Anchorage Running Club's Big Wild Life Runs--Course Descriptions

Anchorage Running Club's Big Wild Life Runs--Course Descriptions, USATF Certification, and How to Get to the Start/Finish Area

Marathon

The marathon course is a "keyhole" course with two embedded out-and-back loops. Think of the marathon as a 23.1-mile double-loop course tacked on to the end of the 5-K course. That is effectively what you have. The first mile-and-a-half of the marathon course follows the 5-K course. At the 5-K turnaround point, the marathon continues on for two out-and-back loops of approximately 15 and 8 miles, respectively.

All three events start by going westbound on West 6th Avenue to "H" Street; turning right (or northbound) onto "H"; following "H" to West 3rd Avenue; following Christensen Avenue obliquely down the hill past 3rd Avenue for a block to West 2nd Avenue; making a sharp left on to West 2nd Avenue, and proceeding westbound for two blocks to the trail head of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

The marathon follows the Coastal Trail for a mile and a half to the "Y" at Westchester Lagoon, where it bears to the right and continues to follow the Coastal Trail to approximately Mile 7.3, past Earthquake and Point Woronzof Parks, to a turnaround point. The course returns to the "Y", again bearing to the right, and proceeds eastbound on the Lainie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail for approximately 4 miles to a second turnaround at Tikishla Park. The course returns to the lagoon, again bears right at the "Y", and follows its initial path in reverse back to the start-finish line in front of Humpy's Great Alaskan Ale House.

The biggest climbs of the marathon course occur on the first loop, the one which takes them out toward Earthquake Park. The first hill is encountered on the approach to Earthquake Park, between Mile 4 and 5. Runners will climb approximately 50 feet over about a half-mile. The second hill comes between approximately Mile 5.5 to approximately Mile 6. It involves about a 75-foot climb which terminates at Point Woronzof, the highest point on the marathon course. The summit is located on the extended centerline of Runway 14/32 at Anchorage International Airport, and runners may be "buzzed" by large B-747 freighters departing to, or arriving from, far-flung points across the globe. What this means is that it could be very loud at times.

Immediately after having reached the summit, runners will lose all the elevation they gained by running down a steep and winding 0.1-mile grade. Just past the Point Woronzof pullout, they enter what I refer to as the "outback" portion of the marathon course - a four-mile (one-way) stretch through a heavily-forested area of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. As you enter the outback you will hear generators from the nearby municipal wastewater treatment plant. One of your other senses may kick in, too, depending upon which way the wind is blowing. But soon, the noise and aroma will dissipate and you will be enjoying a true nature experience! This portion of the marathon course is flat. For all you longtime fans of the movie, "The Wizard of Oz", this area will evoke thoughts of the forest where Dorothy et. al. cringe at the prospect of encountering lions, tigers, and bears. There won't be any lions and tigers; ditto for flying monkeys; it is highly unlikely that there will be bears (although, periodically, they are spotted in this region of the municipality); but it is altogether possible that runners will see and perhaps encounter moose in this area. More than likely, it will be from a distance, as these animals will be loading up on tree branches, bark, and other vegetation in preparation for the long winter ahead. Such benign encounters are what set our event apart from most other races. Many of our former participants have carried small disposable cameras and were lucky enough to get some good wildlife photographs!

All that having been said: if runners encounter moose on the running surface of the trail, our advice is to yield the right of way. Try and make noise, clap your hands, to encourage the moose to move along. Be assertive, but only to a degree. These tactics may not be effective and the moose may respond by looking at you like you're from outer space, in which case you have a choice to make: wait until the trail clears or take a detour through the woods. Even though it won't do your time any good, we highly recommend the former, as the woods are the moose's territory and they are much more mobile in that environment than a semi-fatigued marathoner. Safety first - always! Be especially careful if the moose is accompanied by a calf, as mother moose are very protective and have been known to attack anything or anyone they perceive as threatening to their brood.

This loop of the marathon turns around approximately 1.5 miles before the trail begins climbing to its terminus at Kincaid Park.

Upon emerging from the "outback" at approximately Mile 13, runners get to climb that steep hill they ran down just past the summit. That's the bad news; the good news is, "it's all downhill from here". Except for that hill in the last mile! On the way back, in the vicinity of the summit and beyond, runners will be treated to some really fantastic views of the Inlet and downtown Anchorage (providing it is a nice or semi-nice day). Upon return to the "Y", the marathoners bear right and embark upon the second loop of the marathon course, which follows the Lainie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail eastbound, toward the mountains, to a turnaround approximately 3-3/4 miles away at Tikishla Park. This loop is flat and takes the runners through a forested, urban portion of the trail system. Moose may be encountered during this first loop, but it is more likely that you'll have seen them during the Earthquake Park segment of the course. While the Tikishla Loop is forested, it is within a suburban area that moose tend to shy away from.

Upon returning to the lagoon and the "Y" from the Tikishla Loop, the marathoners will again bear right and return to the start-finish area via the route they followed on the outbound course. This final segment is uphill. There is a small climb approaching Elderberry Park, and then the final push approximately 75 feet up the Christensen Grade in the last mile of the race.

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Marathon Relay

Exchange Zones 1 and 2 are located near the intersection of Postmark Drive and Northern Lights Boulevard. Exchange Zone 3 is at Tatishla Park. The approximate distance of each leg is 4.85,7.5, 7.5, and 6.25 miles.

Half Marathon

The half-marathon course is also a keyhole course with two embedded loops. The description is the same as the marathon except that the Earthquake Park loop is 13.1 miles shorter. The first loop of the half-marathon never even gets close to Earthquake Park, turning around approximately 1/8-mile before it gets to Lynn Ary Park. Therefore, the half-marathoners do not have to deal with the hills that the marathoners do in their first loop. The only significant hill that the half-marathoners encounter is in the last mile of their race, up the Christensen Grade. The marathon and half-marathon start by going westbound. See course map.

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5K

See the explanation of the marathon course for a description of the 5-K course. The 5-K course turns around approximately 1/4-mile before the "Y" at Westchester Lagoon. It is an out-an-back course. Like the marathoners and half-marathoners, the 5-K runners and walkers will have to climb the Christensen Grade on the return to the finish line. See course map.

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Run-For-Your Life Kid's Fun Run

Proceed west on Sixth Avenue to H Street. Make a right hand turn onto H Street. When you reach Fourth Avenue, turn left and go all the way to Snow City Cafe where you will make a right hand turn onto Third Avenue. Third Avenue will have a curve east back to H Street where the kids and dinosaurs will make another right hand turn and flee back to Sixth Avenue with a final left hand turn onto Sixth Avenue dashing to the safety of the finish line at Town Square and the Performing Arts Center. Cool hats and finisher medals for all the kids.

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USATF Certification

All three courses are USATF-certified. The running surface is bituminous asphalt pavement. Trail portions of the course have dirt shoulders that are available for participants to run on. The condition of the pavement is excellent in practically all areas, however, there are some undulations near Tikishla Park, between Lyn Ary Park and Earthquake Park, and on the "outback" portion. USATF map of the 5K, USATF map of the half marathon, USATF map of the marathon.

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How to get to the start/finish area (see map)

All three events start and finish at a common point, on the street in front of Humpy's Great Alaskan Ale House, at 610 West 6th Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Driving directions follow:

From points north inbound, follow the Glenn Highway into town. As it approaches the central business district, the Glenn Highway turns into 5th Avenue. Follow 5th Avenue to "H" Street and take a left. Follow "H" to one parking option - the Municipal Parking Garage that occupies an entire city block bordered by 6th and 7th Avenues and "G" and "H" Streets. There is an entrance off of "H" Street between 6th and 7th Avenue. Parking in the garage will be free on race day, but not on Saturday for packet pickup. On-street (i.e., meter) parking is free during the weekend in Anchorage. On race day, please do not park in the vicinity of the start-finish line!

From points south inbound on the Seward Highway, follow the Seward Highway northbound to West 9th Avenue. Turn left on 9th and follow to "H" Street. Turn right onto "H" Street, and follow "H" past 7th and park in the city garage (or find a space on the street).

From points south inbound on Minnesota Drive, follow Minnesota Drive northbound to the stoplight at West 6th Avenue. Turn right at the light and proceed to "H" Street. Turn right onto "H", go half a block and park in the city garage (or find a space on the street).

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