Welcome to Seward for the 98th running of the Mount Marathon Race, which has been entertaining spectators and challenging racers since 1915— longer than any other mountain race in North America! We’re proud to once again present the race, newly sponsored by Arc’teryx, along with the Fourth of July Festival.
Start times are 9 a.m. for juniors, 11:05 a.m. for men, and 2:05 p.m. for women. Don’t miss the Mini Mount Marathon for adorable 2-6-year-olds and the debut of a new event, Race From the Base, for 7-10-year-olds at 2:20 p.m.
Anywhere along Fourth Avenue or Jefferson Street is a popular place to watch the race (remember: no dogs or drones!), while the base of the mountain at the end of Lowell Canyon Road also offers an exciting vantage point. The video wall/Jumbotron near the finish line was such a hit last year that we’re adding a second one at the base of the mountain in 2026. Both will show our livestream broadcast (those watching at home can find links at www.mountmarathon.com). Those who can’t make it to Seward in person can also tune in for live coverage on KTUU/Alaska’s News Source (Channel 2).
This year’s roster includes more than 400 lottery winners and 300 first-time racers. Let’s give them a Mount Marathon welcome they’ll never forget!
This guide features an event schedule, Fourth of July Festival information, great photos, and rosters with bib numbers for each race. Previews of all three main races will inform you about the contenders, and you’ll also find an article featuring Ephraim Kalmakoff, an orphan from Chignik who set a long-standing race record in 1928 at the age of 16. We’ve also expanded the statistics section to help put the race’s nearly 100-year history into context.
Whether you’re a hardened Alaskan, a first-time visitor to Seward, a rookie racer, or a longtime Mount Marathon veteran, we wish you and your families an amazing experience.
— The Seward Chamber of Commerce and Mount Marathon Race Committee
Race times
JUNIORS — 9:00 a.m.
Mass start for boys & girls
MEN — 11:05 a.m.
Three waves at three minutes apart
MINI MT MARATHON - 11:13 a.m.
Round up begins by finish line at 10:45 a.m.
WOMEN — 2:05 p.m.
Three waves at three minutes apart
RACE FROM THE BASE — 2:20 p.m.
festival information
Vendors on Adams Street and next to the Fire Department on Fourth Ave.
THURSDAY, JULY 2 — 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
FRIDAY, JULY 3 — 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 4 — 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
See inside for a full list of vendors and a detailed schedule of games and events going on throughout Seward all festival long!
see inside for maps, rosters, race previews, festival fun, and more!
Photo: Mick Dees
PRESENTING PARTNER OFFICIAL LIVESTREAM SPONSOR
PARTNERS BRONZE PARTNERS
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
CONTRIBUTING PARTNERS
WINTER RAVEN LLC
SEWARD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
SEWARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
CITY OF SEWARD PUBLIC WORKS
QUTEKCAK NATIVE TRIBE
BLAINE BARDARSON
CATALYST MARINE ENGINEERING
CREATIVE LIGHTING & SOUND
CITY OF SEWARD PARKS & RECREATION
PETRO MARINE (Mini Mount Marathon Sponsor)
RESURRECTION RENTALS
TUDOR ROAD STUDIOS (Livestream Broadcast Partner)
Spectator tips
With three races throughout the day, you’ll have plenty of time to see the race from different vantage points. You can watch the start and finish on 4th Avenue, or head to Jefferson Street and see how racers tackle the mountain base.
For those who want to do some climbing of their own, spectators are invited on the trail, but please take the HIKING TRAIL, which starts at the intersection of 1st and Monroe Streets.
For the safety of all runners and spectators, NO DOGS, leashed or unleashed, are allowed in the downtown area or along the race course. This includes all race trails on the mountain. There are NO DRONES allowed to be flown in and around the race course and downtown unless given prior approval.
Wherever you watch, be sure to obey race officials and volunteers - and STAY OFF the RACE TRAIL. Racers have trained hard for the Mount Marathon Race; don’t be the person who messes up their day.
Getting around town
Visitors are encouraged to carpool or enjoy a scenic train ride from Anchorage to reduce the amount of traffic in town around the Fourth of July. Once here, hop on our free shuttle—maps are available at the Visitor Center—call a taxi, or rent a bike to get around. If you do have a car, park legally, check posted signage and avoid blocking private driveways.
For summer 2026, the City of Seward Free Shuttle will operate from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the first and last stops being at the Seward Railroad Depot. The 5-mile route takes about 30 minutes for the shuttle to complete. Be sure to look for the Seward City Tours bus with FREE SHUTTLE printed in red, and to use the designated shuttle stops. (Adams St. Bus stop will be closed during the festival)
Seward is our home...
For many visitors, Seward is a bucket-list destination. For us, it’s home. The trails, streets, harbor, and mountain views that make this place special are part of our everyday lives. As you celebrate the Fourth of July and experience the excitement of Mount Marathon, we invite you to help care for the community that welcomes you. We ask that you enjoy Seward with the same care and respect you would show in your own hometown.
Shop local when you can, be respectful of neighborhoods, pack out what you pack in, and treat our trails, wildlife, and public spaces with care. Small acts of kindness and stewardship help preserve the Seward we all love.
Thank you for being part of the tradition - and for helping keep Seward a place worth coming home to. Check out our
From fresh seafood and local shops to hiking trails and maps, you’ll find everything you need in the Seward Visitor Guide. Scan here to get started.
Photo: Joel Krahn
Race Previews
ALL RACE PREVIEWS WRITTEN BY MATIAS SAARI | mount marathon race director
Junior Contenders Wren and Thale Follow Unconventional Paths
Thale Randall barely has a hill to train on, but has built great fitness through an exceptionally active lifestyle in the unincorporated community of Caswell.
Wren Spangler must hike down a trail just to reach her house on Buffalo Mine Road near Palmer.
The two Matanuska-Susitna Borough teenagers are proving there is no single path to mountain running success. Regardless of how they got there, when the start pistol fires for the junior race at 9 a.m. on the Fourth of July, they’ll be near the front.
Randall, 15, finished 25th in his Mount Marathon debut in 2024, improved to eighth place in 2025 and is primed to make another leap this year. So far this season he won the 4-mile Turnagain Arm Trail Race and finished as the top junior at the Blueberry Rampage on Government Peak — well ahead of Raven Spangler and Blaze Rubeo, the top returning Mount Marathon juniors.
Randall isn’t letting that success get to his head. “I beat both of them, but they can be pretty fast on the (Mount Marathon) downhill, so we’ll see,” he said.
The 2025 boys champion, Vebjorn Flagstad, has aged out of the juniors race, guaranteeing someone new will win top honors.
Randall has been mushing since age 8; that’s a lot longer than he’s been mountain running. His family, comprised of sister AddieAnn, mom Casey (an 8-time Mount Marathon veteran) and dad Matt, operate Rock On Racing kennel, and Thale placed third at the Junior Iditarod in 2026. Thale also has a YouTube Channel “about a teenager boy living off grid in Alaska. Hunting, fishing, trapping, dog mushing, gold mining, mountain running, homesteading, gardening and all sorts of fun adventures!”
That constant activity has no
doubt helped him build a solid base of fitness.
“Whenever I am mushing I am running next to the dog sled all the time,” he said.
As for trapping “sometimes I get a couple 30-pound beaver, so I’m packing them back. That’s helped me out for strength,” Randall said.
Randall considers himself a strong uphill runner despite the relatively flat terrain where he lives between Willow and Talkeetna. “I never get a chance to get in the mountains, really. … We have one little hill that goes up maybe 30 feet in elevation. I just run up that maybe 20 times,” he said.
Wren Spangler doesn’t have that problem. She lives at the base of Arkose Ridge with no shortage of trail options out the door.
Spangler, 14, has become a bit of a fan favorite ever since she placed 11th in her 2022 debut at age 10. She’s followed that up with 3rd, 2nd and 3rd place the last three years, respectively.
Spangler says her diminutive stature has contributed to her popularity. “It’s partly because I’m really small. (Fans say) who’s that tiny, little girl that’s really fast?” she said.
Wren added that her current weight is 90 pounds, her height is 4 feet, 9 inches tall and “I’ve actually grown a few inches this year.”
Her mother, Aubrey, said living east of Palmer towards Sutton has been key to her kids’ mountain running success. Her son, Raven, 17, has placed between fourth and seventh each of the last four years.
“The kids have grown up hiking up and down through all kinds of weather,” Aubrey said. “They are consistently running up and down the trails all day long.”
Meanwhile, defending girls champion Calista Zuber no longer has the element of surprise. In her rookie run last year she
received a “Committee’s Choice” entry not long before race day and made the most of it, finishing first in 32 minutes, 14 seconds. She wore number 350, the last bib assigned. This year she’ll be donning bib number 1.
Seven different girls have won the last seven Mount Marathon races — something Zuber aims to change by becoming the first to repeat since Molly Gellert in 2016-17.
Nordic skiing — Zuber has been a member of the Alaska Pacific University program since fourth grade — is key for her training regimen.
Zuber, 15, may be unique in that she thrives on the challenge of the cliff at the base of the mountain. “I like the cliffs, just how steep it is, and sketchy. (I like) the adrenaline,” she said.
Except for 2025 runner-up Tania Boonstra, the top 13 racers return from last year.
The top newcomer to watch this year is Hailee Giacobbe of Wasilla, who has won the state girls cross country running championship two straight years. She’ll likely be among the leaders on the approach to the mountain, but her steep running and hiking prowess is unknown.
Unfortunately, 2024 girls champion Olive Jordan of Seward withdrew from her hometown event for the second straight year. In 2025, she pulled out in late June due to pneumonia. Her mother, Christy, said Olive will have surgery on June 17 to help correct respiratory and illness issues.
“Olive decided Mount Marathon she can do for life, but (she) only has two more seasons of high school running (left),” Christy Jordan said. “The hope is she will be back strong for her final junior (Mount Marathon) race next year.”
Photo: Brikru Photography
Wren Spangler
Thale Randall. Photo: Todd List
Klaire Rhodes is attempting to accomplish what hasn’t been done in 20 years — win a third straight Mount Marathon Race.
A stellar field of contenders from near and far are aiming to dethrone her.
Rhodes, a professional runner from Anchorage sponsored by The North Face, has a long way to go to catch Cedar Bourgeois, the Seward native who won seven straight from 2004-2010. But 3-peating would help cement her legacy at Alaska’s most famous running race.
“I’m definitely motivated to return this year and attempt a 3-peat,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes, 28, specializes in races typically ranging from 20-62 miles. Her primary target this season is a famous 100-kilometer race called the CCC in Chamonix, France, in late August.
“On paper, I know Mount Marathon looks like an outlier in my race calendar full of 4- to 12hour efforts, but it’s been a staple part of my racing season for nine years now!” Rhodes said. “Alaskan mountain races were my gateway into competitive running, so I feel super comfortable mixing them into my training.”
Rhodes in 2024 became just the fourth woman in history to break 50 minutes, clocking 49:49. She followed up last year with the seventh-fastest time in history (50:31) and literally ran away from the field on the nearly 3,000-foot climb, amassing a lead of more than 90 seconds. Her advantage was never threatened on the perilous downhill.
Rhodes Seeks to 3-Peat Amid Strong Women’s Field Norris aims for 7th win in 7 tries
The 98th Mount Marathon is slated for the Fourth of July, with the women’s first wave setting off at 2:05 p.m. (the women and men alternate years of starting at 11:05 a.m. and 2:05 p.m.)
The women’s event dates to 1963, when Jane Trigg won the first female race.The women then raced alongside men in a single field until 1985, when Patti Foldager of Seward emerged victorious in the first women’s-only race.
While Alaskans filled 16 of the first 17 spots last year (every one of them returns to the roster in 2026), competition from Outside figures to be stronger this year.
Representing Arc’teryx, the new presenting sponsor of Mount Marathon, will be Emma Cook-Clarke of Canmore, Alberta, Canada, and Jane Maus, 31, of Salt Lake City.
Cook-Clarke, 32, has done particularly well in Vertical Kilometer events, which are comparable to the Mount Marathon climb in duration. She took 10th in the VK at the 2025 World Mountain Running Championships in Spain and four times landed on the podium during the 2024 Skyrunning World Series.
“I love steep mountain racing!,” said Cook-Clarke, who also hopes to go paddling and mountain biking while in Seward. “It’s wild, thrilling, demanding, and ultimately a chance to explore all sorts of limits while moving through interesting terrain.”
Maus’ signature performance was seventh place at the 2025 World Championships 45K race. This April she turned heads when she placed 2nd in Calamorro, Spain at her first-ever Skyrace.
Callie Cooper of Salida, Colo., Amy King of Jackson,Wyo., and Alison Walford of Alberta, Canada, are additional women with strong credentials from mountain regions.
“I’m super excited about how competitive the women’s field is shaping up to be this year, especially with some newer, out-of-state athletes in the race,” Rhodes said. “It will be fun to see how they mix it up with the local legends!”
But the biggest wildcard is Allie Ostrander, the former Kenai star who had a championship career at Boise State University before finding success as a professional runner both on trails and roads. Ostrander last ran Mount Marathon in 2017, recording a victory and the third-fastest time in race history (49:19).The six-time junior champ has only run the women’s race one other time, placing runner-up to Emelie Forsberg’s record-setting performance in 2015.
Ostrander, an inductee to the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, has been assigned bib number 3 but said on June 9 that she’s still unsure whether to race.
“I’m basically just deciding if Mount Marathon will be conducive to my long-term goals for the year, or if it would be better to keep my focus on the roads where I’ve been building momentum all year,” Ostrander said by text.
Back on the Alaska front, three women from Palmer (Christy Marvin, Meg Inokuma and Denali Strabel) and three from Eagle River (April McAnly, Shauna Severson and Viviana Mina) all placed among the Top 8 last year at the ages of 35-45.
They were led by Marvin, now 45, a 3-time champ who placed second last year and now has raced 12 straight years and finished in the top 3 in all but one.
Cook-Clarke said she hasn’t analyzed the race field. “I’m not one for sizing up competition,” she said.
“What I know is there will be many strong women out shredding!!! I am forever inspired by women doing tough things and look forward to working hard together.”
Kendall Kramer, a Fairbanks native living in Anchorage, is also back. The 2026 Olympian and 2nd-placer from 2024 was second to the top last year before struggling on the downhill and slipping to 9th. Rosie Fordham, also a 2026 Olympian from Australia and Kramer’s former running and skiing teammate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, looks to improve on her 10th place from last year.
The most famous Olympian in the field, however, didn’t compete in skiing. Lydia Jacoby sent her hometown of Seward into a frenzy when she won an individual
swimming gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Now she’s back at Mount Marathon for her first women’s division race (bib 280 in the second wave) after completing the junior race each year from 2014-17.
With so many talented runners, the record of 22 racers (2024) going faster than an hour could be challenged.
And if 60-year-old Gail Taylor does it, she’ll not only crush the 6069 age-group record but become the first woman in history to run under her age in minutes.Taylor set the 50-59 mark in 2024 with a run of 58:44 at age 58, matching her age in minutes.
On the longevity front, Ellyn Brown and Patti Foldager look to extend the women’s record by finishing their 43rd races.
Defending nonbinary champion Ace Wilder of Tucson, Ariz., will lead four racers, whose results will be recorded separately in the nonbinary division.
David Norris is inching towards history with no signs of slowing down on the slopes of Mount Marathon.
Norris owns the record of 40 minutes, 37 seconds from 2024 and his three straight wins at the iconic event from 2023-25 have brought him to six victories in six tries. That ties him for second on the all-time men’s list with Sven Johanson (from the 1950s) and Brad Precosky (from the 1990s and 2000s). If Norris, who grew up in Fairbanks and now lives in Steamboat Springs, Colo., prevails again, he’ll trail only Bill Spencer’s eight wins.
For the women, Nina Kemppel holds the all-time wins mark with nine while Seward hero Cedar
Bourgeois has seven and Nancy Pease six.
At age 35, Norris is still riding his prime. On June 6 at the Blueberry Rampage in Palmer, he finished the uphill-only race in 41:57 to win by an astounding 5 minutes, 39 seconds.
“Blueberry Rampage was an awesome course and a great July 4th type race effort,” Norris said.
“I felt great and really had fun making myself suffer while glancing side to side periodically to appreciate the crazy views we all earned racing that course.”
The competition at Mount Marathon will be stiffer than at the Rampage, but it remains to be seen if anyone can stay close to Norris on the insanely steep nearly 3,000-foot climb, where fans marvel that Norris runs many pitches that others power-hike. The pattern in recent years
is that Norris builds a healthy lead while climbing and is able to coast on the descent, often delivering high-fives to kids on Fourth Avenue.
Mount Marathon is much more than a race for Norris, who retired from professional Nordic skier several years ago.
“I keep returning to the race ultimately because of the friends and family I connect with during the race week,” he said.
What also keeps Norris’ training fresh is that Mount Marathon is not an obsession, but a supplement to his current focus: a 100-kilometer race in France in late August.
“Now that I’m chasing goals in the 100k realm it’s an exciting challenge to see if I can become an all-rounder,” he said. “I think the workouts that benefit Mount Marathon also help me eight
hours into an ultra. It’s fun to mix in the spicier efforts and shorter race goals while prepping for longer events later in the season.”
Max King of Oregon, with a personal best of 42:33, has been Norris’ closest pursuer in recent years, but is sitting Mount Marathon out this year.
Canadian Jessie McAuley, representing new presenting sponsor Arc’teryx, holds the fastest time other than Norris among those entered, having clocked 44:02 for 3rd place in 2024. Brothers Ali Papillon and Bodhi Gross, formerly of Alaska and now residing in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., also look to improve on sub-45-minute performances from two years ago. Bayden Menton of Gunnison, Colo. (6th last year) and Jeret Gillingham of Flagstaff, Ariz. (6th
in 2024) look to crack the Top 5 podium. That youthful quintet ranges in age from 21 (Papillon) to 26 (McAuley).
Unlike the Alaska-heavy elite women’s roster, only two Alaskans have a bib number among the first 10 this year: Lars Arneson, a perennial winner of the Alaska Mountain Runners Grand Prix Series who placed fourth in 2025, and three-time junior boys champ Cody Marvin, who took 10th in his men’s debut last year. Not to be overlooked are rookies David Kennedy and Kyle Richardson, each of Boulder, Colo., and Jackson Cole from Missoula, Mont. Richardson is known best for his climbing and long scrambling exploits so should have little trouble on the downhill navigating scree, obstacles in the creek and the scoured cliff at the
Photo: Angela Percival
David Kennedy scrambles during the 2024 Cirque Series Alyeska race
Men’s Preview Continued...
base of the mountain. Cole has performed well at events both long (second at the Minotaur Skyrace in 4+ hours) and short (a convincing first at the Alyeska Cirque Series in 2025).
Kennedy, 27, also raced in Alaska at Cirque Series (he was just 59 seconds behind Norris in 2024) and the 2024 Matanuska Peak Challenge, a brutal mountain race where he missed Olympian Scott Patterson’s record by 52 seconds. The latter result earned him the entry for Mount Marathon.
“I was really proud of that (Mat Peak) effort despite falling short of the course record and honestly think I have always been stronger over shorter, sub hour, more technical/races with less ‘flat’ running, so I’m really excited to toe the line at Mount Marathon,” Kennedy said.
Training the Boulder foothills isn’t the best simulator for Mount Marathon, but Kennedy also has the option of venturing into multiple Colorado mountain ranges.
“There is a lot of potential for steep climbs up along the Continental Divide, with the added altitude benefit of training above 12k,” he said, adding that he prefers free-flowing training over regimented schedules. “I’m effectively doing whatever excites me the most in the mountains on a given
Credits &
Thank yous
day: luckily, that’s usually steep, technical ascents and fast descents.”
Mount Marathon piqued Kennedy’s interest as a high schooler when he saw a Salomon video featuring Kilian Jornet, Emelie Forsberg and Rickey Gates.
“This race is the pinnacle of mountain running in the US to me and has been a dream a decade in the making,” Kennedy said. “Seward is such a spectacular town, Mount Marathon a spectacular mountain, and the community aspect of this running event is so exciting to me. It has all the history and chaos of something I really want to be a part of.”
On the longevity front, Braun Kopsack is going for his 48th finish, Flip Foldager, Everett Billingslea and Steven “Crazy Billy” Carroll seek their 44th and Lance Kopsack chases his 42nd.
Fred Moore of Seward tops them all with 54 consecutive finishes, a streak that ended at age 85 in 2025. He’s sitting out again this year, but no doubt will be among the thousands of cheering spectators.
Of the 1,078 runners still entered on June 10, 888 hailed from Alaska (82.4 percent). The rest came from five other countries — Canada, Qatar,
Photography
Brikru Photography
Mick Dees
Seward Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
Amanda Sweeting
Race Director
Saari
Amy Haddow
Mike Heatwole
Joe Nyholm
Heidi Sinclair
Stephanie Wright
Mount Marathon Race Committee Eugen Beutler
Kalmakoff’s 1928 Run Gains Hall of Fame Recognition
By Doyle Woody, Alaska Sports Report
The People Behind Mount Marathon
A big Thank You to our Volunteers
Nearly a century after Ephraim Kalmakoff conquered the lung-searing, thigh-thrashing slopes of Mount Marathon to shred the course record, the teenager’s performance in 1928 remains one of the most astonishing feats on that 3,022-foot slab of pain in Seward.
It was inducted as a new “moment” into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame on June 3, 2026.
Just 16, outfitted in his Boy Scout uniform, the diminutive Kalmakoff clocked 52 minutes, 35 seconds, up and down the unforgiving pitch overlooking Resurrection Bay and reportedly ran under the finish line rope rather than through it.
The resident of Seward’s Jesse Lee Home for displaced children slashed more than 2 ½ minutes off the previous record, and his standard stood for 29 years. It took no less than an Olympic skier, Sven Johanson, who ran 51:40 in 1957, to better Kalmakoff’s mark.
Kalmakoff, an Aleut from the village of Chignik on the Alaska Peninsula, was just a boy when his parents died of tuberculosis and he was sent first to the Jesse Lee Home in Unalaska and then to Seward.
Kalmakoff originally planned his Mount Marathon debut for 1927, and he trained so well on the course that locals tipped him as the favorite. But when the race was moved from its traditional Fourth of July running to a Sunday race, Kalmakoff, a devout Methodist, chose not to
For almost a century, Mount Marathon has been woven into the fabric of Seward. Since the first organized race in 1915, generations of runners, volunteers, families, and community members have helped shape what has become one of Alaska’s most beloved traditions.
Every Fourth of July, thousands gather to cheer from sidewalks, hillsides, and rooftops. Behind every racer crossing the finish line are the volunteers - many from Seward and others from communities across Alaskawho mark the course, staff aid stations, manage logistics, and help keep this extraordinary event running year after year. Many have dedicated decades of service to the race and this community.
Mount Marathon is more than a competition; it’s a hometown tradition passed from one generation to the next. Local runners grow up dreaming of their first race, families share stories of past finishers, and neighbors proudly share their community with visitors from around the world.
The spirit of Mount Marathon lives not only on the mountain, but in the people of Seward and Alaska who continue to make this celebration possible. Thank you to the volunteers, racers, families, businesses, and community members who keep this tradition alive.
compete on the Sabbath.
A year later, he became the youngest champion in race history. That record is forever safe as in 1964 the new junior event required that anyone younger than 18 years old enter it. His 1928 Mount Marathon success, which included running from the top of the mountain to the finish line in just 10 minutes, 46 seconds, was no fluke. He won again in 1929 – by just four seconds ahead of Alaska Flag designer Benny Benson — and in 1930 to become the event’s first three-time champion. In 1931, his final Mount Marathon, “Epheem” placed runner-up.
Suffering the same fate as his parents and a brother, Kalmakoff contracted tuberculosis in 1932 and died of the bacterial disease at age 25 in 1937. (Seven years later his brother Inikente became the last Mount Marathon winner from the Jesse Lee Home).
The race was discontinued from 1932-38, with the “Kalmakoff curse” cited as a reason. At the time, some believed Kalmakoff’s strenuous exercise had contributed to his contracting tuberculosis.
Kalmakoff’s induction portrait will be displayed permanently at Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport while the trophy he won will be sent to Chignik, where people with the last name of Kalmakoff still reside.
“Today Ephraim brings pride to the people of Chignik,” city clerk Lana Anderson wrote in
remarks read at the ceremony. “With great honor the City of Chignik will permanently display the award given to Ephraim from the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.” Mount Marathon Race Director Matias Saari accepted the award on behalf of Kalmakoff and the Chignik community. “He lived a short, tragic life, but a very meaningful one,” Saari said.
In the century since Kalmakoff’s dynamic debut, Mount Marathon glory has become the stuff of national – and even world-class athletes – Olympians are legion among the race’s champions. They are bolstered by sports science, data, nutrition and hydration advances, shoe technology, synthetic and lightweight sportswear, and they are hardened by years of elite racing and year-round training.
All that makes it worth noting that a century after Kalmakoff’s record run, his time then would still have placed 32nd among nearly 350 men’s finishers in the 2025 edition of Mount Marathon. Mount Marathon, an event that itself was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, produces Alaska legends – and Ephraim Kalmakoff was the first.
NOTE: Mount Marathon Race Director Matias Saari contributed to this report. Details from Jacqueline B. Pels’ book Family After All: Alaska’s Jesse Lee Home Volume II 1925-1965 and Doug Capra’s The Spaces Between were also used.
Photo: Joel Krahn
Photo: Joel Krahn
Photo: Jim Kohl
Ellie
Chloe Shaha
Hailee Giacobbe
Ellie Stull
Elliot Sensabaugh
Grace Fleming
Colette Leveque
Lily Poray
Selah Brueckner
Melody Mleschnitza
Sylvie Kastning
Emersyn Knopp
Lia Shank
Robin Beesley
Rain Rubeo
Karley Tichenor
Brooklyn Mauger
Payton Nelson
Svea Kastning
Hailee Stepetin
June Poray
Gigi Leonetti
Alder Deal
Ellie Trevithick
Sophie Novakovich
Briony Stewart
Kathryn Shaha
Maggie Lints
Aurora Johnson
Annabelle Conant
Ruby Willman
Marcelle Shasby
Kohl Lang
Hannah Stepetin
Peja Skinner
Teresa Fallon
Emma Seavey
Ruby Davis
Lilly Stewart
Anna Burrup
Casey Bland
Thalia Peter
Maeli Weaver
Eliza Heimerl
Tui Stanbury
Alana Varys
Sienna Glazier
Nonie Mucha
Crimson Rose Townsend
Margaret Adams
Kylee Newman
Anneliese
Abigail Leathers
Alta Liljemark
Rosemary Maixner
Molly Sullivan
Mackenzie Kogl
Orla Ulman
Cora Seavey
Locksley Krulish
Charly Harper
Makenna Klingen
Elsa Bardarson
Emery Miotke
Freja Bardarson
Allie Zellmer
Amara
Photo: Brikru Photography
Race Stats
Runners through the years
MEN’S WINNERS LAST 25 YEARS
2025 DAVID NORRIS 42:30 2024 DAVID NORRIS 40:37 2023 DAVID NORRIS 44:51 2022 MAX KING 43:37
DAVID NORRIS 43:27
2020 NO RACE // COVID-19 2019 MAX KING 43:39 2018 DAVID NORRIS 42:13
2017 SCOTT PATTERSON 44:30 2016 DAVID NORRIS 41:26
MOST WOMEN’S FINISHES: Patti Foldager & Ellyn Brown, 42
Fred Moore Photo: Joel Krahn
Photo: Mick Dees
Photo: Brikru Photography
MORE RACE FUN Mini Mount Marathon Race
Race From The Base
Created in 1989 by Kim and Skip Reierson as a way to involve their 2-year-old daughter in Seward’s Fourth of July festivities, the annual Mini Mount Marathon plants the seeds for new generations of young Mount Marathon racers.
It’s open to children ages 2 to 6 and over the past 37 years thousands of children have participated, with many going on to race in the junior and senior divisions. Today, the mini race is a beloved Fourth of July tradition and one of the most anticipated events of the day.
Petro Marine has been a sponsor for the Mini Mount Marathon Race since the beginning, each year supporting the race. A core group of long-time volunteers makes sure the mini race goes off without a hitch.
Mini Racer Round Up - July 4 at 10:50 a.m. (down 4th Ave, away from the women’s start)
Mini Racer Start - July 4 at 11:13 a.m.
WHERE: Beginning at the gate at the end of Upper Lowell Canyon Rd. and ending on 4th Ave. at the main finish line
WHEN: Saturday, July 4 starting at 2:20 p.m.
ENTRY FEE: Free!
AGE RANGE: Ages 7-10 only
REGISTRATION & BIB PICKUP: Beginning at 1:30 p.m. July 4 at the picnic table near the gate at the end of Jefferson past the hospital.
RACE DIRECTOR: Buddy North
A new event, called Race From the Base, makes its debut in 2026! Race From the Base was created because there were no opportunities for 7- and 8-year-olds to participate (since the Mini Mount Marathon serves ages 2-6 while the Mount Marathon Junior Races serve ages 9-17). The course measures about two-thirds of a mile and goes from the gate at the end of Upper Lowell Canyon Rd. to the Mount Marathon finish line. There is no entry fee but participants must fill out a registration form and pick up a race bib starting at 1:30 p.m. on July 4 at the picnic table near the Upper Lowell Canyon Rd. gate.
The top 5 boys and top 5 girls will receive special ribbons upon finishing. No timed results will be recorded. Parents or guardians are expected to be both at the finish line to register their child and at the finish line to pick them up before the first adult race finishers begin arriving.
2026 Logo Winner!
Abigail Mayer is the winner of the 2026 Mount Marathon Race logo contest. Her design will appear on this year’s racer and volunteer shirts, stickers, patches, and other promotional materials.
An Anchorage native, Mayer said she drew inspiration from the grit and beauty of Alaska and the race itself.
“Alaska is a gritty, beautiful place that you have to see and experience firsthand to really understand,” Mayer said. “I wanted the design to feel like it had physically been carved out of the mountain, in the same way that the Mount Marathon Race and everyone who participates becomes a part of the mountain itself.”
To achieve that effect, Mayer used a traditional block-print technique, carving multiple linocut designs by hand before scanning and digitally combining elements into the final logo. She received $250 for the winning entry.
Mount Marathon is also a family tradition for Mayer. Her father, Stephen, will run the race for the 10th time in 2026, while her brother, Matthew, will make his debut in the men’s division. Though she has never raced herself, she has long been a spectator.
“It’s become a family affair for us, and I’m excited to be part of it in a new way this year, with the logo,” she said.
Mayer studied graphic design at Abilene Christian University and now works at an advertising and public relations firm in Austin, Texas. The Mount Marathon Race Committee thanks all 25 artists who participated in this year’s contest.
Beyond the Race: The Seward Chamber’s Role in Shaping Summer and Sustaining Community
EDITORIAL BY THE Seward Folly | WRITTEN by the seward folly staff
The Mount Marathon Race is one of Alaska’s most iconic events, an annual tradition that puts Seward in the national spotlight every July 4th. For decades, the Seward Chamber of Commerce was responsible for directing the race itself, but as the event grew in size and reputation, the Chamber created a dedicated Race Director and committee. Today, while the race logistics are managed by this team, the Chamber remains the driving force behind everything else: the three-day festival, the marketing, the community events, and the work that keeps Mount Marathon at the heart of Seward’s summer.
That shift has allowed the Chamber to focus its energy on the broader experience that surrounds the race. The Chamber coordinates the festival that stretches through the July 4th weekend, bringing together food trucks, Alaskan craftspeople, a lively street parade, yard games, and a collection of nonprofit booths. It also oversees marketing, permitting and insurance, fireworks, parade, volunteer efforts, merch sales, manages emergency alerts, and supports race logistics. Thanks to the Chamber’s and the local and statewide volunteer efforts, the Mount Marathon Race isn’t just a race, it’s a community-wide celebration that welcomes runners and visitors from around the world.
Like many chambers, Seward’s Chamber of Commerce exists to support local businesses and promote economic growth. But in Seward, those efforts are front and center. In the busy summer months, parking is scarce, lines are long, and the
arrival of massive cruise ships has sparked debate about whether Seward is being oversold. Many residents have grown frustrated by the surge in visitors, and several voiced their concerns directly to the City Council during a recent Chamber contract review. With online marketing making it easier for businesses to reach tourists on their own, some have questioned how much more growth Seward can or should handle.
The Chamber has taken those frustrations seriously. Recognizing the strain that over-tourism can put on the community, it has shift-
character. The Chamber is now working to encourage visitors to treat the area with care and respect, and to ensure that the vitality of the community isn’t lost in the rush of summer.
A key part of that stewardship is seward.com, the Chamber’s website, which is often the first stop for anyone planning a trip to town. The site is the community’s main online presence, connecting visitors with local businesses, events, and upto-date information. Without it, Seward’s story would be told by outside commercial interests. As Seward Chamber
“ At the end of the day, this isn’t just where I work - it’s my home. I want Seward to remain the kind of place where visitors feel welcomed, businesses can thrive, and the people who live here continue to recognize and love the community they’ve built together. I’m excited for the Chamber to continue evolving in ways that not only support our visitors, but also help ensure Seward remains a place where people can build their lives, raise their families, and feel at home.”
- Amanda Sweeting; Executive Director
ed focus in recent years. In addition to its long-standing role advocating for local businesses and organizing events, the Chamber has created a Destination Stewardship committee. The goal is to balance the benefits of tourism with the need to protect Seward’s environment and community
role in helping people discover what makes Seward a special place. We also support local businesses and community events like the 4th of July Festival, often working behind the scenes to make sure our community members and visitors have the best possible experience here. While destination stewardship is a big part of what we do, the Chamber is equally committed to supporting our year-round community and residents, helping create a strong local economy and a vibrant place to live, work, shop, and play. It’s a role I’m proud of because I feel the Chamber helps bring together the businesses, organizations, and people that make Seward such a magical place to live and visit.”
The Chamber Partners on Salmon Stewardship, organizes the long-running Polar Bear Jump, and runs winter events, including fireworks, winter weekends, small business week and a holiday lights competition. In spring, it recognizes outstanding residents and brings Seward’s story to statewide gatherings. Summer features First Friday Art Walks and the Silver Salmon Derby, while fall programming supports local businesses and encourages residents to shop locally after the tourist rush.
Board President Stephanie Millane puts it:
“The Chamber really touches almost every part of the Seward community. Seward.com is often the very first thing people see when they search for information about our community, and the Chamber plays an important
The Chamber’s involvement goes far beyond summer. Year-round, while maintaining things like a community events calendar, sending out bi-weekly newsletters, and hosting networking luncheons for local business owners, they also work behind the scenes to ensure Seward’s voice is represented in discussions that impact their members’ futures, participate in economic development initiatives, and collaborate with partners across the state.
As Seward continues to grapple with the realities of growth and the demands of a busy summer season, the Chamber of Commerce is adapting as well. Its focus is now on careful management, supporting local businesses, promoting Seward’s yearround appeal, and protecting what makes the community unique. The Chamber isn’t just selling Seward as a destination; it’s working to ensure that Seward remains a good place to live, even as the town’s challenges evolve. The Mount Marathon Race may be the most visible part of this story, but the Chamber’s impact reaches much further and can be felt by runners, residents, and everyone who calls Seward home.
DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL AREA
Alaska Soft Serve Co.
Baby Cakes
Besties Candy Co
Chuck Wagon
Dippin’ Dots
Emjays
Garcia’s Mini Chimi Truck
Great Alaskan Bowl Company
Halibut House
Hot Dogs a la Carte
Kaizen Ramen
Mary Grace Rolling Kitchen
Nonkie Be’s Cajun Faves
Oh My Monte
Pioneer Peak Pretzel
Soda Sisters
The Smokehouse
Wisconsin Cheese Store
Aisles of Color
Alaska Aurora Arts
Cardboard Cribbage
Homestead Handicraft
La Joya
Last Frontier Furrier
Nethe’s Brush
Resurrection Bae
Smiles on Faces
The Leather Peony
Torch and Tide Enamel
UnBEARied Treasure
Wild Joy Magnets
Novaluna Herbals
Resurrection Medical Care
Southern Sun Tanning & Wellness
Alaska Dept of Corrections
City of Seward (Kawabe Park)
Highway Safety Office
THREE DAYS OF FESTIVAL FUN
Games Schedule!
Friday, July 3rd
Food trucks serving mouthwatering fare, unique handmade goods from Alaskan artisans, and interactive booths hosted by non - profits come together at the 4th of July Festival!
The Festival begins Thursday, July 2nd at 2:00 pm, with vendors on Adams St. between 3rd and 5th Avenues, and next to the Fire Department on 4th Avenue. Festival activities continue through 5:00 pm on Saturday, July 4th.
VENDOR BOOTH SCHEDULE
Thursday July 2: 2 PM – 8 PM
Friday, July 3: 10 AM – 7 PM
Saturday, July 4: 9 AM – 5 PM
Games and activities will be held at locations downtown: 4th Ave., Church St., the Seward Parks and Recreation Department Teen Rec Room (336 3rd Ave.), and the Fire Department on 4th Ave., in front of the Alaska SeaLife Center, and at Miller’s Landing (13880 Beach Dr.)
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Firefighter Games at the Seward Fire Dpt.
10:00 AM Saw Dust Challenge by SPRD at the Teen Rec Room
11:00 AM Library Games by Seward Community Library & Museum at the Teen Rec Room
12:00 PM Hot Dog Eating Contest by SPRD at the Teen Rec Room
1:00 PM Water Games with the Alaska SeaLife Center at ASLC Plaza
2:00 PM Tug of War by SPRD at the Teen Rec Room
3:00PM Egg Toss by SPRD at the Teen Rec Room
4:00 PM Musical Chairs by SPRD at the Teen Rec Room
4:00 PM Games start at Miller’s Landing (Lowell Point, 13880 Beach Dr.)
5:00 PM Drag Race by Seward Pride Alliance on Church St. (next to Resurrect Art)
6:00 PM Slow Bike Race by Seward Bike Shop on Church St.
7:00 PM Fish Toss by SPRD on Fourth Ave. (in front of Fire Station)
8:00 PM Grease Pole by SPRD at Teen Rec Room Lot
Saturday, July 4th
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Firefighter Games at the Seward Fire Dept.
MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS - JULY 4TH AT 12:01 A.M.
The fireworks display begins at 12:01 a.m. on July 4th, marking the official start of the holiday! You can view the fireworks display just about anywhere in town, but some popular viewing spots include the Waterfront Park on Ballaine Blvd. or the Seward Boat Harbor.
STREET PARADE - JULY 4TH AT 1 P.M.
On the afternoon of the 4th the streets are taken over by floats instead of runners as the parade makes its way through Seward’s historic downtown and waterfront! Make sure you secure a spot before it begins at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4th. CHECK OUT THE PARADE ROUTE BELOW!
SENSITIVE TO LOUD NOISES AND SOUND? The first block of the parade along Second Avenue is a QUIET ZONE for those who may not like the loud sounds of horns and sirens.
Vote for your favorite
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
thursday, July 2nd
2 PM – 8 PM Festival Vendors Open (Adams St., Firehouse yard on Fourth Ave., and next to Ranting Raven on Fourth Ave.)
FRIDAY, July 3rd
10 AM – 7 PM Festival Vendors Open
10 AM – 8 PM Festival Games (See Games Schedule inside)
6 PM – 7 PM Annual Pie Sale at Seward Memorial United Methodists Church
4 PM – 7 PM Bib pick-up (AVTEC Gym, 519 4th Ave.)
6:00 PM Raffle & Auction for Men’s and Women’s Race (AVTEC Gym, 519 4th Ave.)
On July 2nd, Adams St. ( from 3rd Ave. to 5th Ave. ) will be closed at 4 AM and will reopen at 10 PM on July 4th. THERE WILL BE NO PARKING AT THAT TIME. On July 3rd, 4th Ave. from Jefferson St. to Washington St. will be closed at 2 PM and will reopen 7 PM on July 4th.
