Photos: Alaska Relay sends runners 175 miles to Seward

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 15

Sean Hardy discusses bear safety with runners at the start of the Alaska Relay footrace to Seward on Friday, July 7, 2017, at Mirror Lake in Chugiak. Flanking him are race organizer Nathan Luke, left, and David Luke. (Erik Hill / Alaska Dispatch News)

Sixteen teams of 12 runners signed on for the inaugural Alaska Relay footrace from Mirror Lake Park in Chugiak to Seward High School. Three waves of teams left Mirror Lake at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon on Friday, with front-runners looking to complete the 175-mile course in Seward Saturday afternoon. Runners cover three legs apiece for 36 legs total, with mileage varying on each leg.

The event is the brainchild of Nathan Luke, who has participated in 17 long-distance relays, notably the Hood to Coast Relay and the Cascade Relays in Oregon. Luke had hoped to test out the course last year with two teams, but the McHugh Creek Fire forced a cancellation of that effort.

Each team has two vans, one acting as a support vehicle for the runner on the course and one for resting runners further down the road. Vans are decorated as appropriate for teams named "Running On Empty," "Motha Runnas" and "Sisters With Blisters."

Teams are also outfitted with bear spray, and if concerns arise on backcountry legs, teams will bypass sections deemed risky. "If you are uncomfortable with one of the legs because of the bear situation, you don't have to run it," Luke told runners at the start line. Runners can make up mileage accompanying other runners on later legs. "This is meant to be a fun and social race," he said.