Last week I flew up to Alaska for the Anchorage Running Club’s Humpy’s Big Wild Life Runs, events that included a marathon, marathon relay, marathon walk, the Snow City Cafe 5K, the Alaska Museum of Natural History’s Run For Your Life Kid’s Dinosaur Fun Run, and Skinny Raven Half Marathon. The 25th Infantry Brigade’s half-marathon race at FOB Sharana Afghanistan was held in conjunction with the Half Marathon. The ARC  provided t-shirts, medals, and other support to the Fort Richardson soldiers participating in the event. Unlike the run in Anchorage, the brigade’s race was held at an elevation of 7,400 feet above sea level.

I was in Anchorage for four days and did experience the famous summer nights of light. Darkness lasted only four to six hours in the south. We’d be out at 10 pm and it wasn’t all that dark out. Earlier in the season, the northernmost region runs on a never-ending light bulb  with daylight illuminating the land in 24-hours cycles.

Race day, Sunday, August 16th was perfect. Conditions were ideal for racing: 53 degrees at the start with overcast skies and no wind. Temps didn’t go up much throughout the day. Most of the marathon course is on the beautiful Coastal Trail that runs along the Cook Inlet.I was the race announcer and I saw many runners, locals and those from the lower 48, I had just met the two days before. Some I have known from other races including many 50-Staters. My buddy Brian Jackson from NOLA finished his 49th state. Larry Macon from San Antonio did Humpy’s as his 566th marathon. And I am not making this up: Larry has run marathons in all 50 states 8 times. That is being beyond a 50-Stater or a Marathon Maniac. I don’t know if there is a word invented for it yet. If you can think of one, let me know!