Sold Out Girdwood Trails Marathon held Saturday; brings new record, and inspiring stories

By Deb Essex

Girdwood Nordic Ski Club

The sixth annual Girdwood Trails Marathon was held Saturday, Oct. 7 starting from the Alyeska Daylodge and travels through some of the most amazing meandering trails in Girdwood. 

This sold-out event included a full marathon, a half marathon, and a juniors half marathon.  In total, 193 participants, including 62 full marathon, and 131 half marathon particpants, from all around Alaska. This included 26 locals and 14 runners from other states, who ran the “marathon loop” in the Girdwood Valley.

The run is the brainchild of Brian Burnett who is constantly connecting trails for a fun day outside.  He most likely ran a solid 26 miles one day and thought, "More people should experience this fun in Girdwood ... we should have a trails marathon," he said.

This trail race switches direction every other year, and this year ran in a counter-clockwise loop connection the following trails: the Winner Creek Trail, the Upper, Middle, and Lower Iditarod Trails, Nordic 5K Loop, Tiny Trail, Athabascan Trail, California Creek Trail, Abe's Trail, Beaver Pond Trail, Bird-to-Gird Trail, Winner Creek Extension Trail, Alyeska Bike Path, and various Alyeska Resort mountain trails. 

Organizers said it would simply not be possible to hold such an event without the funding dedication of the Parks and Recreation Girdwood Staff, Kyle Kelley and Margaret Tyler, who annually apply for grant funding and hire trail crews to repair and maintain the valley’s trails. 

They also coordinate with the Friends of Girdwood Trails to host trail work parties for smaller maintenance tasks. 

The US Forest Service, led by Matthew Sturgess, Chugach National Forest Trails Program Supervisor, also sends a crew up Winner Creek Trail each summer with the enormous task of hardening the trail surface.  The combination of these trail maintenance efforts mean that Girdwood trails have never been better and can handle year-round visitors and participants of this race.

The top finisher in the men’s full marathon was Taylor Turney with a time of 3:17.45.  This was Taylor’s first year running the race, and he was shortly followed by Nathan Dehaan 3:20.59, and Toomas Kollo 3:23.49 to round out the top three.  The women’s full marathon was won by Rosie Frankowski, also the 2020 winner, with a time of 3:49.24.  Following Frankowski were two local runners, Briana Sullivan, 4:01:44, in second, and Emily Pearson, 4:12:14, in third.    

Men’s Marathon winners were First Place: Taylor Turney, 3:17.46 (left to right), Second Place: Nathan Deshawn, 3:20.59, and Third Place: Tomas Kollo, 3:23.49. (Photo Courtesy of GNSC)

Women’s Marathon winners were First place: Rosie Frankowski 3:49.24 (Right to Left), Second place: Briana Sullivan 4:01.44, and Third place: Emily Pearson 4:12.14. (Photo Courtesy of GNSC)

In the Men’s Half Marathon, the perennial champion Eric Vilce maintained his streak, and won with a time of 1:47:31.  He was shortly followed by the top women’s half marathon winner, and a new record, Abby Stemper at 1:56:59.  The second- and third-men’s finishers were Thomas Brown 2:04.16, and Taylor Hanley 2:15.24. The women’s race continued to see fast times with second and third place going to Kristy Smith 2:04.48 and Alissa Cole 2:11.48 respectively.

Men’s Half Marathon winner was Eric Vilce 1:47.31 (Photo Courtesy of GNSC)

Women’s Half Marathon winner was Abby Stemper, 1:56.59. (Photo Courtesy of GNSC)

The Junior’s Half Marathon also saw a blistering new course record by Andrew Krellner at 1:53:26. The most exciting photo-finish of the day goes to second place Brodie Wedeking 2:06.17 just edging out Cedar Ruckel 2:06.19 by two one-hundredths of a second!

The marathon-behind-the-marathon included 50 volunteers who marked the course, including Brian Burnett who timed the race.  There were many others who also staffed the aid stations and road crossings, swept the course, and fed the racers. 

Under 18 Half Marathon Male winners were First Place: Andrew Krellner 1:53.26, (right to left, Second Place: Brodie Wedeking 2:06.17, and Third Place: Cedar Ruckel 2:06.19. (Photo Courtesy of GNSC)

Under 18 Half Marathon Female First Place: Stella Waehler 3:29.33. (Photo Courtesy of GNSC)

Even if runners didn’t win, they were well fed by businesses which included The Bake Shop, Coast Pizza, Great Harvest, and Zip Kombucha. Organizers praised all the businesses thanking them for sponsoring the race. 

The highlight of the awards ceremony was handing out pumpkins to the podium winners, and jars of pickles to the Red Lantern finishers. The pickles seem to be the most coveted of the prizes. The Girdwood Trails Marathon is hosted by the Girdwood Nordic Ski club and is a fundraiser for the ski club in Girdwood Trails.  

A good time was had by all. Even the pickles awards to the Red Lantern winners left with smiles on their faces. (Photo Courtesy of GNSC)

Men’s Marathon:

1. Taylor Turney, 3:17:46; 2. Nathan Dehaan, 3:20:59; 3. Toomas Kollo, 3:23:49; 4. Tristan Amaral, 3:36:28; 5. Owen Hatcher, 3:41:34; 6. Miles Raney, 3:45:11; 7. Eric Flanders, 3:46:01; 8. Zach Behney, 4:01:49; 9. Miles Knotek, 4:08:08; 10. Chance Turner, 4:16:18; 11. Martins Onskulis, 4:18:15; 12. Micah Templin, 4:19:40; 13. Trevor Staples, 4:19:58; 14. George Creighton, 4:25:18; 15. Brian Pautzke, 4:26:28; 16. David Bunker, 4:27:12; 17. Matthew Green, 4:28:02; 18. Johnse Ostman, 4:34:54; 19. Jon Weddleton, 4:35:36; 20. Mark Holman,4:40:49..

Women’s Marathon

1. Rosie Frankowski, 3:49:24; 2. Briana Sullivan, 4:01:44; 3. Emily Pearson, 4:12:14; 4. Alison Arians, 4:27:00; 5. Jaime Bronga 4:41:05; 6. Melanee Stiassny, 4:48:41; 7. Emily Romero, 4:49:07; 8. Erin McKittrick, 4:54:09; 9. Laura McDonough, 4:56:23; 10. Jillian Olander, 4:57:00; 11. Alisha Sarginger, 5:05:42; 12. Kiplin Taber, 5:10:36; 13. Renee Veldman, 5:24:20; 14. Rachel Peterson, 5:35:51; 15. Kayla Holtz, 5:39:01; 16. Jill Aho, 5:43:38; 17. Korbyn Ukasick, 6:01:20; 18. Jen Novobilski, 6:03:57; 19. Brie Kuhn, 6:08:47; 20. Julie Weaver, 6:31:54.

Men’s Half Marathon

1.Eric Vilce, 1:47:31; 2. Thomas Brown; 2:04:16; 3. Taylor Hanley, 2:15:24; 4. Mike Loso, 2:22:25; 5. Mikey Evans, 2:25:08; 6. Brian Fish, 2:29:49; 6. Brian Laurencelle, 2:29:49; 8. Stuart Greene, 2:31:32; 9. Aaron Bates, 2:32:00; 10. Jon Beckerleg, 2:34:16.

Women’s Half Marathon

1. Abby Stemper, 1:56:59; 2. Kristy Smith, 2:04:48; 3. Alissa Cole, 2:11:48; 4. Meghan Adair, 2:12:47; 5. Jackie Harmon, 2:13:16; 6. Libby Kugel; 2:14:39; 7. Shannon Perrins, 2:16:59; 8, Emma Kimball, 2:18:52; 9. Afton Milliman, 2:19:25; 10. Ashley Van Hemert, 2:19:36.

Juniors Half Marathon

1. Andrew Krellner, 1:53:26; 2. Brodie Wedeking, 2:06:17; 3. Cedar Ruckel, 2:06:19; 4. Haden Petrone, 2:12:08; 5. Harlan Loso, 2:14:00; 6. Tyson Ruckel, 2:29:09;  7. Stella Waehler, 3:29:33; 8. Stefan Shearer, 3:54:59.