Nearly 3K participants raced in the 2026 Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon

by Matt Jardin  |   

Inflatable arch
Starting point for the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon and Half-Marathon’s Kids Mile race on June 18, 2026, outside the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo courtesy of the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon and Half-Marathon)

On June 20, 2,868 participants raced in the 2026 . Consisting of five separate events, 830 participants raced in the marathon, 1,227 in the half-marathon, 500 in the Solstice Classic, 88 in the marathon relay and 223 in the Kids Mile. Fifteen countries and all 50 states were represented, including 1,757 Alaskans and 1,081 Anchorageites.

Founded in 1972 as the Midnight Sun Marathon and held every summer solstice, this longstanding tradition is made possible through a collaboration between ֲý Athletics and the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department.

“It’s such a privilege for ֲý to be associated with this event,” said Ryan McWilliams, head coach for cross country and track and field at ֲý, and race director for the Anchorage Mayor's Marathon and Half-Marathon. “It truly is the city’s event, and partnering with the Municipality and Anchorage Parks and Recreation to pull it off every year for the past 25 years is a really cool example of what working as a community for the community can bring to all of us living in Anchorage and more broadly in Alaska.”

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