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Be sure to carefully read the race details as many of your questions are probably answered there.
Why do I have to pay to enter the lottery? The Mount Marathon race is put on by the Seward Chamber of Commerce each year. While we have numerous volunteers who donate their time to make this event happen, it is still a costly endeavor and we rely on entry fees to offset the cost of the race. The runner's gear (bib, wristband, and finishers items) and awards are only a part of the cost. We are required to carry Special Event Insurance before we can put on this event. In addition, the race requires timing services, audio speakers and announcers, electricity, porta-potties, waste removal, and specialized equipment. There are also costs associated with the race registration process, maintaining the web site, and tracking the race results from year to year. All these costs are in addition to other services (rescue services and communications gear, for example) that are generously donated. We try to minimize the race costs as much as possible, and if you are not selected for the lottery, we return a token amount of your application fee to you. However, we retain the majority of your application fee as a contribution toward the cost of maintaining this event. What time do I need to arrive? Once you have your bib, you just need to be at the starting line a few minutes before your race begins. However, if you aren't already in town, keep in mind that July 4th is a very busy time in Seward, with street-based activities scheduled throughout the downtown area. If you do not have lodging downtown, traffic and parking can pose a challenge. 4th Avenue and some cross streets downtown are closed and blocked off beginning at 5 am. Traffic into Seward is also very busy, particularly after 10 am. If you are able to arrive in time for the Junior race start at 9:30 am, you will have the fewest problems. Should I plan to spend the night in Seward? Many runners do plan to spend the night before and the night after in Seward. Traffic into Seward on race day is very thick and frequently backs up on the Seward Highway. The award ceremony begins at 6 pm after the race, but runners planning to depart Seward prior to the ceremony may face long traffic delays just trying to get out of town. Runners who spend the night in Seward before the race enjoy Seward's fireworks. Those who stay a day longer can wind down with live music and good food throughout town, tackling the Seward Highway on a quieter day. Just a caution, if you do plan to stay, lodging facilities, including local campgrounds, fill up very early! We recommend that you make your reservations when you apply for the race, even if you are not sure that you will make it in the lottery. Check out the "Where to Stay" section of this website for ideas. Can I give my race spot to someone else? Absolutely not. If you are selected to run through the application and lottery process, the bib number assigned to you belongs to you and only you. If you find that you are unable to participate in the race, you can not designate another individual to run in your place, nor can the Chamber open your spot up for another applicant. What if I want to race in the first wave? Runners may request consideration for a particular wave. Requests are accepted through June 1st of the race year. Due to space limitations in each wave, all requests may not be honored as the first 150 finishers from the prior year are automatically assigned to the first wave. What if I get injured during the race? All racers are ultimately responsible for their own safety and rescue. Serious injury has rarely occurred in past Mount Marathon races. Runners who receive minor injuries generally finish the race. Local volunteers, including EMT personnel, are stationed along the mountain portion for all races and may able to provide basic first aid on site. For serious injuries, the route volunteers attempt to maintain radio contact with one another, as well as contact with the Seward Volunteer Fire Department and Volunteer Ambulance Corps on the ground, who will coordinate any medical support and evacuation efforts. The race will not be cancelled due to weather. Runners should be prepared for a wide variety of weather conditions. Precipitation is frequent, making the shale slippery, and there can be ice patches on areas of the mountain. The summit can be windy and visibility reduced to next to nothing. It is very important for runners to travel the course at least once prior to the race to help maintain their bearings should it be difficult to see the trail. How long do I have to finish the race? We encourage you to train for this race. Junior racers must finish in 1.5 hours and seniors have 3 hours to complete the race. If you do not finish the race within the time limit, you will not receive an official time and you will not be included on the finishers list provided to the newspapers and reflected online. In addition, those runners that do not complete the race in the allotted time do not receive priority status for the next year and must reapply through the lottery process. What else is going on in Seward? The 4th of July celebration in Seward kicks off with fireworks at 12:01 am. Once dawn breaks, street vendors begin selling food, gifts, and other Alaska items up and down 4th Ave. Family activities are scheduled throughout the day - especially geared towards kids and the holiday parade is always a favorite, in between the women's and men's races. The military band also performs before the men's race, which is always a highlight of the day. For specifics, be sure to check our July 4th information on the web here. Is the race safe for my child? You are required to sign a waiver liability form on your child's behalf, which may cause you some concern. The race course is challenging, even the Junior portion, which does not summit the mountain, however the trail is routinely climbed by local Seward residents of all ages. The volunteers along the trail are very encouraging for all the juniors and really boost their sense of accomplishment as they progress along the trail. Your child will likely return down the mountain caked with mud, probably scraped up, and may have torn their clothes. Only you can determine whether or not your child can handle the physical challenge, and we encourage you to hike the trail with them several times prior to race day. How old does my child have to be to run in the Junior race? Junior racers must be at least 7 years old on July 4th to run in the Junior race. If you have a very small child, keep in mind that all Juniors start the race together, so you may want to encourage your smaller child to begin the race near the rear or sides of the pack. Options for younger racers include the Mini-Marathon race, which takes place after the women's race, or an older child may want to volunteer to help out with one of the associated events - if they sign up with us early, they can get a volunteer t-shirt! Your child must first be admitted into the Junior race. Apply by March 31st and check back at this web site to make sure your child's name is on the list. You can submit your own team if you know enough boys or girls (they can not be mixed) in the appropriate age groups (5-7 runners total, with at least 1 age 7-12 and 2 that are 12-14 years old). You can get a team application here. If you can't complete your own team, e-mail the Chamber at events@seward.net and we will help you find a team. I didn't apply for the race or didn't get in through the lottery. What do I do now? You are not the first, nor will you be the last. The majority of slots are allocated through the application and lottery process, so your options are limited. You may participate in the auction on July 3rd or you can purchase raffle tickets at $5 each for the opportunity to win one reserved slot. If neither of those options meet your needs, we encourage you to participate in the race as a volunteer and be sure to apply for next year's race on January 1. The winner gets a trophy and bragging rights. As an added benefit, the winner does not need to pay to participate in future Mt. Marathon races (for the same category race). There is no cash or merchandise prize associated with the Mt Marathon race. Who can volunteer and what do they need to do? Anyone can volunteer. In past years, injured runners and visitors to Seward have been included on our volunteer roster. Runners also volunteer to assist with the other races. The tasks associated with our celebration are many, and there is truly something to fit everyone's spirit of fun. The adventurous may seek to climb the trail for a bird's eye view as a route volunteer, while those who prefer sea level can hand out t-shirts to the finishers. Crowd control is always in need of more warm bodies to hold back the swell of fans and keep wayward vehicles off the race route. If you like kids, you can help out with some of our family events, or perhaps you'd prefer to sit above it all on the announcer's stand or in the timer's tent. Whatever your preference, we thank you with a commemorative volunteer t-shirt that will definitely get you noticed! Who do I contact if I have more questions? If you have reviewed the race details and these questions and still need to reach us, please call the Chamber at 907-224-8051 or email us at events@seward.net.
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Copyright ©2006 Seward Chamber of Commerce and Conference & Visitors Bureau.
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