Anchorage Daily News

1909

Mount Marathon begins unofficially as a bar bet about whether it was possible to ascend and descend the mountain in less than one hour.

1915

The race is first run officially, with James Walters winning in 1 hour, 2 minutes.

1916

Alex Bolam breaks an hour, clocking 55:12.

1946-50

Ralph Hatch wins the race five straight times.

1954-59

Sven Johanson wins the race six straight times.

1963

Karil Bohlin clocks the first sub 50-minute time (48:37) in race history. Also, the women's race debuts, with Jane Trigg winning in 1:37:00

1974

Bill Spencer (44:11) wins the first of his record eight men's races. Kathy Anderson (58:23) becomes the first woman to break the one-hour barrier.

1986

Spencer and Sam Young tie in the men's race.

1990

Six-time woman's champion Nancy Pease clocks a record 50:30, which still stands.

1994

Olympic skier Nina Kemppel bags the first of her record nine victories, which includes a record eight straight from 1996-2003.

1999

Brad Precosky begins his string of four straight wins on his way to six championships.

2003

At 41, former Olmpic skier Todd Boonstra wins his fourth title and becomes the oldest winner in race history.

2004

Former UAA skier/runner Tobias Schwoerer (43:39) becomes the second man to break the 44-minute barrier. Cedar Bourgeois begins her string of five straight women's titles, which include an average winning margin of 4:13.

2008

After three straight runner-up finishes, UAA ski coach Trond Flagstad clocks the third-fastest time in race history (44:03) and exults: "Yes! Yes! Finally! Finally!"

Negotiating the race

(1) START: Sea level

(2) UP TRAIL RIDGE: Imbedded shale lines the spine of the ridge which provides good purchase. Various side trails of scree and shale are not quite so steep or solid.

(3) TURNAROUND ROCK: It's all downhill from here, but runners are pooped when they hit the peak.

(4) SCREE TRAVERSE: Six-time champion Brad Precosky is the master of this section, the fastest on the mountain, because he knows where the trail is soft and where it is hard. He lets gravity, experience and leg speed take over. Running with rhythm here conserves energy for later.

(5) CLIFFS DOWN: Arguagly the mountain's most perilous patch, most runners thoroughly scout this steep, slippery slope. Falling could be fatal. Veterans inspect this section every year. Most elite runners choreograph every step they take.

SPECTATOR VANTAGE POINTS: Hundred of fans gather near the mountain's base to watch runners climb onto the 3,022-foot mountain, then remain to watch the perilous descent of the cliffs near the base. Many fans aslo gather along the trail on the mountain. They are advised to cede the trail to competitors. Other fans kick back in camp chairs along Jefferson Avenue and Lowell Canyon Road, which runners take to the mountain. Most years, fans four- and five-deep along Fourth Avenue downtown to watch the runners make their final sprint to the finish line. Bring binoculars to watch the runners above the treeline on the mountain and take particular not of the dust trail they leave behind on their wickedly fast descents.

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