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Juneau Marathon unleashes a new look for participants
- Klas Stolpe
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Athlete- and event-friendly additions bring race on par with top national runs
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Whether running the Juneau Marathon or Half Marathon for fun, a Boston Marathon qualifying time or a personal achievement, entrants for this year’s event will be treated to a more engaging atmosphere July 25 as they gather to start, run and finish the race at Savikko Park in Douglas.
Race director Genevieve Schmidt, who has volunteered the past two years, takes over for David Epstein, who directed the race for six years. Schmidt brings new energy and ideas to an already successful event.
“New this year we asked all participants when they registered for a song they listened to while they are training,” Schmidt said. “So we have a playlist of their collective songs that will be playing at the start and finish line and at aid stations. We also have a new logo this year, designed by Brandon Kaayák’w Gomez. We have also added another aid station for the marathoners, so they will have a total of six aid stations that they will be able to hit twice. So we are happy to be able to provide more support for them further along in the race.”
In previous years there have been timing mishaps during the event. Last year, the race contracted with Sportstats for timing.
“We will do that again this year,” Juneau Trail and Road Runners president Kym Mauseth said. “Participants wear ankle straps for timing results that can be tracked along the course. Instant reports are provided by the timing staff to assist with our awards ceremony... Now that we have mastered the timing issues, other hurdles still exist such as the lack of volunteers, the weather and shipping times. We can never have enough volunteers.”
Volunteers are needed to help the event run smoothly before, during and after the event.
“The weather affects post-race food and aid station needs,” Mauseth said. “When it is cold, people do not stick around to eat. We sometimes have an abundance of leftover food and beverages that we need to deal with. When it is nice out, people tend to stick around after the event, as well as go through aid station supplies (water, Gatorade, Gu) quickly. Last-minute registrants contribute to not knowing how much food and beverage will be required."
"We are planning to have some heat sources this year to encourage people to stick around after the race, even if the weather may not be ideal. Shipping to Juneau is causing some of the items we need for the event to either not arrive in time, or to be cutting it extremely close. So far nothing too critical is at risk of not making it. Mostly items that we had planned on having to enhance the event.”
Cheering along the course and at aid stations is also a needed contribution.
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears cross country and track teams are sponsoring aid stations No. 1 and No. 3, but aid station No. 2 is still available to be sponsored. Sunny Slope Organic Farm is sponsoring aid station No. 4, the Bonnie Brae neighborhood is sponsoring aid station No. 5 and Nugget Alaskan Outfitters is sponsoring aid station No. 6.
“We strive to make this event better and better each year,” Mauseth said. “We listen to participants and make improvements as needed. This year, we have added an additional aid station for the marathon distance. We will also be providing additional porta potties on the course. We will have better communication with aid stations to ensure that they are fully stocked at all times. We will also be providing better signage and a better sound system, complete with music based on registrants' requests.”
The price for the marathon and half marathon will increase by $5 each at noon Tuesday, to $95 and $70, respectively, and at 6 p.m. Friday, July 24, to $100 and $75, respectively. Registration is online only and closes 15 minutes prior to the start of each race. The marathon starts at 7 a.m. and the half marathon at 9 a.m. Race packet pickup will be at Nugget Alaskan Outfitter from 4-6 p.m. July 24, and on race day July 25, at Pioneer Pavilion starting at 6 a.m.
Runners can also give water-resistant drop bags to race officials at the starting line to have personal items, extra gear, snacks or other items awaiting their finish. Drop bags must be labeled with three informational components: race distance (marathon or half marathon); name (first and last); and bib number, and be no larger than 18” length x 12” width x 15” height.
“Upwards of 50% of participants come from out of town,” Mauseth said. “This year we have partnered with Travel Juneau. They have provided advertising for us and given various discount codes for visitors to utilize. Travel Juneau has assisted us with securing items to make this a successful event for years to come. This includes updating some of our signage, safety equipment, banners, canopies and sound system, for instance.”
The JTRR will present a trophy for the top male and top female finisher. They will also provide first, second and third place medals for male and female finishers in the open (39 and under), 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-plus age groups, and adaptive and nonbinary races. Each finisher receives a finisher’s medal and technical run shirt.
Juneau’s Shannon Gress, then age 40, set the Juneau Marathon women’s master’s record last year with 3:03:35. She holds the women’s open record of 2:51:33 (2014, age 29). The women’s wheelchair record belongs to Cleveland, Ohio’s Holly Koester in 3:27:17 (2008, age 48). Juneau’s Seth McBride set the men’s wheelchair mark of 2:27:21 (2007, age 24); Shawn Miller the men’s open mark of 2:31:30 (2003, age 23) and Scott Watts the men’s masters in 2:44:44 (2012, age 46). Merry Ellefson holds the women’s half marathon open (2001, age 39) and women’s masters (2007, age 45) marks of 1:25:19 and 1:27:26, respectively. Miller holds the men’s open half of 1:09:33 (2005, age 25), Guy Thibodeau the men’s masters of 1:14:46 (1993, age 42) and McBride the men’s wheelchair of 1:37:19 (2006, age 23).
Juneau’s William Aylward, then 25, won last year’s marathon in 2:37:20 with John Wright, 38, placing second in 3:03:56 and Tyler Woodard, 40, of Carrollton, Georgia rounding out the podium in 3:04:09. Juneau’s Olivia Glasscock, 33, was second female in 3:29:32 and Bobbi Baur, 55, of Chicago, Illinois, finished on the podium in 3:35:54. Jack McManus, 20, of McCall Idaho was top male in the half marathon with 1:13:57 (2nd Chase Hall, 30, Oswego, ILL. 1:17:41; 3rd Nick Iverson, 18, Juneau, 1:20:56) and Juneau’s Joanna Hinderberger, 34, top female with 1:26:29 (2nd Hilary Young, 41, Juneau 1:28:36; 3rd, Shelby Balding, 21, Centennial, CO 1:31:23).
The Juneau Marathon is a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) state championship race. The RRCA provides first-place medals for the top male and female finishers in the open (39 and under), 40-plus, 50-plus, 60-plus and open adaptive categories, and the top nonbinary competitor.
It is also a certified qualifying race for the 2027 Boston Marathon (April 19, 2027). The qualifying window for Boston began Sept. 13, 2025, and qualifier registration ends on Sept. 18, 2026.
Following are Boston Marathon Qualifying Standards. The non-binary standard (introduced by the Boston Athletic Association in 2023) is listed the same as the women’s qualifying standard. The standard was chosen to be a more inclusive starting point to allow non-binary athletes to participate while the BAA can collect data to adjust times in the future, if needed. Runners who have raced a marathon under a male or female standard may not be allowed entry into the Boston Marathon as a non-binary runner unless that prior marathon did not have a non-binary option.
Boston Marathon Qualifying: AGE / Men’s Standard / Women’s Standard & Non-Binary Standard
18-34: M - 2:55:00 / W&NB - 3:25:00
35-39: M - 3:00:00 / W&NB - 3:30:00
40-44: M - 3:05:00 / W&NB - 3:35:00
45-49: M - 3:15:00 / W&NB - 3:45:00
50-54: M - 3:20:00 / W&NB - 3:50:00
55-59: M - 3:30:00 / W&NB - 4:00:00
60-64: M - 3:50:00 / W&NB - 4:20:00
65-69: M - 4:05:00 / W&NB - 4:35:00
70-74: M - 4:20:00 / W&NB - 4:50:00
75-79: M - 4:35:00 / W&NB - 5:05:00
80-Up: M - 4:50:00 / W&NB - 5:20:00
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
