By MATIAS SAARI

David Norris’ late withdrawal from the 2022 Mount Marathon has turned the men’s race up for grabs.

Norris, the overall record-holder and three-time champion, badly bruised his heel in a mountain bike crash that has derailed his season and forced him to cancel a trip to Spain for a major trail race in May. Norris, a longtime elite Nordic skier based in Anchorage, had hoped to heal in time to defend his dominating 2021 Mount Marathon win. Instead, he withdrew on June 30.

Max King, 42, of Bend, Oregon, may now be the favorite, but has plenty of competition from Alaska and Canada.

King, sponsored by Salomon, is one of the country’s most versatile runners. His resume includes a World Mountain Running championship, U.S. Olympic Trials appearances in the marathon and steeplechase, and countless top trail and mountain-running results.

King, the 2019 champion, went head-to-head with Norris in 2018. Norris said afterwards that King made him suffer even more than when he set the record of 41:26 in 2016.

Norris held off King by 20 seconds in 2018, but King’s time of 42:33 still ranks as the fourth fastest time in the 94-year history of the race.

King, now 42, recognizes a repeat of that rookie run is unlikely, but he’s not conceding anything — even if he’s lost a step.

“My goal is hope David is there and go for the win, or a 40-45 age group record, whichever comes first. Or both? Or neither? Any way it shakes out it’s going to be a blast,” King said before learning that Norris had withdrawn.

Trond Flagstad set the 40-49 age group mark of 44:26 in 2012.

The race returns to the Fourth of July for the first time since 2019 as the 2020 event was canceled and the 2021 race was moved to July 7 as a pandemic mitigation measure.

Large crowds are expected with the event on a holiday Monday.

“July 4^th race day atmosphere in Seward is hard to beat,” Norris said.

Sam Hendry, 22, of British Columbia, Canada, also returns. A teammate of Alaskan Luke Jager on the University of Utah Nordic ski team, he was a distant second to Norris last year.

Darren Thomas of Nevada (third in 2021) scratched on Saturday due to a foot injury.

Even with the unexpected withdrawals of Norris and Thomas, the men’s field returns seven of last year’s Top 10.

This year’s podium with be fiercely contested with the likes of Alaskans Michael Connelly (fourth in 2021), Lyon Kopsack (fifth), Lars Arneson (sixth), Ben Marvin (eighth), Erik Johnson of Seward (ninth) and Pyper Dixon (10^th). This year also marks the return of 2022 Olympian Jager, a 2022 Olympian, along with past podium winners Matt Shryock and Adam Jensen.

Arneson, of Anchorage, won the Government Peak Race in June and was second at Bird Ridge.

APU skier Thomas O’Harra earned a bib by winning the iconic Bird Ridge Race on June 19. He scouted Mount Marathon for the first time a week later and figures to have a strong uphill and a to-be-determined downhill.

Meanwhile, Taylor Turney has careened downhill in 10:01 and 10:04 the last two years and is aiming to break the descent record of 10:00 by Eric Strabel.

A firmer-than-usual trail and a busy life — Turney has a new career as a firefighter along with two young kids — may make achieving that descent record an even tougher task this year. Racers benefit from a soft trail through deep scree that can be fearlessly negotiated, but this year’s lack of rain of other factors has left parts of the upper trail dangerously solid.

The old-timers are still making their mark, too.

Fred Moore, now 82, began his Mount Marathon career in 1970 and hasn’t missed a race since, an astounding streak of 51 straight races. Moore posted a solid time of 1:30:17 last year, beating some racers less than half his age.

Everett Billingslea and “Crazy” Billy Carroll look to collect their 40^th finishes this year, joining Moore, Braun Kopsack and Flip Foldager in an exclusive group.

Chad Resari, now 86, aims to up the oldest finisher mark by another year. He first ran Mount Marathon in 1964 and 1965, then stopped for 33 years due to teaching, coaching and family obligations. He re-started his Mount Marathon career in 1998 and hasn’t looked back.

Ascending the cliff is particularly challenging for him. “I’m so short I can’t reach as high as the other guys,” he quipped.

Resari could take the “Golden Racer” option of running half the course and still getting a finish, but chooses instead to go all the way up and down. How long will Resari keep at it?

“As long as, God willing, that I’m able to do it,” he said.

 

Results from this season’s Alaska Mountain Runners’ Grand Prix races:

Knoya Ridge (uphill only) – HERE

Government Peak (up and down) – HERE

Bird Ridge (uphill only) – HERE

 

MMR List of Champions and other stats HERE

MMR Age Group Records: https://mountmarathon.com/age-records/

Historic results database (search for any racer): https://mountmarathon.com/results/search-race-results/

Updated Men’s Roster by Alpha: https://mountmarathon.com/?division=mens

Mount Marathon Racers, we’re 4 days out. Time to get informed!

We hope you’ve trained on the mountain recently and your final preparations are going well. Please read through the important — and scintillating — information below! COVID-19 POLICY We’re returning to “normal” operations in 2022 with one basic stipulation: Do not attend if you’ve recently tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of it. Those who miss the race because of a positive test may request a deferral (medical documentation required). FIRST-TIME RACERS AT BIB PICKUP First-time racers (there are 300!) must complete the entire race course in training. They (or their parents if a junior racer) also must sign a statement at bib pickup that they have completed the entire race course by July 3. First-time racers must also attend the Safety Meeting July 3 (with a parent if a junior) at 6:45 p.m. at the Seward High School, 2100 Swetman Ave. RETURNING RACERS’ BIB PICKUP TIMES AND LOCATIONS Parents MUST be present for junior racers to pick up their bib even if the junior is a returning racer. Returning racers may pick up their bib on July 3 from 5–8 p.m. at Seward High School OR on July 4 beginning at 8 a.m. at race headquarters at the Flamingo Lounge parking lot, 208 Fourth Ave. Returning racer bib pickup closes 60 minutes prior to the start for men’s and women’s races and 30 minutes prior to the start for juniors. 2022 RACE START SCHEDULE Juniors — 9 a.m. (boys and girls start together) Men — Wave 1 at 11 a.m., Wave 2 at 11:03 a.m., Wave 3 at 11:06 a.m. Women  — Wave 1 at 2 p.m., Wave 2 at 2:03 p.m., Wave 3 at 2:06 p.m. ROSTERS See our updated rosters HERE LIVE RESULTS, SIGN-UP FOR PARTICIPANT TRACKING Watch the results live! And anyone can sign up to receive text or email alerts as participants cross timing equipment along the course. Participant Tracking — https://runsignup.com/Race/FindARunner/?raceId=114671 Live Results — Link will be posted here July 4: https://runsignup.com/Race/AK/Seward/MountMarathon SHOWERS ON JULY 4 Showers are available FOR RACERS ONLY at the AVTEC Student Center, 519 4th Ave. Showers or bathrooms are not available for the general public, no exceptions. The Men’s shower will be available from 1-3 p.m. only. The Women’s shower will be available from 3-5 p.m. only. AWARDS CEREMONY AT AVTEC (WITH DOOR PRIZES!) 6 p.m. AVTEC Gymnasium, 519 4th Ave, Seward AK 99664 Awards are given in the following categories: — OVERALL: Top five men, women, junior boys and junior girls in each of their races. — AGE GROUP: Top five places for each age group: 7-11, 12-14, 15-17 for juniors and 18-29, and ten-year increments thereafter for adults. — LONGEVITY: individuals that have finished 20, 30, 40 or 50 races. Also, this year we’re are spicing things up with great DOOR PRIZES from businesses like Kenai Fjord Tours, the Alaska SeaLife Center, Kayak Adventures, Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking, Skinny Raven and Ray’s Waterfront; everyone attending the ceremony, racer or not, gets a free drawing ticket! Must be present to win. PODIUM AWARDS CEREMONIES ON GRANDSTAND In addition to the evening awards ceremony, there will be brief podium awards ceremonies for the Top 5 men, women, junior boys and junior girls on the grandstand just north of the finish line. Juniors will be at 10 a.m., Men at 12:15 p.m. and Women at 3:15 p.m. PARKING Parking will be tight; arrive early and be mindful of private property when   parking. Spots will be easier to find a few blocks from the race course. Cars parked on 4th Avenue at 5 a.m. on July 4 will be towed. VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT IS ONGOING  Please consider volunteering or having someone in your support crew do so. Spots in town and on the mountain are still available. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c45aca62eabfbc43-mount JUNIOR CUTOFF TIMES! Junior racers who do not meet the following cutoff times will be turned around by a volunteer, have their parents contacted, and escorted to the finish to meet their parents. – 10 minutes to the trailhead gate by the picnic benches on Lowell Canyon Rd. – 30 minutes to Squirrels’ Inn (*all juniors must take a route that goes through there) REGISTER A team of Juniors racers! Junior teams consist of 5-7 members of either all girls or all boys. Each team MUST have at least one member ages 7-11, at least two members ages 12-14, and at least one member ages 15-17. Register your team here: https://mountmarathon.com/for-racer/junior-teams/ GOLDEN RACER OPTION Those 70 years or older with 10 finishes can select the Golden Racer option and get an official finish by completing the juniors course. More info here: https://mountmarathon.com/definitions/golden-racer/ KNOW THE RACE COURSE https://mountmarathon.com/for-racer/course/ Check out our instructive race course videos and a detailed map of the mountain and course. CHECK OUT THE MMR GUIDE https://issuu.com/seward.com/docs/2022_mt_marathon_race This guide features an event schedule, Fourth of July Festival info, great photos, and rosters with bib numbers for each race. NO DRONES ALLOWED Please refrain from flying unpermitted drones along all race trails on the mountain and throughout downtown Seward across the entirety of the holiday weekend. NO DOGS ON THE RACE COURSE, PLEASE! Your pets are allowed in Seward; just keep them off the race course or crowded downtown area. I’M INJURED OR HAVE COVID AND CAN’T RACE. WHAT DO I DO? Registered racers that have not attained Priority 10-Year Status and are unable to run the Mount Marathon Race — due to medical reasons include a positive COVID test, military service, or other unique circumstances — may request a race deferral in order to potentially retain their Priority Registration status for the next year. More info here: https://mountmarathon.com/definitions/deferral-request/ WE HAVE INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK! View our Instagram HERE and our Facebook HERE Thanks for reading. See almost all of you on July 3-4! The Mount Marathon Race Committee

After three long years, we’re thankful to again hold the race and the festival on the Fourth of July. We’re returning to “normal” operations in 2022 with one basic stipulation: Please don’t attend if you’ve recently tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of it.

First-time racers bib pick-up:

Complete entire race course. First-time racers (or their parents if a junior racer) must sign a statement that they have completed the entire race course prior to picking up their bib. 

Attend the Safety Meeting July 3 (with their parent if a junior) July 3 at 6:45 pm at the Seward High School, 2100 Swetmann Ave. 

Register a team of Juniors racers!

Teams allow junior racers to support one another to a common goal. The junior Mount Marathon Race is comprised of boys’ and girls’ races. Junior teams consist of 5-7 members of either all girls or all boys. Each team MUST have at least one member ages 7-11, at least two members ages 12-14, and at least one member ages 15-17. Register your team here: https://mountmarathon.com/for-racer/junior-teams/ 

Parents of junior racers

Parents or a guardian MUST be present for junior racers to pick up their bib. 

Get to know the race course

https://mountmarathon.com/for-racer/course/

Check out our instructive race course videos featuring Clint McCool and a detailed map of the mountain.

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT is ongoing! 

Please consider volunteering or having someone in your support crew do so. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c45aca62eabfbc43-mount 

Check out the Mount Marathon Race guide!

This guide features an event schedule, Fourth of July Festival info, great photos, and rosters with bib numbers for each race — not to mention articles about Corbin Stirling, a remarkable comeback story about Kneeland Taylor, and how Seward’s Olive Jordan made the podium last year at age 11.

No dogs on the race course, please!

No dogs, leashed or unleashed, are allowed on 4th Avenue between Railway and Jefferson or along the race course, including all race trails on the mountain. This will increase safety for runners and spectators, and reduce problems with sanitation and clean-up. 

 Your pets are allowed in Seward; please just keep them off the race course or crowded downtown area.

More informational emails will be forthcoming as we build toward race day.

All emails can also be viewed on the website’s “News” section.

Best wishes for your final preparations,
The Mount Marathon Race Committee