Mount Marathon First-time Racers (and junior parents) — please read this important information!

June 15, 2026

• COURSE RECON REQUIREMENT — The race is in 19 days! Just a reminder that first-timers must complete the ENTIRE course in training — and sign a statement at bib pickup that they have done so — before they can collect their bib on July 3. NO EXCEPTIONS. If the first-timer is a junior, then a parent or guardian must sign the statement.
  This year’s roster includes a record 337 rookies!
• COURSE KNOWLEDGE: It’s not too late to prepare in person — the mountain is shaping into form and the next two weeks will see a lot of traffic. We also recommend that you watch these short MMR instructional VIDEOS (scroll down page) and this excellent SAFETY VIDEO. Become familiar with the multiple route options onto and off the mountain.
• SAFETY TOURS SATURDAY JUNE 20 and JUNE 27 — Safety tours led by experienced Mount Marathon racers are a great way for beginners to get tips on navigating up and down the lower third of the mountain. Meet near the gate on Upper Lowell Canyon Road at 11:45 a.m.; the events are free of charge. More info here: https://mountmarathon.com/news/learn-from-the-experts-safety-tours-set-for-june-20-27/ This year there is NO tour option that goes to the top.
• COURSE CONDITIONS – It is advisable to practice the mountain whether it’s sunny or raining, dry or slippery! The mountain conditions have been improving in recent weeks; they can change daily. The down trail for adults currently has a sizable snowfield right off the top. The trail through the Gut (creek) requires care as always. There is also an option to cross over left to Squirrels’ Inn (look for the signs) and go down the ascent trail.
  You can also see crowd-sourced photos and updated course information on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mountmarathonrace
• SAFETY MEETING FOR FIRST-TIMERS — All first-timers must attend the safety meeting at 6:30 p.m. July 3 at the AVTEC gymnasium, 519 Fourth Ave. (New location!). First-time juniors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bib distribution will occur immediately after the meeting.
• RELINQUISHING YOUR BIB: If your plans have changed and you are unable to participate, please email director@mountmarathon.com so we can remove you from the roster and have a more accurate count for July 4. There are no refunds, deferrals or bib transfers.
• NOT A ROOKIE?: A rookie is someone who has never entered MMR or who has never officially finished a Mount Marathon race in the allotted time. If you believe you (or your child) are incorrectly classified as a first-time racer, please email director@mountmarathon.com.

Stay tuned for upcoming messages and best wishes for your preparations!
The Mount Marathon Race Committee &
Matias Saari, Race Director

Want to give back to the Mount Marathon Race in a meaningful way? Sign up to volunteer!

Volunteer positions for the Mount Marathon Race are now posted at SignUp Genius; thank you in advance for helping us put on a great race!

For more information about volunteering, visit: https://mountmarathon.com/volunteer/

To go directly to the Signup Genius listings, click HERE

More than 300 volunteers are needed in a wide variety of positions July 3-4 in town and on the mountain — thank you for your support!

Volunteers get our gratitude and a t-shirt with the 2026 logo design. Volunteering is also a great way for supporters (and racers) to contribute to the event. Please help spread the word!

Bib and wave assignments are now viewable by clicking on the roster links (men/women/boys/girls/nonbinary/Golden Men/Golden Women) at https://mountmarathon.com/2026-race-roster/

The website rosters are arranged by bib number, not by alphabetical order. Those who simply want to learn their bib number can search their name at RunSignup Participant Lookup here: https://runsignup.com/Race/RegistrationLookup/?raceId=114671

For men and women, waves were assigned as follows:

Wave 1 — Bibs 1-129, men and women
Wave 2 — Bibs 201-321, men; bibs 201-327, women
Wave 3 — Bibs 401-533, men; bibs 401-532 women

Juniors boys and girls will run together in a one combined wave, with girls assigned bibs 1-150 and boys assigned bibs 201-349.

The coveted Bib #1 has been assigned to defending champions David Norris (men), Klaire Rhodes (women) and Calista Zuber (girls) along with Blaze Rubeo (boys, 2nd place in 2025).

For detailed information about the wave and bib seeding processes, visit https://mountmarathon.com/waves-and-bib-seeding/
That page includes a Wave Change Request Form (deadline Sunday, May 24) for those who believe their assignment is incorrect and wish to contest it.

Abigail Mayer is the winner of the 2026 Mount Marathon Race logo contest!

The logo will be printed on the 2026 racer and volunteer t-shirts, stickers, patches and other promotional efforts.

Mayer, an Anchorage native, said the grittiness of Alaska and the Mount Marathon Race inspired her design.

“Alaska is a gritty, beautiful place that you have to see and experience firsthand to really understand,” Mayer said. “I wanted the design for the logo to reflect that and feel like it had physically been carved out of the mountain, in the same way that the Mount Marathon race and everyone who participates gets to be a part of the mountain itself.”

Mayer, who won $250 for her winning design, used a block print technique to achieve her desire effect.

“To get that ‘gritty,’ mountain hewn look, I physically created several linocut prints of the design with variations by carving the mirror image out of a rubber block and using printer’s ink to produce the design on paper,” Mayer said.  “Once the prints dried, I scanned copies for digital editing and combined elements from each until I was happy with the final product.”

Mayer has personal connection to Mount Marathon as her father, Stephen, will be participating for the 10th time in 2026 while her brother, Matthew, will make his debut in the men’s division. She has never raced Mount Marathon but has spectated many times.

“It’s become a family affair for us and I’m excited to get to be a part of it in a new way this year, with the logo,” she said.

Mayer studied graphic design for two years at Abilene Christian University and now works at an advertising/public relations firm in Austin, Texas.

The 2026 racer shirt will have Mayer’s all-white logo on a black shirt while the volunteer shirt, which aims for great visibility, will be white-on-red.