Skagway, Alaska half-marathon - "5% Tough, 95% Brutal"

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TeamHoundandRedhead
Percy Williams
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Skagway, Alaska half-marathon - "5% Tough, 95% Brutal"

Postby TeamHoundandRedhead » Tue Jun 13, 2017 10:34 am

...and they're not exaggerating. I just completed my 4th year doing the half-marathon in Skagway, AK - I visit my friends in Whitehorse, YK and we road-trip down there, about 2.5 hours with absolutely breathtaking scenery. You go through a little bit of British Columbia so we joke that you get to visit a province, a state and a territory all in one road trip.

The race starts at the dock and goes 2 miles along the edge of town, across the bridge and up to Dyea Road. That part is flat. There are no other flat parts, lol. Dyea Road is a long hill - not too steep but just very long to the top. There's a touristy lookout spot where I always stop for a selfie, then a glorious downhill to an inlet, around the inlet, stop for a selfie with the beautiful scenery there, then up another hill to the turnaround. The full marathon keeps going up the mountain - my friend who is an experienced trail runner did the full our first year and says "never again." The half turns around and goes back along the same road, except the glorious downhill is now a long, gradual uphill. Back to the touristy spot and then finally down the steeper hill to the flat road. That flat road feels so long towards the finish line at the dock. This year the weather was forecasted to be 20C with maybe some rain - it was 9C with gale-force winds. You know those dreams where you're running and not getting anywhere? I felt like that getting to the finish line because the headwind was so brutal right at the ocean.

But I got 'er done in 2:37:02 (average for me) and got the medal which is shaped like Alaska. Will be back to tackle those hills next June!

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Spirit Unleashed
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Re: Skagway, Alaska half-marathon - "5% Tough, 95% Brutal"

Postby Spirit Unleashed » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:39 pm

Thanks for the report.

Why haven't the pics been posted?
Athlete....Maniac 973....Marathon Maniac 6645
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marathon runners are awesomeness personified - Ian
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Re: Skagway, Alaska half-marathon - "5% Tough, 95% Brutal"

Postby Habs4ever » Tue Jun 13, 2017 5:51 pm

Very neat race! Thanks for posting. And yes, where are the pictures?
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TeamHoundandRedhead
Percy Williams
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Re: Skagway, Alaska half-marathon - "5% Tough, 95% Brutal"

Postby TeamHoundandRedhead » Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:01 am

Pics, as requested:

The view from the top of that first hill:
Image

The glorious downhill:
Image

Beautiful inlet around the 10K mark:
Image

Coming back from the turnaround:
Image

Me and my Alaska shaped medal with my friend's sled dog (that dog did the Iditarod a few years ago):
Image

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Spirit Unleashed
Lynn Williams
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Re: Skagway, Alaska half-marathon - "5% Tough, 95% Brutal"

Postby Spirit Unleashed » Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:57 am

That is hilly! And beautiful. Cute dog too.
Athlete....Maniac 973....Marathon Maniac 6645
Live the most amazing life you can live - La
marathon runners are awesomeness personified - Ian
Bucket list: http://www.tassietrailfest.com.au/
http://ultramonk.blogspot.com/

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Avis
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Re: Skagway, Alaska half-marathon - "5% Tough, 95% Brutal"

Postby Avis » Fri Jun 16, 2017 6:11 pm

Nice report, and great pictures! Thanks!
"We are made of dreams and bones."
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Nicholas
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Re: Skagway, Alaska half-marathon - "5% Tough, 95% Brutal"

Postby Nicholas » Sat Jun 17, 2017 3:22 pm

Looks like a fun race...other than the gale force winds!
Nicholas

Events in 2018
Walking, Yoga, Soccer scrimmages and whatever else I can do
Hip replacement on September 10....now doing a variation of the None to Run plan


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