Mayor's Marathon and Half Marathon

Anchorage, Alaska - Saturday, June 19, 2010

Each year, Mayor's Marathon and Half Marathon attracts runners from all over the world. This year about 4,000 runners competed at the 37th annual Mayor’s Marathon and Half Marathon presented by ConocoPhillips in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday, June 19, 2010. Of those runners were 23 National Guard Marathon Team participants. The Mayor’s Marathon is organized by the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and Anchorage Parks & Recreation. There are five running races that are held simultaneously , with include, a Marathon (26.2 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles), a Five Miler recreational event (5.61 miles), a Marathon Relay (4 x 6.5 mile legs) and the Youth Cup (1.6 miles).

With a high of 59 degrees, overcast skies and a light rain, the weather was perfect for racing. The course took marathoners from the foothills of the Chugach Mountains on the east side of Anchorage, to the chilly waters of Cook Inlet- offering breathtaking scenery to stimulate the senses and take one's worries off physical exertion. CPT Varinka Barbini, KYNG, “I kept looking from side to side telling myself, there are no bears out here. I found myself running faster and faster trying to find the pack, so at least if I saw one I had a chance of survival.” Luckily no bears where spotted, however there were a few moose on the course!!

The marathon event kicked off at Bartlett High School and traveled through the eastern foothills and across Anchorage to the West High School finish line. The race was challenging, made up of scenic city bike trails, mud, gravel, rocky, and paved roadways. The race is sanctioned by USA Track and Field and is recognized by the Boston Marathon as a qualifying event. The following Soldiers/Airmen participated in the scenic 26.2 jaunt: Brendan Thompson, from Mose Lake, WA finishing 2nd in his age group 7th overall, with a time of 2:56:47. Barry Bill, Wappingers Falls, NY, coming in 6th in his age group, at 3:10:03. Mike Hagen, Lincoln, NE, finished 8th in his age group, with a time of 3:29:22 and Dennis Hartman, from Waverly, NW, finishing 18th his age group, completing the marathon in 3:45:44.

The Marathon Relay consisted of a four member team covering the same course as the individual marathon. The first team crossing the finish line with the marathon sash wins. Team runners can only run in one leg of the event. Relay exchanges were at the aid stations located at Mile 7.1, Mile 15, and Mile 21. There are six divisions to choose from: Corporate, School Age (junior & senior), Military Service, Open Men, Open Women & Open Mixed. For the Men’s Team, Team National Guard dominated the Open Men’s division coming in 1st place with a time of 2:44:03! The Team National Guard members were: 1SG Seven Richmond, ORNG, 2LT Vikram Mittal, MANG, CW2 Greg Whisler, VANG, and SSG Mathew Stern, PANG. The All Guard Women Team placed 1st in the Military Service division with a time of 3:27:49. The members of the All Guard Women Team: MAJ Kristine Cambre, LANG, MAJ DeAnne Trauba, UTNG, CW2 Rachelle McKay, ILNG, and 1LT Annaliese Baumer, VTNG.

Seven members of the National Guard Team ran the half marathon route through breath taking Anchorage, Alaska. The course began at West High School traveling down West Northern Lights Boulevard for 3 miles. The course then turned onto Tony Knowles Coastal Trail past Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof until mile 6.5. The course followed a path to the beautiful Coastal Trail for 6 miles until it reaches Westchester Lagoon. The last mile followed the marathon course to a shared finish line at West High School. MAJ Michael Diaz, TXNG, opinion of the course, “The Mayor's Half Marathon was a challenging course which tested every runner regardless of ability. The Anchorage weather was ideal for running and the support of the race was excellent. If given the opportunity, I would run the half or the full again.”

Congratulation goes out to the following Soldiers/Airmen on their outstanding finishes of the half marathon:

National Guard Coordinator, Mike Hagen, NENG, had this to say about his marathon team, “This was a great event for the National Guard's All Guard Marathon Team. The National Guard runners were very excited about this event, and it was apparent with their results."