Anchorage Mayor's Marathon

The Anchorage Mayor's Marathon is Alaska's marquee running event, a summer solstice tradition that has brought runners to Anchorage for more than 50 years — founded in 1972 as the Midnight Sun Marathon before adopting its current name. Held on the Saturday closest to the solstice, the race takes advantage of nearly 22 hours of daylight, letting participants run at any hour without ever losing the light. The marathon and half marathon start together at Kincaid Park on Anchorage's coastal bluffs, follow the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail past Point Woronzof with sweeping views of Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains, then finish downtown at Delaney Park Strip. The course is USA Track and Field certified as a Boston Marathon qualifier, with rolling hills through the middle miles that ease off in the final stretch. Race weekend also includes a Marathon Relay, the shorter Solstice Classic run, and a Kids Mile, drawing an international field alongside the local Anchorage running community. Chip timing has been used since 1998, and proceeds benefit the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department and the University of Alaska Anchorage Athletic Department, which co-host the event together with presenting sponsor ConocoPhillips Alaska. Many runners extend their trip with Alaska's midsummer offerings — glacier cruises, wildlife tours, and Denali flightseeing — making race weekend a popular gateway to a longer Alaskan vacation.