Summer 2009: Faculty and staff enjoy a discount if they participate in the Mayor's Marathon

Regular registration closes Thursday, May 21
Race day: Saturday, June 20

Faculty and staff of Alaska Anchorage are encouraged to sign up and participate in the Mayor's Marathon or volunteer to help put on the race. Faculty and staff will receive a $10 discount.

Regular registration for the 2009 Mayor's Marathon & Half-Marathon, presented by ConocoPhillips, will come to a close Thursday, May 21. Applicants may register June 18 and 19 at the Mayor's Marathon Expo at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. The 36th annual marathon is scheduled for June 20.

Registration is available online at the Mayor's Marathon Web site. A hard copy of the registration form can also be printed from the Web site or may be obtained at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex and various locations around Anchorage. However, racers are encouraged to use the online registration system and take advantage of reduced entry fees as well as the Web site's other features, which include interactive course maps, travel information and more.

The Mayor's Marathon Expo at the Sheraton, which will include race packet pickup, is scheduled for 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 18 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, June 19. No race day registration or race packet pickups will be available.

The marathon (26.2 miles) and half-marathon (13.1 miles) events are sanctioned by USA Track and Field Association. The top Alaska male and female marathon finisher will win a trip for two to Honolulu. In addition to the marathon and half-marathon, three other individual events are offered - a 26.2-mile marathon walk, 5-miler and 1.6-mile Youth Cup. Also back is the popular marathon relay, featuring four-member teams running 6.5-mile legs.

This season the Mayor's Marathon and Half-Marathon are "going green." All paper and posters are being provided on 100 percent recycled paper. Online registration is recommended to cut back on paper usage and separate recyclable trash containers will be at all eight stations and the finish line.