Long-Running Mount Marathon Affected by Swan Lake Wildfire – runnersworld.com

• Alaska’s Mount Marathon is using caution as unhealthy air conditions are proving problematic in the wake of the Swan Lake Fire.
• Because air quality may be unhealthy on race day, the race is offering deferments to the 2020 races for participants. The race has been running since 1915 and has never been canceled.
• The Swan Lake Fire has been burning in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula since June 5.

Because of potential dangerous air quality caused by the Swan Lake Fire, Mount Marathon officials have decided to offer runners deferments to the 2020 race.

The announcement came Tuesday morning after the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality advisory Monday for the area of the race through Friday. The Swan Lake Fire has been burning in Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula since June 5, when lightning ignited the fire.

Though the advisory included a note that said air quality could range from good to very unhealthy, the race, which is set to take place July 4, decided against canceling the event as of Wednesday afternoon, though officials have not ruled out that possibility.

All races are planned to move forward as scheduled. However, participants have been granted the option to defer their entry to the 2020 race because of the poor course conditions.

“In accordance with recommendations from physicians and public health experts, Mount Marathon Race officials have decided to cancel the Junior Race [for participants under the age of 18] if the air quality in Seward is assessed as unhealthy for children and teenagers leading up to the 9 a.m. race on July 4.” the race announced in an updated press release Wednesday morning.

The annual race, which started in 1915, is known as one of the most challenging in the country. The 5K includes nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain and the average slope of the incline is 34 degrees. Participants have to face various surfaces from road to loose rocks to shale. The event, which usually has between 900 and 1,000 racers, has never been canceled.

Race officials solicited feedback from the National Weather Service, the Air Quality program at the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the Environmental Public Health program at the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services, and several health care specialists before making the decision.

The course condition deferral includes lottery winners, priority racers, petitioners and special invites. Runners with “10-year status” are already allowed to defer their entry without losing their priority status. Participants who have already submitted medical or military deferrals for the 2019 race are not required to take additional action.

The race officials added that runners of all ages should consider the potential health risks of wildfire smoke and abnormally high temperatures, along with the inherent risks of Mount Marathon’s steep and exposed trails.

This is not the first race to be affected by a wildfire in recent years. To name a few examples, the 2016 Salinas Valley Half Marathon, the 2014 Lake Tahoe Ironman, and the 2019 Monterey Bay Half Marathon were canceled because of nearby wildfires producing unsafe course conditions.

Gear & News Editor Drew covers a variety of subjects for Runner’s World and Bicycling, and he specializes in writing and editing human interest pieces while also covering health, wellness, gear, and fitness for the brand.