Mount Marathon Race
97th Running: July 4th, 2025
REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED
Seward’s Mount Marathon Race is regarded as one of the hardest short-distance mountain races in the world. Up to 30,000 people descend on Seward to watch the mayhem and celebrate Independence Day. The grueling course climbs 3,022 feet above sea level, followed by a fast and dangerous descent.
The 3.1-mile race has an average slope of 34 degrees and is 60 degrees at its steepest. The first organized race was held in 1915, making it one of the oldest foot races in the country.
According to folklore the tradition of the Mount Marathon Race began when two sourdoughs argued about the possibility of climbing and descending the mountain in less than an hour. “Impossible” one said.
To settle the argument, and the resulting wager, a race was held, with the loser to furnish drinks for the crowd. Enterprising merchants put up a suit of clothes and other attractions for the winner and proposed the race take place on a holiday – why not the 4th of July?
The optimistic sourdough lost his bet. The winning racer took one hour and two minutes.
Today, over 1,000 men, women, and juniors take on the challenge, while the city of Seward fills up with spectators. If you’re visiting from out of town, be sure to plan and reserve your trip around the holiday weekend and race day early.
To learn more about the Mount Marathon Race visit mountmarathon.com.
Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities.
Mount Marathon Race 2025 Logo Contest
In addition to their logo being used for all MMR 2025 promotional purposes, the winning designer will receive a $250 cash prize!
How to Enter the Contest
- Contest opens March 12, 2025
- Deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2025
- Winners will be announced in early April via e-mail, mountmarathon.com, and the Seward Chamber of Commerce’s social media channels
For your entry to be reviewed by our selection committee, it must be:
- Submitted directly to director@mountmarathon.com
- Submitted in its original source file (a scalable, vector format such as .ai or .eps).
- Submitted as a high resolution .pdf with 300 dpi or higher.
Logo Requirements
- Theme: To best convey the unique nature of the Mount Marathon Race, the logo design must include a mountain theme.
- Language: The design MUST include the following words or phrases:
- Mount Marathon Race
- 97th Running
- Seward, Alaska
- July 4, July 4th, or Fourth of July AND the year 2025
- Color: The design may include a maximum of four colors. There are no limitations on the specific colors. The logo must look professional in color and black-and-white.
- Integrity: Logos cannot contain copyrighted material. Logos must have been created and edited by the contestant(s). Logos may not include images or licensed images that have been previously published. Must be easily reproduced and scalable for large and small formatting.
- Previous Winners: https://mountmarathon.com/logo-history/
Contest Details
- One winning logo design will be selected by the Mount Marathon Race Committee.
- Contestants agree that the Seward Chamber of Commerce may publish their logo and name(s) and may use both for future advertising campaigns and/or marketing materials.
- Contestants may only submit one logo per contest but are free to apply again in the future.
- Contestants assign all ownership rights, including all intellectual property rights to the logo, to the Mount Marathon Race and Seward Chamber of Commerce.
- The Mount Marathon Race Committee and Seward Chamber of Commerce may work with the artist to revise the winning logo as necessary for its intended use.
- The Mount Marathon Race Committee reserves the right to not select a winner if, in its sole discretion, no suitable entries are received.
Prize
- The winning designer will receive $250, a minimum of one race shirt and one volunteer shirt, and bragging rights!
Check Out The 2024 Mount Marathon Race Guide!
