Girdwood Trail Marathon

Girdwood Trail Marathon is held in Girdwood, Alaska, on October 3, 2026, by Alaska Mountain Runners. Three trail distances are on the schedule: the full marathon (26.2 miles) starts at 9:00 AM, the half marathon (13.1 miles) at 10:00 AM and the 5K Trails Race (3.1 miles) at 10:30 AM.

Early October in Alaska means cool temperatures and a real chance of wet or muddy trails, so plan for conditions as much as for distance. The 5K is an easy way to join a race weekend with family, and the half is a sound target for runners with a road half already done who want to try trails. The marathon on trails is a serious undertaking: expect your finishing time to be well beyond your road marathon time, and train accordingly with a 16-to-18-week block that puts the long runs on similar terrain, includes hill work and gets you used to running in the rain. Trail shoes with good grip, a light waterproof layer and a way to carry water will make the day far more comfortable at every distance.