July 9, 2026, Seward Folly

by Addie Cooley

 “The crazier the better,” said men’s Mount Marathon race winner, David Norris, when asked about race conditions on July 4, 2026.

With temperatures in the forties and a thick rain cloud resting over Seward for the 98th running of the Mount Marathon 5k, runners were promised a particularly brutal trail. Lovingly described as the “pinnacle of insane mountain running” by runner Jeret Gillingham, racers ascended and descended 3,022 feet to return to the finish line, caked in both dirt and blood. 

David Norris and Klaire Rhodes. Photos by official race photographer, Mick Dees.

Klaire Rhodes won her third Mount Marathon with a time of 49:55. The women’s race finished with hugs and cheers of “Alaska girls!” coming from the top finishers, since eight of the top ten were Alaskan homegrown runners. Rhodes stood proudly at the finish line, cheering on her competitors.

“I feel so proud of the local women who continue to show up and put down really amazing times,” Rhodes beamed, “I feel like we made the state super proud.”

As a sponsored ultramarathon runner, Rhodes doesn’t shy away from a shorter race.

“Coming back here is like a homecoming every year and I hope to keep doing it!” she exclaimed.

Rhodes’ joy and excitement for not only her win but for every woman crossing the finish line was clear. Her sportsmanship, grit, and style (her outfit featured glitter and rainbow barrettes), offered an amazing example for young athletes watching.

“If you’re not having fun, there’s really no point,” she advised young runners.

Seward local and Olympic gold medalist swimmer Lydia Jacoby participated in her first Mount Marathon race this year, with a time of 1:11:08.

“There’s really nothing you can compare it to,” Jacoby explained, “it’s hard to explain to anyone else, but to everyone here, it’s just such a special event.”

Seward Women Runners showing their grit. Photo courtesy of Nicole Lawrence.

David Norris won his seventh Mount Marathon, finishing in 43:08. He credited his victory in part to his uphill battle with David Kennedy, who finished fifth. A highlight of the men’s race included 75-year-old Terry Hubler finishing in 1:06:05, first in his division.

The junior boys race struck excitement in the downhill, when Thale Randall’s trek threw caution to the wind and put him ahead of race leader Nathan Vanderlugt. Randall’s downhill time was a swift 7:29, allowing him to win the division. The junior girls race offered similar excitement with 14-year-old Wren Spangler clocking the fastest times in both the uphill and downhill climb. 

This year marked a new chapter for the race, with its first title sponsorship from Arc’teryx, an upscale clothing and gear brand marketed toward mountain athletes.

Graeme Cano, sponsorship specialist for Arc’teryx, explained the brand’s collaboration with the historic race, recalling their funding for barricades and trail remediation. He stated, “We’re really conscious of not making it the Arc’teryx Mount Marathon Race… for us, it’s really about putting good karma into the trail running community.”

Arc’teryx sponsors Jessie McAuley, a ski mountaineer and trail runner who finished second in this year’s race, with a time of 43:54. 

The Mount Marathon Race is truly an event you have to see to believe. In conversation with athletes, you’ll hear stories of backcountry skiers, Olympians, and record holders, all searching in their sports for the same rush they feel running down a mountain in Seward, Alaska. The rush does not come without risk, and luckily the Seward community comes together year after year with volunteers and equipment to provide a safe race. An outsider might see the race as an adrenaline rush for young people, that you’ll regret when your knees ache and hips don’t work the same. The reality is a tapestry of diverse runners of all ages, supporting each other, and a race held up by a strong community of locals.