Events
Full Marathon
100 spots left. Registration Opens June 1, 2025 at 8:00am AKDT
Half Marathon
200 spots left. Registration Opens June 1, 2025 at 8:00am AKDT
Juniors Half Marathon
30 spots left. Registration Opens June 1, 2025 at 8:00am AKDT
Place
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. "This marathon feels like an ultra run" says marathon finishers, so perhaps volunteer to sweep race course, or work at an Aid Station your first year. Volunteers are guaranteed a spot the following year! OR...sign up for the 5K Race (new this year) and then volunteer and cheer on the finishers!
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 Marathon is the brain-child of Brian Burnett who is constantly connecting trails for a fun day outside. 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 glacial creeks...come join us on OCTOBER 4th, 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) Seriously - even spectators - leave dogs at home.
AID STATIONS: 1) Alyeska Daylodge, 2) Nordic 5K Loop / Winner Creek Trail connection Path Trailhead, 3) Middle Iditarod Trail at USFS parking lot, 4) Crow Creek Rd at California Creek Trailhead, and 5) Bird-to-Gird.
Choose the full 26.2 (ish) mile marathon or 13.1 (ish) mile half-marathon, or NEW THIS YEAR the 5K Race. The races start and end at the Alyeska Daylodge in Girdwood. Aid stations? Yes, we will have FIVE stations stocked with snacks and water! WE have listened...more water. Got it. But we will have pitchers to fill your hydration packs or bottles. This is a BYOBS race (Bring Your Own Bear Spray), along with your OWN hydration, and a smile. We will start the race in ONE WAVE PER RACE from the Alyeska Daylodge. Parking is available, as well as bathrooms, and a place to store warm gear. THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OFFERED. (Yes, even if the race is cancelled due to weather) THERE ARE NO BIB TRANSFERS. PLEASE leave your dogs at home. You can tell them about the race later. Thanks.
AGAIN THIS YEAR! There will be a time cut off for the Marathon. Marathon ONLY - not half marathon. The marathon cutoff time will be 4.5 hours at the 17 mile mark. This is the Crow Creek Rd Aid Station. This cut off time will be in place for the safety of runners and sanity of volunteers who 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.
AIRPODS are discouraged so you can stay alert to wildlife and other runners.
And again, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR DOGS AT HOME. This applies to racers AND spectators since they tend to stand & cheer close to the finish line and food tables.
Race Day schedule and updated maps 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.
After the race will be yummy Bake Shop sweet rolls, cookies, and Coast pizza to reward your efforts and keep you around for the awards!!
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 trails on this marathon course. We do not offer refunds unless you have a really really good reason like being deployed, or volunteering instead of racing. EVEN DUE TO WEATHER. We appreciate all of you coming to play outside in Girdwood and sharing our love for the Girdwood trail system. We will have three categories for each race: Men's Division, Women's Division, and Non-Binary Division.
See you soon!
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Half Marathon Course
HALF MARATHON COURSE 2025 (counter-clockwise)
MAP ARROWS/ELEVATON MAY BE INCORRECT. 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 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 2025 (counter-clockwise) - PLAN A (Crossing Glacier Creek)
**AGAIN this year - cut off time 4.5 Hours at MILE 17 (Crow Creek Rd)
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 at SAME connection, 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 and Aid Station. 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!!
MARATHON COURSE 2025 (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 circle right UNDER the bridge to the Lion’s Park and continue south on the Lower Iditarod Trail that turns right and meets the Alyeska Highway (Flagger on site). Cross the Alyeska Highway near the USFS driveway and continue on Alyeska Bike Path and turn right on the Gird-to-Bird Bike Path. There will be an Aid Station on the Bird-to-Gird Bike Path where you will turn right to the Beaver Pond Trail. Run north on Beaver Pond Trail to Abe’s Trail (uphill) to California Creek Trail (downhill) to Crow Creek Road (Flagger and Aid Station on site). Cross Crow Creek Road to Athabascan Trail, turn left to Tiny Trail around the north side of the school to the AWWU water road, run south down the AWWU water roads and cross the street and school parking lot to continuation of Tiny Creek Trail which will bisect Linblad Road, rug along flagged sidewalk and cross the street at Chair 5 restaurant (Linblad Rd) and remain on sidewalk through Town Square and then left to Hightower Rd, cross Hightower Rd.(Flagger on site) and run back along Alyeska Bike Path towards Alyeska DayLodge, cross Arlberg Road (Flagger on site) past the Alyeska sign and through grassy area next to Magic Carpet to Daylodge (Aid Station) to FINISH.
(links from Zach Behney) https://caltopo.com/m/MN6VT https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3070156686
(Link by Zach Behney from 2018 Clockwise) https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/73299369
5K RACE Course
This race will start and end at the Alyeska Daylodge. Brian is working out the course details, but it is fair to say the race will start Start at the Alyeska Daylodge, run uphill on Chair 3 road, and down Chair 7 slope road to the bottom of Chair 7 - AND THEN - we will extend the course for the correct distance, but you will finish by running back up Chair 7 Slope 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. Fast and fun!
Directions
Alyeska Day Lodge
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