The 100-year-old Mount Marathon Race held in Seward each July 4 is deeply rooted in tradition. But with faster times in recent years for men, women and junior divisions, and new course records and more participation by runners from outside Alaska, the annual event has undeniably evolved and entered into a new era.
In the 2013 contest, for example, Eric Strabel and Rickey Gates both broke Bill Spencer's record of 43:21, set in 1981. And in the 2015 race, three racers had times below Spencer's 32-year-long record. These were Jim Shine, who took third place with 43:11; Rickey Gates at second with 42:56; and Spaniard Killian Jornet at first place with an astounding 41:48, setting a new course record.
These kind of times mean a runner must ascend to race point at 3,022 feet in about 30-32 minutes and descend in about 10-12 minutes. As an interesting side note, it took 24 years for anyone to come close to Bill Spencer's 1981 record (43:21). That feat was achieved by Tobias Schwoerer in 2004, with 43:39.
Times in the women's division have also gotten faster in recent years, with athletes Holly Brooks, Kikkan Randall and Cedar Bourgeois chasing Nancy Pease's record of 50:30, set in 1990. And this year, Pease's record was finally broken by second-place finisher Allie Ostrander, a six-time Juniors champion, with 50:28; and shattered by Emelie Forsberg, from Sweden, with 47:48, establishing a new women's record.
Five-time winner Nancy Pease is said to have wanted to compete against men, and maybe that day is on the horizon. Perhaps the race committee could allow a select group of the fastest women runners to compete in the men's division.
There is one record that seems to have faded into oblivion in the annals of Mount Marathon Race lore: The most consecutive wins in the men's division. It was six, and that was achieved by Sven Johanson from 1954 through 1959. Originally from Sweden, Johanson played an important role in the development of Nordic skiing in Alaska. While Johanson's fastest time of 50:48 wouldn't hold up very well against today's top runners, in the 1950s he was the person to beat.
There has been wear and tear of the course over the years -- caused by both natural erosion and human impacts -- particularly in the lower chute area. But it hasn't slowed descents as some have predicted. Rules to enhance safety include the requirement that runners in the adult division reach the halfway point in 60 minutes; a requirement that first-time racers must finish the entire course prior to race day, and the addition of sweepers after the final adult race to make sure no participants are left on the mountain.
And there is a plentitude of adult race feedstock from the Junior Division, which continues to cultivate some impressive young athletes. That, as well as more international interest in the race by people such as Jornet and Forsberg, should keep the race compelling for many years to come. I can't wait for July 4, 2016.
Frank E. Baker is a freelance writer who lives in Eagle River. He grew up in Seward and has been observing and studying the race since the early 1950s.
The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com