Kenai River Marathon marks 20th year with Sunday races

The Kenai River Marathon celebrates its 20th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 27, when runners leave the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on the Kenai Spur Highway at 9 am.

Organizers bill the race as "26.2 Miles through Alaska's Playground," but the full marathon is only one of four ways to take part. There's also a half marathon, a four-person marathon relay and a 5K fun run or walk. The full, half and relay start together at 9 am, and the 5K follows at 9:30 am. Full and half marathoners finish where they started, back at the visitor center.

The relay splits the marathon into four legs of 5.8, 6.7, 6.4 and 7.3 miles. Teammates hand off at three exchange points along the course, so the final runner carries the team through the longest stretch.

The course mixes paved roads and wooded trails around Kenai and is marked with arrows and traffic cones. Organizers say the course maps may change because of city construction projects, though the race distances won't. Road construction also means the 2026 full marathon won't count as a Boston Marathon qualifier, which matters for runners chasing a qualifying time.

Registration closed Sept. 15, and there's no race-day sign-up. For everyone else, the easiest place to watch is the visitor center, where every race starts and the full and half marathons finish. Get there by 9 am to see the distance runners off, or by 9:30 am for the 5K.

Registered runners can pick up their bibs at the Chamber on Friday, Sept. 25, from noon to 5 pm, or on race morning from 7 to 8:30 am at the visitor center. Bibs won't be handed out at the start line.

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center hosts the race with the City of Kenai and community volunteers. Part of the proceeds goes toward parks and recreation in and around Kenai.