Whether you're a first-time runner or a veteran of three dozen Alaska Heart Runs, you might need help getting it right at this year's rite of spring.
The 37th annual Heart Run is a whole new ballgame -- well, sort of. It's still a 5-kilometer race, still one of the biggest footraces in Alaska, still a fundraiser for the American Heart Association and still on the UAA and APU campuses.
What's different is the race course, which was rerouted this year in order to use the new Alaska Airlines Center as the start and finish area. The old start and finish area at the UAA Arts Building is now a turnaround point late in the 3.1-mile race.
So if you're a race regular and operate on cruise control come Saturday morning, you might wind up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Join the crowd
Runners have one more chance for in-person registration for the timed 5-K and two more chances to sign up for the untimed 5-K and 3-K.
Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the King Career Center is the last chance to sign up for the timed 5-K. Untimed runners can register then or Saturday from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Runners can pick up their bibs at those same times and places.
Entry fee for the timed run is $35 for adults and $20 for runners ages 4-18. For the untimed run, it's $30 for adults and $15 for kids ages 4-18. Kids under 4 can run for free.
Last year's race drew a crowd of nearly 6,000.
Park & walk, park & ride
Parking won't be available at the Alaska Airlines Center. Much of the area is being used for the start line and finish line, and other parts of it are off limits because of Saturday night's Brad Paisley concert, according to race organizers.
Seven other lots are available, including three with shuttle service every 20 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The other four are a short walk away, including one of the garages at Providence Alaska Medical Center:
-- Providence parking garage No. 3
-- UAA Library main lot
-- UAA Library northeast lot
-- UAA Health Sciences lot
-- King Career Center (shuttle available)
-- UAA North parking lot (shuttle available)
-- UAA West Campus central lot (shuttle available)
Tudor Road closure
The best way to get to UAA is from Northern Lights Boulevard or 36th Avenue.
Road work is happening on Tudor Road, and the west-bound lanes will be closed between Boniface Drive and Elmore Road.
New course, new records
Long live Marcus Dunbar and Chris Clark.
Because a new course is in place, their Heart Run course records -- both quality marks -- are set in stone. Dunbar set the men's record with his 1995 run of 14 minutes, 39 seconds. Clark set the women's record in 2000 with a 16:57.
Defending champions are Miles Dunbar -- the son of 10-time champion Marcus -- and Hallidie Wilt. Dunbar won in 14:59 and Wilt in 17:42.
Alaska Heart Run champs
(The Heart Run became a 5-K event in 1985)
2014 -- Miles Dunbar 14:59; Hallidie Wilt 17:42
2013 -- Alfred Kangogo 14:53; Hallidie Wilt 18:03
2012 -- David Kiplagat 14:54; Monica Ross 17:32
2011 -- Micah Chelimo 15:04; Ruth Keino 16:58
2010 -- Jake Parisien 15:19; Kristi Waythomas 18:08
2009 -- Michael Wisniewski 15:25; Kristi Waythomas 18:25
2008 -- No race, two feet of snow
2007 --David Kiplagat 15:33; Kikkan Randall 17:59
2006 -- Jerry Ross 15:13; Najeeby Quinn 17:46
2005 -- Jerry Ross 15:09; Najeeby Quinn 17:30
2004 -- Jerry Ross 15:05; Najeeby Quinn 17:21
2003 -- Will Kimball 15:24; Chris Clark 17:52
2002 -- Sean Rivers 15:18; Stacy Edwards 18:51
2001 -- Gordon Birdsall 15:51; Chris Clark 17:15
2000 -- Marcus Dunbar 15:16; Chris Clark 16:57
1999 -- John Clark 15:37; Chris Clark 17:31
1998 -- Marcus Dunbar 15:13; Kristi Waythomas 17:43
1997 -- Marcus Dunbar 15:13; Kristi (Klinnert) Waythomas 18:04
1996 -- Marcus Dunbar 14:47; Kristi Klinnert 17:27
1995 -- Marcus Dunbar 14:39; Nicola Ratcliffe 17:38
1994 -- Marcus Dunbar 14:59; Jenny Eschbacher 18:13
1993 -- Marcus Dunbar 14:45; Nicola Ratcliffe 17:24
1992 -- Joe Alward 15:06; Suzanne Ray 17:19
1991 -- Marcus Dunbar 14:56; Suzanne Ray 17:36
1990 -- Marcus Dunbar 14:59; Tamaris Dortch 18:22
1989 -- Marcus Dunbar 15:08; Marylynn Barnwell 17:50
1988 -- Vern Campbell 15:01; Suzanne Ray 17:54
1987 -- Vern Campbell 15:05; Sarah Kramer 18:21
1986 -- Kris Mueller 15:24; Suzanne Ray 18:13
1985 -- Greg Tibbetts 15:33; Kim Dryden 17:08
All for a good cause
By the time this year's totals are in, the Alaska Heart Run will near the $4 million fundraising mark.
Since 1985, when the race became a 5-K, the Heart Run has raised about $3.6 million. This year's total was at $246,158 as of Thursday afternoon, bringing the 37-year total to about $3.85 million.
The money helps fund research for heart disease and stroke. It comes from corporate sponsors, entry fees and the fundraising efforts of individual runners and teams of runners.
Leading the way this year is James Jensen among individuals ($3,160) and Joe's Army among teams ($10,909).
This is the third year that Joe's Army has set a five-figure fundraising goal in memory of Joe Hebert, a Palmer man who was 33 when he died from a pulmonary embolism in December 2012.
Saturday's schedule
7:30-9 a.m. – Registration and bib pickup
9:30 a.m. – Start of timed 5-K
10 a.m. – Start of untimed 5-K and 3-K.
10:30 a.m. – Awards ceremony and prize drawings
