Mount Marathon Race Committee Duties
The Mount Marathon Race Committee (MMRC) creates the race rules and organizes and executes much of the volunteer work vital to successfully holding the event. The volunteer committee generally meets monthly from January to August, with additional meetings to choose the logo contest winner and consider petition requests. Because the Seward Chamber of Commerce owns the event, major rule and policy changes are also approved by the Chamber’s Board of Directors. The Seward Chamber staff also provides invaluable support.
Using the “Committee’s Choice” rule, each committee member can offer one race spot per year to a person of their choosing.
The committee has vacancies from time to time. Anyone interested in potentially serving on the committee should contact Race Director Matias Saari at director@mountmarathon.com
Karol Fink, Committee Member (Term expires August 2027)
Karol Fink moved to Seward in 1995 and decided it was the best place on earth. She first raced in 1997 and joined the race committee in 2003. She has completed more than 20 Mount Marathon races and is a jack-of-all-trades, helping with race operations, registration, web updates, awards and maintaining historical records. She divides her time between Anchorage and Seward.
Stephanie Wright, Committee Member (Term Expires August 2026)
Stephanie Wright of Seward first auctioned in to the 2008 Mount Marathon Race and remains an active racer. Her best result was 57th place in 2019. She serves as the race’s volunteer coordinator and can be reached at volunteer@mountmarathon.com. Wright knows almost everyone in Seward, solves problems quickly, communicates clearly, and makes sure all volunteers have what they need to help the race be successful.
Wright also operates the Moose Pass Campground.
Amy Haddow, Committee Member (Term expires August 2027)
Amy Haddow of Seward first ran the Mount Marathon Race in 2005 at the age of 44 and then ran every year until 2012, with a best of 105th place in 2011. Haddow is focused on problem-solving to make the race more inclusive, and is grateful for the many volunteers who assist every year. She also works for Alaska Maritime Agencies as a cruise ship agent.
Geri Nipp, Committee Member (Term Expires August 2026)
Geri Nipp of Seward serves as a race committee liaison with the Chamber’s Board of Directors and helps with various race tasks. She also works at Kenai Fjords Tours.
Joe Nyholm, Committee Member (Term Expires August 2025)
Joe Nyholm of Seward/Moose Pass is the race sweep coordinator, handles Mount Marathon trail issues, and helps lead the course set-up and teardown. He has participated in the race every year since 2008 — some while wearing a Gumby costume — with a top adult finish of 37th place. He also likes to explore other mountains around town and less common ways up Mount Marathon. With Squirrels’ Inn as a starting point, he once covered the marathon distance on Mount Marathon (26.2 miles) by hiking up and running down for 18 consecutive hours.
Mike Heatwole, Committee Member (Term Expires August 2025)
Mike Heatwole of Anchorage has finished Mount Marathon 25 consecutive times as of 2024; his top place was 22nd in his rookie run of 1999. Mike works on sponsorship recruitment and is the narrator for the July 3 safety meeting.
Greg Haas, Committee Member (Term Expires August 2025)
Greg Haas of Seward serves as a race committee liaison with the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Greg works on sponsorship recruitment for Seward organizations and his daughters, Maddie and Sadie, participate in the junior race. He owns and operates Stoney Creek Brewhouse and manages the Tidewater Taphouse.
Matias Saari, Race Director
Matias Saari became the race director in 2019. Among his 16 MMR finishes, he won the 2009 race and finished in the Top 4 seven straight times between 2008-14. He is also president of the Alaska Mountain Runners and works for the Healthy Futures/Alaska Sports Hall of Fame nonprofit. A former sportswriter in Fairbanks, he now lives Anchorage’s Bear Valley with partner Christie Haupert and their two huskies, Hillie and Murphy. He welcomes correspondence at director@mountmarathon.com.
Samantha Allen, Seward Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
Samantha Allen became the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director in September 2023 after previously working as the membership coordinator. She moved to Seward in 2019 from the Garden State of New Jersey. Allen works closely with the race director, Chamber board and race committee to help support and manage the race. She has completed Mount Marathon three times and plans to run again in 2025. She can be reached at director@seward.com.