Mount Marathon announces changes to 2026 race

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Registration for this year’s Mount Marathon race on the 4th of July in Seward opened Sunday with a few changes to the race.

The race committee and organizers said the Skip-A-Year option will be eliminated for this year’s race, but approved Skip-A-Years from 2025 will still be honored.

“Those individuals will receive a priority invitation on March 1 for 2026 registration,” the race committee and organizers said.

It said the Mount Marathon Race Committee voted to get rid of the option because it was “too great a benefit for priority racers at the expense of lottery hopefuls. Lottery odds are therefore expected to rise beginning in 2027, given that more than 50 additional lottery spots will be available compared to when Skip-A-Year was in effect.”

Entrants with “extenuating circumstances who are unable to race” will be able to petition the committee the following year, the race committee and organizers said.

Mount Marathon will also again have the Team Competition this year.

There is no limit on how many people can be in a team, but the top five count toward the team score, the race committee and organizers said.

“Teams may include individuals from all race divisions: women, men, boys, girls, Golden Racer and non-binary,” it said. “Scoring will match cross country running (one point for first place, two for second place, etc.) with the lowest team score winning.”

It said prizes will be awarded in multiple categories, some include the top team, the best team name and the most members.

Team registration will be open in early April, and a new race is being added, called “Race From the Base,” and it is for 7 to 10-year-olds.

“The event will start around 9:10 a.m. once all participants in the boys’ and girls’ races have cleared the Upper Lowell Canyon Road gate. The Race From the Base will then run downhill about 2/3 of a mile from the gate to the finish line on Fourth Avenue,” it said.

Time will not be recorded for these kids, but ribbons will be given out for the top racers.

“The event is designed to give 7 and 8-year-olds an opportunity to compete after the minimum age for juniors was raised to 9 in 2024. It will also provide an option for 9 and 10-year-olds who lose the junior lottery or are not yet ready for the full junior event,” the Mount Marathon organizers said.

Registration will be on the day of the race. Mount Marathon organizers said they are planning to post more information online later.

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