Girdwood Marathon 2026

Race Overview

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 Family-Friendly Race and then volunteer and cheer on the finishers!

Running Trails

This run includes the infamous Winner Creek Trail, 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 including the NEW Kettle Pond Trail.

Event Details

• Date: October 3, 2026
• Full Marathon Time: 9:00 AM
• Half Marathon Time: 10:00 AM
• Location: Alyeska Day Lodge, Girdwood, AK

Aid Stations

• Station 1: Alyeska Daylodge
• Station 2: Nordic 5K Loop / Winner Creek Trail connection
• Station 3: Middle Iditarod Trail at USFS parking lot
• Station 4: Crow Creek Rd at California Creek Trailhead
• Station 5: Bird-to-Gird Path Trailhead

Race Logistics

Choose the full 26.2 (ish) mile marathon or 13.1 (ish) mile half-marathon, or 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. Carry your water!

This is also a BYOBS race (Bring Your Own Bear Spray) so along with your own hydration and a smile, be prepared for wildlife encounters. We will start the race with ONE WAVE PER RACE from the Alyeska Daylodge. Parking is available, as well as bathrooms, and a place to store warm gear.

Important Policies

• Refunds: THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OFFERED. (Yes, even if the race is cancelled due to weather)
• Transfers: THERE ARE NO BIB TRANSFERS.
• Dogs: PLEASE leave your dogs at home.
• Time Cutoff: There will be a time cut off for the Marathon. Marathon ONLY - not half marathon. The cutoff time will be 4.5 hours at the Crow Creek Rd Aid Station.

Additional Information

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.

Join Us!

See you soon!

For more information, visit the race page: Girdwood Marathon 2026.