Marathon runners and relay teams who estimate that they will not be able to complete the course in 5.5 hours can sign up for the early start.

If you are starting early, be at Rotary Peace Park by 6:50am. The race will start at 7:00am sharp.

• The course is marked with pin flags and flagging tape. Most of them are orange, but you may see the occasional pink flag.

• Early aid stations will not be open!

• We suggest that you run as a group for leg 1 if possible, or at least run as a group to the float plane dock where you will leave the paved portion of the course and get on to the trail.

• Be self-supported and carry a water bottle.

• There will be no marshals on the course at this time, so you must be aware of: 

  • the course goes over the Robert Campbell Bridge and then turns onto the Millenium Trail

  • the right turn onto the Rotary Centennial Bridge, “the blue bridge”

  • the left turn into the Robert Service Campground

  • the left turn to Robert Service Way

  • the slight left onto Miles Canyon Rd

  • the right turn by the float planes to the trail

  • after you come off the trail overlooking Schwatka Lake (the escarpment), you run downhill on Miles Canyon Rd for approx. 100 meters and take a sharp left onto a slightly overgrown trail that seems to go in the opposite direction. Take care, this section is narrow and has steep drop-offs!

  • after crossing a narrow footbridge and reaching Miles Canyon Rd once again, take a left turn onto the ‘shoot’ that brings you down to the Kwanlin / Miles Canyon Bridge. 

• Once you are over the bridge, marathoners turn right to begin leg 2 and leg 1 relay runners hand off their wristband to leg 2 runners.

  • There’s an ‘out-and-back’ on the Yukon River Trail. Don’t turn left onto Log Trail, but stay on the Yukon River Trail and run for 1km to the turn around point: keep an eye out for signage! When you reach the junction for the second time, take a right turn.

• The rest of the aid stations will be open, the first one is about 5 km into leg 2 and opens at 9am, but attention is always required. 

If you are a visitor to the Yukon, or are unfamiliar with the course, we strongly suggest that you walk the first leg to the float plane dock, or drive to the portions of leg 1 that are accessible by car to make yourself familiar with the course. 

At the very least, go over the race map so that you know what to expect.