New swim-run race honors veterans, applauds entrants

Ranger Lead The Way race at Amalga Meadows Park aids military families

Juneau's Tracy and Aaron Morrison run at Moran State Park in their swim gear during a 2025 SwimRun race at Orcas Island, Washington. The two plan to race on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in the Ranger Lead The Way Swim Run Juneau event at Amalga Meadows Park. (Photo courtesy Aaron Morrison)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

Juneau athletes, athletic families and/or like-minded sporting fans will be treated to, or can participate in, the Ranger Lead The Way - Swim Run Juneau event at Amalga Meadows Park on Saturday.

The course is a swim-run that totals just under 10 miles, plus options for a one-mile run or a 5K run. Race director Isaiah Campos had done virtual ocean swims as fundraisers for military families in need via the Navy Seal foundation and wanted to share the experiences.

“I wanted to do Juneau’s first swim-run event in honor of my best friend, Chris Condra, a retired Army Ranger,” Campos said. “It is a fundraiser event to donate to Ranger military families in need.”

The race is a perfect tune-up to see where summer conditioning and spirit levels are at, as it features elements that will carry over to the upcoming Aukeman Triathlon (Aug. 2), plus it shows support in the community.

The event is hosted at the Eagle Valley Lodge.

The swim-run race starts at 9:30 a.m. Participants run from the lodge to the Amalga Harbor Road and down to the Gruening Park beach access, swim to Boy Scout Beach, run the tidal trail around to the Horse Tram Trail, follow the Horse Tram Trail to re-enter the water at the beach along the Amalga cabin area, swim back to Gruening Park beach and run up Amalga Harbor Road and back to the lodge. Racers need to know they carry their own gear. In most swim-run races participants are generally swimming with their trail shoes on and running in their wetsuit. Everything needed stays with the participant, such as hand paddles, safety gear, floaties, etc.

“SwimRun strips endurance sport down to its essentials,” local athlete Aaron Morrison said. He and his wife Tracy participate in partner SwimRun races and will be participating on Saturday as solos. “You adapt to the landscape, moving from trail to sea and back again and again. Every mile is earned, every transition is unscripted, and every finish feels like an adventure rather than simply a race.”

The 5k and one-mile run races start at 11 a.m. 5K runners leave the lodge to the Eagle River Landing Trail and follow that to the Horse Tram Trail, where they turn around and return to the lodge. One-mile runners leave the lodge to the Amalga Harbor Road where they turn and return to the lodge.

Community members not ready to swim or run can volunteer at the event by contacting Isaiah Campos at 907-723-1699.

“I will be cooking burgers and hot dogs for participants after the event,” Campos added.

The fundraiser swim-run entry fee is $65, 5K $20 and one-mile $10.

• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com