2026 Anchorage RunFest Marathon - Aug 16

2026 Anchorage RunFest Marathon - Aug 16 Countdown

-- DAYS
-- HRS
-- MIN
-- SEC

Want personality modes & weather integration? Try the full countdown experience

Race Information

Race2026 Anchorage RunFest Marathon - Aug 16
CityAnchorage
Date2026-08-16 at 08:30
Field Size~232 runners
Time Limit7 hours
Cutoff pace9:57/km
TimezoneAmerica/Anchorage
Official SiteAnchorage Running Club (Humpy's Marathon)
RegistrationRegister · 90 USD

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature12.5°C / 55°F
Humidity84%
Wind10.7 km/h
Rain Chance61%
Typical ConditionsCool, bright late-August Southcentral Alaska morning — summer fading toward autumn, often the most comfortable racing weather of the year

What to Prepare: An 8:30 a.m. mid-August start in downtown Anchorage typically begins near 51°F / 11°C and climbs into the low 60s°F / ~16°C by midday, with about a one-in-three chance of light rain off the Cook Inlet. A throwaway long-sleeve at the line and a light shell in your drop bag cover the cool start and any coastal drizzle; once the sun is up on the Coastal Trail it warms quickly.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 10.7 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

Cooler Typical Warmer
Temperature 10.7°C 12.3°C 14.3°C
Dew point 7.5°C 9.6°C 11.5°C
Wet-day chance: 61% Runnability: 74/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course TypeOut-and-back (loop start/finish)
Elevation Gain197m
TerrainPaved throughout — downtown streets plus the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Chester Creek greenbelt paths
ProfileA genuinely fast 26.2 that starts and finishes on 6th Avenue in downtown Anchorage beside Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse. Runners drop onto the paved Tony Knowles Coastal Trail for a roughly 15-mile out-and-back along Cook Inlet — past Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof — then turn inland for an out-and-back on the Chester Creek greenbelt trail before climbing back into downtown for the finish. It rolls gently rather than plunges, ranging from about 3 to 191 feet with roughly 646 feet (about 197 m) of total climbing and a short pull near the end. Because it starts and finishes at the same elevation there is no net drop, so it sits far under Boston's 1,500-foot downhill limit and times count fully toward BQ. The flat, paved, low-traffic route is a long-standing PR and Boston-qualifier course — about 17% of marathon finishers ran a BQ time in 2016. USATF-certified.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Anchorage RunFest Marathon - Aug 16

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

View all running tools

Featured In

Best Marathons for Beginners 2026 Best Marathon Destination Races for Travel in 2026 Most Scenic Marathon Courses in the World (2026) Best US Marathons 2026 Best Marathons for Walkers 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Anchorage RunFest Marathon in 2026 and what time does it start?

The 2026 Anchorage RunFest full marathon — officially Humpy's Marathon — is held on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The marathon starts at 8:30 a.m. (Alaska time) on 6th Avenue in downtown Anchorage, with marathon walkers setting off at 8:00 a.m.

Is this the same as the Anchorage Mayor's Marathon?

No — these are two different Anchorage races by different organizers. The Anchorage Mayor's Marathon (the Midnight Sun race) runs in mid-June under the near-24-hour solstice daylight and is put on by the Municipality of Anchorage. Anchorage RunFest / Humpy's Marathon is a separate event in mid-August, organized by the Anchorage Running Club, that catches the first turn from summer toward fall. If you want the long-daylight solstice experience choose June; if you want cooler, late-summer racing as the leaves start to change, choose August.

How hard is the Anchorage RunFest course and how much elevation gain is there?

It is one of the easier and faster marathon courses in the region. The route rolls gently between about 3 and 191 feet of elevation with roughly 646 feet (about 197 m) of total climbing and a short incline near the finish. Most of the 26.2 miles run flat and smooth along the paved Coastal Trail and Chester Creek greenbelt, so it favors a steady, even pace. You can map your splits on the pace calculator.

Is Anchorage RunFest a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The marathon is USATF-certified and a recognized Boston Marathon qualifier. Because it starts and finishes at the same downtown elevation it has effectively no net drop, so it is well under Boston's 1,500-foot downhill limit and qualifying times count in full. The course's flat, fast profile makes it a genuine BQ target — about 17% of marathon finishers ran a qualifying time in 2016. Check your standard on the Boston qualifying calculator.

What is the time limit for the Anchorage RunFest Marathon?

The course closes at 3:30 p.m., which is a roughly 7-hour limit from the 8:30 a.m. start. There is also an intermediate cutoff: runners must reach the Valley of the Moon Park aid station by 3:00 p.m. to continue. Marathon walkers get an earlier 8:00 a.m. start to help make the cutoffs.

What should I wear for an August marathon in Anchorage?

Dress for a cool start that warms into the low 60s°F (mid-teens °C). A throwaway long-sleeve or light gloves at the 8:30 a.m. gun, a singlet or short-sleeve underneath, and a packable shell in your drop bag for possible Cook Inlet drizzle cover the typical range. Late August in Southcentral Alaska is dry-ish but cool, with about a one-in-three chance of light rain — far more comfortable for racing than midsummer.

Will I see fall colors during Anchorage RunFest?

You'll catch the very start of it. In mid-to-late August, Southcentral Alaska is just beginning its turn: fireweed goes to seed (the local sign that summer is ending), blueberry and other groundcover on the Chugach Mountain slopes start blushing red, and the first birch and cottonwood leaves begin tinting gold. Peak foliage across the Anchorage Bowl arrives later, around the end of August into September, so race weekend gives you crisp air, the Chugach as a backdrop and the earliest hints of autumn rather than full color.

How do I register and what does Anchorage RunFest cost?

Register through the official Anchorage RunFest site. The full marathon (Humpy's Marathon) runs on a rising price ladder — early entries are the cheapest and the fee steps up as race weekend approaches, reaching its peak at in-person bib pickup. Spots are typically still available close to race day because the marathon field is small.

More Marathon Countdowns

View all marathons