Seacoast Relay boasts new mileage addition

Five-leg course now totals a marathon distance

A member of last season's "Stinky Rats" Seacoast Relay team is met by teammates at the finish line at the Eagle Beach State Park outer beach picnic shelter on Sunday, June 8, 2025. This year's race is Saturday, beginning at the University of Alaska Southeast’s Egan Library. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

The perfect venue for seeing how fit, or unfit, you have become over the winter and how developed those future Klondike Road Relay friendships are can be experienced on Saturday in the annual Seacoast Relay.

“We are doing something exciting,” co-race director Heather Parker said. “We have decided to extend the distance from 21.7 miles to a full marathon.”

What that means to runners and walkers getting in shape for the annual Juneau Marathon on July 25, is they get to practice a bit of race nutrition, see how their distance kits feel and generally shake the rust out of the pipes, so to speak.

And for those who have already booked ferry reservations to visit Whitehorse, Yukon, for the annual Klondike Road Relay Sept. 11-12, well, that venue’s cutoff for final team registration and selection is July 3. The Seacoast still features the team relay and camaraderie for fine-tuning handoffs, driving duties and knowing who can take more encouragement and who, well, you just allow to run. Perfect for the lead-up to future team endeavors.

“The marathon option gives your team, or you, the chance to try and beat Harry Styles’ 2:59:13 or Oprah’s 4:29:20,” Parker said in mirth. “It is also a good opportunity to test out your Klondike team’s chemistry.”

As with every Seacoast Relay, costumes are encouraged, but not required. And remember, left is right — meaning all legs should run on the left side of the road, facing oncoming traffic. 

To fill the full marathon distance the first leg of the Seacoast Relay has been extended to 7.4 miles, basically following the Mendenhall Mudpuddle route from the University of Alaska Southeast’s Egan Library down the path, past the Auke Lake boat ramp, along Glacier Highway to Karl Reishus Boulevard, and to the gravel equestrian trail that connects to Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei and along to River Road. Take a left onto Back Loop road and a left at Goat Hill Road, and around the Auke Lake Trail back to the separated path at the Auke Lake boat ramp and up to the UAS library.

Leg two is 3.7 miles from the UAS library to a left on Back Loop, down to the roundabout on Glacier Highway. Use the crosswalks until reaching the Dehart’s Auke Bay Store side of the road, and then proceed toward and past the ferry terminal, taking a left into Auke Rec for a handoff just past the totem pole. 

Leg three is 3.5 miles from the pullout past the totem pole and along Auke Rec to the Point Lena Loop Road and into Lena Beach picnic area, near the last shelter. At this point, solo runners may be wondering what shenanigans they have gotten themselves into as the winter miles are now being held accountable. Teams will still be enjoying the atmosphere and decision to be part of the five-leg outing.

Leg four is six miles. Leaving the Lena Beach picnic area, runners enter onto Glacier Highway. This is the straightest portion of the race, with some minor inclines and dips that proceed past Tee Harbor, through potential whale, sea lion and bear viewing country, and onto the pullout after the Shrine of Saint Therese. Over the years this strip has featured bear sightings. Solo runners now may realize that the crucial time of their day is upon them, cross themselves, and proceed on, wondering if their breakfast of choice was indeed the right choice. For support teams of all entrants, it is noted that the handoff is two pull-outs past the shrine, so vehicles should park in the first pullout and walk to the second to avoid congestion at the exchange.

Leg five is 5.6 miles. Entrants continue on Glacier Highway past Amalga Harbor, in and out of shade, watching for wildlife and increasing traffic as the morning opens for Boy Scout Beach, Eagle Glacier, Herbert River trail and Methodist Camp look-e-loos. Passing the Eagle Beach State Park Station and toward the north entrance of the state park, the final quarter mile entices runners to put a hitch into their giddy-up as they can see the finish, but must run past it to the Eagle Beach picnic area entrance and then to the ending at the Outer Beach picnic shelter.

Lunch awaits all participants and, most likely, the support staff and fans. Co-race director Quinn Tracy will again have the Seacoast Relay’s famous burrito bar for nourishment. 

“We have streamlined registration so a captain doesn’t need to sign up first,” Parker said. “Just log in, choose your legs, type in your team name and fill out the other questions.”

Saturday start time is 9 a.m., with an early start option at 8:30 a.m. Those interested or with questions can contact Parker at heather.c.parker@gmail.com or Tracy at qgtracy@hotmail.com.

• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com