2025 - No Marathon & Half Marathon; Seeking New Race Director
The Frosty Bottom Marathon & Half Marathon will NOT be held in 2025.
If the event is to continue in the future, a new race director is needed. Anyone interested in taking over can contact Matias Saari at matiasmountain@gmail.com for more information.
The Frosty Bottom fat tire bike races will still be held on January 25, 2025 and past runners who enjoy biking are encouraged to participate in that event instead. Visit https://www.chainreactionalaska.com/frosty-bottom for more information and to register.
Thanks for your support of the Frosty Bottom Marathon & Half Marathon over the years!
Frosty Bottom Marathon & Half Marathon Summary
Held simultaneously with the Frosty Bottom bike race, but with some separate elements of organization, the Frosty Bottom MARATHON travels point-to-point from Kincaid Park to the Hillside Trailhead (adjacent Abbott Road) and is capped at 100 entrants.
In 2018, the footrace was expanded to a marathon (26 miles) from 22 miles.
In 2020, The Frosty Bottom HALF MARATHON was added. It travels point-to-point from Kincaid Park to the Northern Lights Bridge (near Goose Lake Park) and is capped at 100 entrants.
There are also simultaneous fat bike races of 25 and 43 miles; Frosty Bottom runners will experience head-on traffic from racing bikers and must give them the right-of-way.
Courses
The MARATHON course was simplified in 2020 by eliminating the two add-on loops of the previous two years in Bicentennial Park.
In 2023, it will start outside the Kincaid Chalet and after .15 miles connect to the Mighty Bike Singletrack trail (the Middle Earth Trail used in recent year is not feasible in 2023 due to poor conditions). From there, marathon runners follow a lollipop route from Mighty Bike trail to the entire Bolling Alley Trail (3.6 miles CLOCKWISE) before returning to the start via Mighty Bike. This opening section will be about 5 miles. Then runners will descend to the Coastal trail.
Then the route follows the bike course on the Coastal Trail, Chester Creek Trail, Tour of Anchorage trail and Hillside multi-use trail to the finish at Hillside Trailhead adjacent to Abbott Road. NOTE: the marathon course in 2023 will measure about 26.5 MILES.
Here is a Garmin interactive map of the marathon course — the marathon Garmin map does NOT include the changes for 2023; See photo #9 above for a map showing the 2023 marathon start route.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4249055540#.XcxGiU3u1wo.email=0A=0A---
The HALF MARATHON course is unchanged for 2023. It starts outside Kincaid Chalet and takes the Coastal Trail for about 9 miles. Then it turns right (east) on the Chester Creek Trail about 4 miles to the finish just across the Northern Lights Bridge. A short access trail then leads to the Goose Lake Park parking lot.
The distance measures about 13 miles and includes 281 feet of elevation gain.
Here is a Garmin interactive map of the half marathon course.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4246756036#.XcxHDWsDsxc.email=0A=0A---
Course Markings
For the MARATHON in 2023, the Raspberry Road multi-use and Mighty Bike/Bolling Alley singletrack will have signs and pin flags as needed. Once the course joins the coastal trail, runners will travel the Coastal Trail for 8 miles to Westchester Lagoon (there will not be course markers). From there they will follow bike race markers the rest of the way.
The HALF MARATHON runners will travel the Coastal Trail for 9 miles to Westchester Lagoon (there will not be course markers). From there they will follow bike race markers the rest of the way.
Aid Stations
Runners should carry what they need for their full distance. However, The MARATHON will have aid stations at Airport Park off E. Northern Lights Blvd. at mile 10.8, at the Northern Lights Bridge (near Goose Lake Park) at mile 17.6 and at the Hillside Trailhead finish line.
The HALF MARATHON will have an aid station at Mile 6.3 at Airport Park off E. Northern Lights Blvd. and at the Northern Lights Bridge finish line (near Goose Lake Park).
All aid stations will have water, sports drink and sustenance (sugary and salty snacks).
Safety
This is a winter race! Be prepared for inclement weather, sub-zero temperatures and wind (particularly on the Coastal Trail).
Dress in layers appropriate for the conditions. Recommended items include a windbreaker, neck gaiter (Buff), chemical hand and foot warmers, and a water bottle or Camelbak (test your hydration system in the cold to make sure it doesn't freeze up).
***IMPORTANT: Runners in both races MUST give right-of-way to fat bikers who are racing and traveling much faster than foot travelers, as well as recreational skijorers, skiers and other trail users. If you have a problem ceding the right-of-way to bikers, please do not participate. Some years the best footing is in the bike-formed rut in the middle of the trail. Runners should leave this area and run on the far right side of the trail when bikers approach them.
Be alert for wildlife and consider carrying bear spray for potential moose encounters. Buddy up and bushwhack around wildlife if necessary.
The singletrack trail for the marathon crosses Nordic ski trails multiple times: slow down before crossing and make sure no skiers are coming.
Some years marathoners will cross dog mushing trails in the Campbell Tract with races ongoing: make sure no dogs are coming before crossing!
Headphones are allowed but not advisable (because they can impact your awareness of your surroundings).
We love dogs but they are not allowed for this race, sorry.
A quick briefing will be conducted right before the start.
Start time
The Frosty Bottom MARATHON & HALF MARATHON foot races will start simultaneously outside the Kincaid Chalet at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14.
The start time will follow the Long Frosty Bottom BIKE start (9:30 a.m.) and Short Frosty Bottom BIKE start (9:35 a.m.)
Bib pickup
Bib pickup is RACE DAY ONLY.
BIB PICKUP will be from 8:30-9:40 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 OUTSIDE the Kincaid Chalet. Look for the tall Heathy Futures windfeather and silver Subaru Outback parked nearest the Raspberry Rd. multiuse trail just west of the chalet.
Restrooms inside the chalet will be available on race morning but bib pickup is not possible indoor because the facility has been reserved for a high school ski race.
Registration and entry fees
Registration at Ultrasignup will open Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 9 a.m. and close on Friday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.
The registration fee is $55 for either the MARATHON or HALF MARATHON (plus registration fee).
Race-day registration is NOT possible.
Registrations are NOT transferable.
Registration fees are NOT refundable and CANNOT be deferred to the following year (including for COVID-19 reasons beginning in 2023).
MARATHON entrants under age 18 must be experienced and approved by the race director.
Those wishing to switch from the marathon to half marathon (or vice-versa) must email the race director by 6 p.m. January 13 so they can be placed on the correct roster for race day (see "For more info").
COVID-19 Policies
Please DO NOT ATTEND if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the 5 days before race day. See current CDC guidelines here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html
Also DO NOT ATTEND if you have experienced COVID-19 symptoms in the 5 days before race day (unless you tested negative within 24 hours of the race start).
Beginning with the 2023 event, dropping from the race for a COVID-19-related reason will be treated as any other illness and will NOT warrant a refund or deferral.
Time Cut-Off/Dropping Out
The MARATHON time cut-off to be included in official results is 6 hours, 45 minutes (4:30 p.m.).
If anyone is unable to make the cutoff or needs to drop out for any reason, they must contact Race Director Matias Saari at 907-529-4178 or notify volunteers at an aid station.
The HALF MARATHON has no time cut-off but participants should finish within 3 hours.
Drop Bags
Race organizers will transport one bag per person (for either race) from the start to the finish. Bags must be labeled and secured.
Runners are responsible for their own post-race transportation if they need to return to Kincaid Park.
Parking/Carpooling
For the start, park either at the Chalet lot or at the large stadium lot.
There is adequate parking at Goose Lake Park for the Half Marathon finish. There is limited parking at Hillside Trailhead for the marathon finish; plan to carpool or arrange for a quick pick-up from a supporter. There is no shuttle transportation back to Kincaid from either finish line.
Anyone looking to carpool from Kincaid (either before or after the race) can post a message on the Frosty Bottom Marathon Facebook event page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/890644781886426/
Awards and Post-Race Party
There will be a $100 cash prize, plus free entry for 2024, for both the men's and women's MARATHON and HALF MARATHON winners!
The other podium winners (2nd and 3rd places for each gender) will receive a gift certificate or other prize.
All entrants will receive a Frosty Bottom hat at bib pickup.
Awards will be given at the awards party at Chain Reaction Cycles, 1148 Huffman Road, Anchorage, at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 15. All runners are welcome to attend. Food and drink will be provided.
Results
The running races will be manually timed. 2023 results will be posted at Ultrasignup within 24 hours of the event.
For results from 2018-2022 (no race held in 2021), see the upper right box at the top of this Ultrasignup page.
For Frosty Bottom RESULTS FROM 2008-2022, scroll down this page: https://www.chainreactionalaska.com/frosty-bottom
A list of past champions and running results from 2008-22 will be posted at the start and finish.
For more info
For more information, contact Race Director Matias Saari at matiasmountain@gmail.com or 907-529-4178.
To keep up on messages posted at the Frosty Bottom FACEBOOK EVENTS page, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/890644781886426/
Event's current local time: 7:31 AM AK
