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Alaska > Big Wild Life Runs Marathon, Half Marathon,
Relay & 5K
Anchorage, AK
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Date
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Event
Details
The dramatic scenery of the nearby snow-capped mountain peaks and the
waters of the Gompertz Channel form the backdrop for the annual
summertime running of Anchorage's Big Wild Life Runs Marathon, Half
Marathon, Relay & 5K, which offers a wide selection of races to
accommodate participants at all levels of experience and athleticism.
Sponsored by Humpy's Great Alaskan Ale House and Skinny Raven Sports,
the races include a full, 26.2-mile marathon for runners and walkers as
well as a marathon relay, a half marathon, a 5K run and a "Kids'
Dinosaur Fun Run," sponsored by the Alaska Museum of Natural History.
All of the races in the event start at Humpy's Ale House on 6th Avenue
in downtown Anchorage, and the marathon, half marathon and relay events
all follow the same course for the first few miles. Those running the
half marathon follow H Street through a few city blocks before turning
left onto 2nd Avenue, which they follow until it meets up with the
trail head of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Once on the trail,
runners follow it as it winds along the channel waterfront toward the
YMCA at Westchester Lagoon.
Both the half and the full marathon courses continue on past the lagoon
along the coastal trail, down a stretch of the waterfront until just
before arriving at Lynn Ary Park. Here, those running the half marathon
hit their first turnaround point and head back in the direction they
came, while those running the full continue on along the coast. The
half marathon route heads back up toward Westchester Lagoon and then
heads off the road onto the Chester Creek Trail, following it through
the city all the way into the forested East Chester Park, as the
tree-lined trail takes them to their second turnaround point and turns
the runners back through the park.
After heading back out along the Chester Creek Trail toward the coast
again, those running the half marathon meet up again with the Tony
Knowles Coastal Trail and head northward back toward the finish line at
the ale house, hitting the only significant hills of the 13.1-mile
course along this final stretch of the race (the full marathon course,
on the other hand, includes some much more significant hills in the
sections near Earthquake Park).
Just over 670 runners crossed the finish line in the half marathon
alone at the race's summer 2008 running (out of more than 1,300 runners
overall). Those walking the full marathon begin their race at 8:00 AM,
followed by those running the full at 9:00 AM and those running the
half at 9:10 AM.
Race
Weather & Climate
Located in the southern part of the state above the Gulf of Alaska,
just north of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and the Kenai Fjords
National Park, the city of Anchorage typically experiences mild to cool
weather conditions in the late summer season, and its wettest weather
of the year on average during this time of year. In August, average
monthly temperatures range between 63°F and 49°F, while
precipitation amounts average around 2.93 inches for the month.
Fees
2009 fees:
$45 if registered by January 31, 2009
$50 between February 1 - April 30
$60 between May 1 - August 13
$70 on April 14 and 15
Registration
Registration is not yet open for the summer 2010 running of Anchorage's
Big Wild
Life Runs Half Marathon. Please check back later for updated
information on how to sign up for the race, or visit the website shown
below.
Website
www.anchoragerunningclub.com
Half
Marathon Course Map
View
Larger Map
Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in any of Anchorage's Big Wild Life Runs races? Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Big Wild Life Runs
Half Marathon
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