Lottery Details

The Lottery registration period for 2025 was March 1-31 and has ended.

LOTTERY DETAILS:

  • The 2025 lottery at RunSignUp includes a two-step process:
    Step 1) Register for the Mount Marathon Lottery GROUP (cost is $20 for adults and $15 for juniors).
    Step 2) Register for the Lottery EVENT. This includes pre-authorizing a credit card payment for the balance of your race entry, but you will only be charged if you win the lottery. IMPORTANT: you must complete step 2 or you will NOT be entered in the lottery.
  • Lottery hopefuls may only enter ONE TIME per person. Anyone who intentionally applies multiple times will have ALL their entries DISQUALIFIED.
  • Junior lottery entrants must be at least 9 years old on race day.
    Adult lottery spots applicants must be at least 18 years old on race day.
  • By rule of the Mount Marathon Race Committee, all junior lottery applicants from Seward and Moose Pass are automatic lottery winners and will receive entry for that year.
  • There is no lottery preference for adult entrants from Seward and Moose Pass.
  • Lottery winners are randomly selected in early April by computer program from the pool of valid lottery applicants in each race. Your odds of winning are based on the number of priority registrations, available lottery spots and valid lottery applicants per race.
  • Lottery applicants will be notified via email by April 15 whether they have won or lost the lottery, and a preliminary 2025 roster will be published by April 15.
  • There will be NO WAIT LIST for lottery losers or others who seek to gain entry after the roster is published.

HOW TO ENTER THE LOTTERY:

LOTTERY HISTORY:

  • In 2007, the Lottery Selection Process began using a computerized program for registration and to select lottery winners. Previously the Mount Marathon Race accepted paper registrations and drew names out of a hat.
  • In 2014, a weighted formula was added to the lottery selection process to increase the odds for those who were unsuccessful in gaining entry after applying for several consecutive years.
  • In 2021, the Top 50 Percent Age Group Rule was implemented in part to increase lottery odds and to allow more new racers to gain entry. It is also intended to provide those who lost their spot with a better chance of regaining it.
  • In 2025, when the registration platform was moved to RunSignUp, the weighted lottery was ended because it was not compatible with the new registration system. See additional explanation HERE. Moving forward, each race’s lottery applicants will therefore have equal odds.

LOTTERY ODDS:

2025 ODDS:

WOMEN: 164 winners/432 lottery applicants (38.0 percent; virtually unchanged from 2024)
MEN: 149/668 (22.3 percent; up slightly from 20.9 percent in 2024)
GIRLS: 50/114 (43.8 percent; down from 50.9 percent in 2024) NOTE: By race committee rule, all Seward/Moose Pass girls gain entry (13/13)
BOYS: 42/121  (34.7 percent; down 41 percent in 2024 NOTE: By race committee rule, all Seward/Moose Pass boys gain entry (17/17)

*** Of the 1,087 people who gained entry into Mount Marathon, 405 of them were lottery winners. This means that 37.3 percent of the total racers in 2025 gained entry through the lottery.

2024 ODDS:

WOMEN: 192 winners/507 lottery applicants (37.9 percent; odds were down from 44.7 percent in 2023: however, 192 women gained entry in 2024 vs. 162 in 2023)
MEN: 153/733 (20.9 percent; down from 24.4 percent in 2023)
GIRLS: 54/106 (50.9 percent; down from 82.9 percent in 2023) NOTE: By race committee rule, all Seward/Moose Pass girls gain entry (5/5)
BOYS: 48/116  (odds remained the same at 41 percent: however, 48 boys gained entry in 2024 vs. 36 in 2023) NOTE: By race committee rule, all Seward/Moose Pass boys gain entry (6/6)

*** Of the 1,090 people who gained entry into Mount Marathon, 447 of them were lottery winners. This means that 41 percent of the total racers in 2024 gained entry through the lottery.

2023 odds:

Women – 44.8 percent (162/359)
Men – 24.4 percent (153/626)
Girls – 82.9 percent (63/76)
Boys – 41 percent (39/95)

2022 odds:

Women – 43.8 percent (118/269)
Men – 22.8 percent (109/478)
Girls – 100 percent (57/57)
Boys – 78.2 percent (54/69)