Girdwood Marathon 2025

🏃‍♂️ 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 Race (new this year) and then volunteer and cheer on the finishers!

🌲 Trails and Experience

• Featured Trails: 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.
• Brain-Child: This Marathon is the brain-child of Brian Burnett who is constantly connecting trails for a fun day outside.
• Join Us: 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, 9:00 AM for the Full Marathon, and 10:00 AM for the Half Marathon (fewer cold toes).
• Volunteering: 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. Seriously - even spectators - leave dogs at home.

🍬 Aid Stations

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.

🏞️ Race Options and Logistics

• Race Choices: Choose the full 26.2 (ish) mile marathon or 13.1 (ish) mile half-marathon, or NEW THIS YEAR the 5K Race.
• Start Location: The races start and end at the Alyeska Daylodge in Girdwood. Aid stations? Yes, we will have FIVE stations stocked with snacks and water!
• Attendance Policy: THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OFFERED. (Yes, even if the race is cancelled due to weather) THERE ARE NO BIB TRANSFERS.
• Parking: Parking is available, as well as bathrooms, and a place to store warm gear.

⏰ Time Cut Offs

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.

📵 Safety and Regulations

• AirPods: are discouraged so you can stay alert to wildlife and other runners.
• Dog Policy: 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.

📅 Additional Information

• Race Communication: Race Day schedule and updated maps will be emailed to all Race Participants and Wait List Participants.
• Wait List: 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.
• Safety Precaution: 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.
• Post-Race Treats: 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!!

🎉 Event Purpose

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!

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