Mayor’s Marathon called off due to coronavirus

The Mayor’s Marathon, which attracts scores of runners from the Lower 48 and beyond, won’t be held this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers announced Monday.

The event, which includes a marathon, a half-marathon, a 5K and a marathon relay, was scheduled for Saturday, June 20.

Registered participants can defer their registration to 2021 or request a refund by April 27 at mayorsmarathon.com.

The marathon is nearly a half-century old and is hosted by the UAA athletic department and the Anchorage Parks & Recreation Department.

“Each Summer Solstice we bring hundreds of people together from our community, nearly every state in the union, and countries around the globe,” a UAA spokesman said in a press release about the cancellation. “... Paramount in this decision was keeping participants, volunteers, partners, spectators, and the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and not detracting valuable resources away from our local health systems.”

Last year’s race was the 46th annual event, and it attracted nearly 2,300 participants, with runners coming from 48 states and several countries.

The marathon is the latest footrace to be canceled or significantly altered because of the new coronavirus. The annual Alaska Heart Run 5K is Saturday, but it is a virtual event -- after an 8:30 a.m. opening ceremony on Facebook, runners will log five kilometers anyway and anywhere they want. Participants are encouraged to upload photos and results on social media.