More than 800 runners fought the treacherous trails and heavy rain on Tuesday as they competed in Seward’s brutal Mount Marathon race. David Norris, originally from Fairbanks won first place in the men’s race, with the timing of just 44 mins and 51 secs. He described it as one of the most difficult races he’s ever competed in.
“It’s most likely the gnarliest thing I’ve ever seen,”” added Norris. “Just like the super muddy bottom of the woods, then even on top, where it’s typically dry rock that has some mud in it.”
This year was the 95th anniversary of the race which sends runners up and down the towering Mount Marathon on the Fourth of July. Norris is now a resident of Colorado and has participated in his way through the Mount Marathon race four times. He also has won four times. He set the record for 41 minutes and 26 seconds in 2016.
In the women’s race Christy Marvin of Palmer came to the top of the podium with an average time of 52 mins and 52 second.
“This marks my 10th anniversary and I had a goal to be to the top three for 10 years,” she said. “And I achieved that today, with my third win! This is why I’m so happy.”
She managed to take an almost first place finish, just 15 seconds faster than the runner-up Meg Inokuma of Palmer.
Marvin said that the rainfall made this race particularly challenging this year. The rain slowed all participants, who were careful not to fall. This course is so wet that runners had to wash themselves off after crossing the finishing line.
“The conditions were a total nightmare and an enormous mess and I was very worried for my sons today and also for myself later in the evening,” said Marvin.
Marvin wasn’t the only person in her family to have the first-place finish on Tuesday. Her son, 16, Coby took home his race in the Mount Maraton male race.
Tania Boonstra from Kenai aged 15 won the girls’ race.
