Trail to the “T” intersection (Sign pointing left to Glacier Creek and right to Upper Winner Creek / Berry Pass). Turn right and continue past sign on Upper Winner Creek trail towards Berry Pass. After a few miles on Upper Winner Creek Trail there will be a turnaround sign at the far end of the Rock Garden (first braided stream after rock garden). Turn around at sign, run back on Upper Winner Creek, past the “T” intersection and continue towards Glacier Creek. Descend down to Glacier Creek and cross Glacier Creek at flagged area (Guides onsite) and continue uphill on the Iditarod Trail which eventually turns left towards the Winner Creek/Iditarod Trailhead. Continue on the Iditarod Trail down valley (it will cross Crow Creek Road twice - no flagger on site for these crossings). Iditarod Trail will lead to Tiny Trail along school property, and then Athabascan Trail towards Crow Creek Road. Cross Crow Creek Road (Aid Station) and enter California Creek Trail. Run uphill on California Creek Trail and turn at Abe’s Trail junction to run downhill on Abe’s Trail to Beaver Pond Trail. Follow Beaver Pond Trail to the Gird-to-Bird Bike Path (Aid Station) and turn left on Bird-to-Gird Path towards Girdwood. Run past the Railroad Station, uphill along the sidewalk and turn left to run along the sidewalk. At flagged crossing, (Flagger on-site) cross the Alyeska Highway and run downhill to the Lower Iditarod Trail. Follow this trail as is turns north up valley, and continue through Lion’s Park and run UNDER the Glacier Creek Bridge to access the Alyeska Highway Bike Path and run back to the Alyeska Daylodge on bike path, cross Arlberg Road (Flagger on site) and run up grassy area to FINISH!!
(links from Zach Behney) https://caltopo.com/m/MN6VT https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3070156686
MARATHON COURSE 2023 (counter-clockwise) - PLAN B (No River Crossing at Glacier Creek):
Start at the Alyeska Daylodge, run uphill on Chair 3 road, and down Chair 7 slope road to the bottom of Chair 7, transition to the Winner Creek Trail, at the flagged connection trail, turn left onto the Nordic 5K Loop (Aid Station). Proceed counter clockwise on the entire 5k Loop, back onto Winner Creek Trail using the same connector and turn left to continue on the Winner Creek Trail to the “T” (Sign pointing left to Glacier Creek and right to Upper Winner Creek / Berry Pass) turn Right to Upper Winner Creek trail towards Berry Pass. After a few miles on Upper Winner Creek Trail will be a turnaround sign at the far end of the Rock Garden (first braided stream after rock garden). Turn around at sign, run back along Upper Winner Creek Trail, run past “T” intersection and continue towards Glacier Creek (old hand tram crossing). On the trail descending down to Glacier Creek will be a turnaround sign. Turnaround at the sign and run back towards “T” intersection, turn right at “T” to Winner Creek towards Alyeska Hotel. Exit Winner Creek Trail and run past Base of Chair 7 and up the slope road to the marked right turn toward the tunnel under Arlberg Road. Before tunnel, turn left onto the Winner Creek Extension trail. Exiting this short trail, run left up Verbier Road, across the Challenge AK parking lot and the Base Area Road uphill from the Sitzmark, and back to the Start/Finish area (Aid Station) between the Magic Carpet and Alyeska Day Lodge. Run through Start Area on grass towards Arlberg Road, cross Arlberg Road (Flagger on site), and continue along Alyeska Bike Path toward the Glacier Creek Bridge. Cross the bridge and continue to cross Hightower Rd (Flagger on site), turn right on sidewalk, turn left to remain on sidewalk, and then cross road to enter Town Square. Follow flags through Town Square and exit and cross road (next to Chair 5) turn left on sidewalk and then RIGHT to enter Tiny Trail. Tiny Trail will open up to school parking lot, cross the parking lot and continue on along flagged area to Athabascan Trail. Run on Athabascan Trail to Crow Creek Road. Cross Crow Creek Rd. (Aid Station) and enter California Creek Trail. Run uphill on California Creek Trail and turn at Abe’s Trail junction to run downhill on Abe’s Trail to Beaver Pond Trail. Turn right and follow Beaver Pond Trail to the Gird-to-Bird Bike Path (Aid Station) and turn left on Bird-to-Gird Path towards Girdwood. Run past the Railroad Station, uphill along the sidewalk and turn left to run along the sidewalk. At flagged crossing (USFS Parking Lot with Flagger on-site) cross the Alyeska Highway and run downhill to the Lower Iditarod Trail. Follow this trail as is turns north up valley, and continue through Lion’s Park and run UNDER the Glacier Creek Bridge to access the Alyeska Highway Bike Path and run back to the Alyeska Daylodge on bike path, cross Arlberg Road (Flagger on site) and run up grassy area to FINISH!!
(Link by Zach Behney from 2018 Clockwise) https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/73299369
Directions
Alyeska Day Lodge
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