133 runners tackle the Hatcher Pass Marathon

PALMER — A total of 133 runners participated in Happy Malamute Running’s annual Hatcher Pass Marathon, a Valley running tradition spanning over a decade that’s under new leadership. Husband and wife race organizers Natalie and Eric Bickers took the event over last year.

“Much better than last year. It was 30 degrees warmer which was hard on everybody,” Eric said.

Countless events across the Valley and surrounding state have been canceled due to COVID-19. Eric was pleasantly surprised by the high turnout this year. Eric said they had a lot of positive feedback from runners who all respected social distancing during the event.

“I was surprised,” Eric said. “I think with all the cancellations people were hungry for events and things to do.”

Eric said Natalie is the runner and he’s “just the hunter and soccer player” and is there to help her keep this tradition alive. He said they took it over from some friends of theirs last year and plan to maintain the race to the best of their abilities.

“I’m glad we’re able to keep it going,” Eric said.

There are a lot of repeat participants in the race and there were also a lot of new, younger faces this year, according to Eric.

They held staggered starts this year. There was also an option for teams of three to run the same start and finish with two passes along the way.

The typical time takes about five to six hours total and this year’s winner, Cody Priest, 32, of Anchorage, clocked in at 3:07:51, which didn’t break the course record but came pretty close. Eric said the course record is under three hours.

“That’s still a ridiculously fast time,” Eric said with a laugh.

The race starts about five miles away from Willow and follows Willow Fishhook Road in Hatcher Pass all the way over the summit, and concludes at the Independence Mine State Historical Park parking lot. The trek is almost all uphill, going up for 25 miles until the last mile which goes downhill then up one more hill to the finish line.

Eric said they held award ceremonies for the top three women, women, and marathon teams right after the finish.

Happy Malamute Running holds other races throughout the year. Eric said they had to cancel the annual Valley Thaw Out Races in April due to COVID-19.

Their next race is Aug. 1, the Arc Angel Marathon, which will follow the same course as the Hatcher Pass Marathon but in reverse, going from Palmer to Willow.

The final results are all posted online and can be viewed by accessing ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=70653

For more information about Happy Malamute Running, visit happymalamuterunning.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com