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Latest reviews by EMILY
EMILY recommends this race
(2014)
"Anchorage Salmon Run"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
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The Anchorage Salmon Run is a fundraiser hosted by the Inlet View Elementary School PTA to help make the school more awesome. It has been held for several years, but this was my first year running.
Registration was easy, you could do it online or in person the day of the race. They also allow school teams to participate, so kids running with school teams could run for a very affordable price.
Bib pickup was easy with no wait, there were two pickups in the week leading up to the event, and bib pickup the morning of the event. The technical shirts had a great design, and they let you try them on so you could make sure you got one that fit.
There were 10k, 5k, and 2k options to run, so there was a distance for every family member. The 10k and 5k started promptly at 10am, with the 2k starting at 10:03. The announcers did a great job of asking those with strollers or dogs to start in the back of the group, which made it to where you didn't get blocked or tripped up by these runners.
The course starts at the elementary school (near downtown) and heads straight to The Coastal Trail for a beautiful out-and-back past the Westchester Lagoon and Bootlegger's Cove.
Signage was great! They had volunteers along the course providing directions, turnaround signs, and encouragement to the runners!
Water stations were located at the 5k turnaround, 10k turnaround, and finish line. A local bank even set up a station just past the 2k mark providing water and energy bars!
It's an uphill climb to the finish line, but as you're approaching the announcer calls out your name and all the specters cheer and it gives you that last bit of motivation you need to push yourself over the finish line!
As you cross the finish line, volunteers are immediately giving out medals to the kids who finish the race, which I think is awesome! Adults love their bling, but I think kids really view it as proof of their accomplishment and I love that the race was so affordable and still could give them souvenirs.
There are also computers set up so you can check your official time after you finish instead of having to wait for the results to be loaded online over the next few days. Instant gratification!
Parking was also a breeze for this, I arrived 35 minutes before the race and was able to get a spot right in front of the school where I could see the finish line. Since this is a neighborhood school and race, I think a lot of families walked to the start line.
Definitely a great event to help out a local school. It was a great way to blend physical fitness with family time with fundraising, and I hope to see it continue year after year.
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EMILY recommends this race
(2013)
"A Cold Day to Race"
Overall
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Parking/Access
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This was the second year Skinny Raven has hosted a Turkey Trot, and it was a very popular event! It sold out, featuring 1,500 runners (only 550 in 2012) on an incredibly COLD Thanksgiving morning (a brisk 16 degrees with a windchill of 0!)
Bib pickup was super easy, with opportunities to pick up during the week or the morning of the race. The shirts are nice Brooks technical long sleeve shirts that are really comfortable.
The race took place in downtown Anchorage, and consisted of two full laps around the Delaney Park Strip. Since it was November in Alaska, the course was quite icy and slick, so I had my studded shoes on and still had to run gingerly (my calves were burning by the end!) Since it was laps around the park strip, the terrain was incredibly flat.
The course was well-marked, but there were a lot of people running with strollers and dogs. They didn't have those runners start in the back, so the first half mile for me was doing a lot of dodging and even tripping over the leash of a dog that stopped to use the bathroom in the middle of the course.
It was a very fast race, and I got an huge PR over a race I ran in August with no tough terrain. The first finishers were coming in with times under 16 minutes!
The prizes were really fun, with overall winners and age category winners going home with a Pumpkin Pie.
No medals were given, but the price was very affordable. They also had a guy run in a turkey costume who you could pose with after the race!
EMILY recommends this race
(2013)
"A Frightening Good Run"
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The Frightening 4k is a great family race that happens near Halloween in Downtown Anchorage. Costumes are encouraged, and the aid station has candy!
This race starts in downtown Anchorage, heads downhill (which was a bit slick if your shoes aren't studded) towards the docks, and then comes back up to downtown.
You're greeted at the finish line with the announcers calling your costumes and given gatorade and more candy!
If you're looking for a fun family run that also allows a trick-or-treat element, this is a blast. Even if you don't have kids (we don't), it's a fun chance to dress in costume and race. The best part is seeing everyone else's coolest looks!
EMILY recommends this race
(2013)
"Beautiful Coastal Trail Run"
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The Snow City Cafe 5k was my first race in Alaska. I was impressed by the organizations ability to keep the Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, and 5k on time and they timed it to where there was no race congestion.
The technical shirts given were long sleeve, and perfect to wear for running on a cool day. The bright color was a fun addition to my collection.
The day started off rainy, but cleared up by the time the 5k was over, with perfect temps for a run (high 50s, low 60s).
The route starts and finishes in downtown Anchorage, so people are everywhere cheering, and local support is well seen. You're only in the streets for maybe 1/2 a mile, then you're running along the Coastal Trail. The Coastal Trail is one of Anchorage's many trail systems that follows the edge of the coast with beautiful views of wildlife, the waterfront, and Mt. Susitna in the background.
Along the trail were lots of random organizations helping to cheer along. My favorite were the bagpipers just after mile 1. They were spread out on the hill above the coastal trail so the music carried nicely. The trail is a out and back, which meant I got to hear bagpipers twice!
When you're approaching the finish line, it's a nice, flat straight-away so you can really sprint hard and leave it all on the course. One thing that makes you feel awesome is that they announce every runner and their hometown. Since I ran the race alone and didn't know anyone, it made me feel special to hear my name and town being announced to everyone as I crossed the finish line, and as everyone cheered.
You also receive a medal right away from the guys from the military high school. The chute leads you to the vendor area, where I got a grilled cheese sandwich, a whole loaf of Franz bread, and a beer from the Beer Garden!
At the race after party, racing greats Jeff Galloway and Bill Rodgers were there meeting runners and posing for pics with their medals from the day too!
I loved this race so much, I've decided to go bigger and do the half-marathon for 2014!