Cape Blossom Marathon runner and co-organizer James Austin V turns at Crowley on her way to Cape Blossom in the 26.2-mile race Saturday in Kotzebue. Austin was followed by sled dog puppies for part of her run. (Photo by Elizabeth Ferguson)
Six runners entered and completed Saturdays Cape Blossom Marathon in Kotzebue, and from the sound of it, six people won titles.
Hannah Atkinson, who ran and helped organize the race, won the piggyback division.
It turned out much different than I thought it was going to be, Atkinson said. Everyone ended up running different courses.
Mucking things up was surprise, surprise the weather.
Staging a 26.2-mile race above the Arctic Circle in a place with limited roads likely would be a challenge anytime, but holding it a couple of days before the autumnal equinox almost guarantees trouble.
And so it was that 10 mph winds from the northwest whipped up the Chukchi Sea and sent waves crashing into Sadie Creek, a spot marathoners had to cross twice, at about Mile 11 and again at about Mile 24.
Its not a long crossing, and sometimes gravel from the beach closes the mouth of the creek and you can cross it on the gravel, Atkinson said.
But between a rainy summer and a windy day, Sadie Creek was deep and wild come race day.
Waves were coming into the creek, and we figured that we would cross it using chest waders, Atkinson said. We got a pair donated to use during the race and we had a volunteer stationed there to help with the waders.
Cape Blossom half marathon runner Rebecca Brooks wading into Sadie Creek while volunteer Quinn Iten monitors and sled dogs look on. Photo by Joanna Barton.
Five of the six entrants made it across the creek. Jesse Klejka of Bethel, the unofficial overall winner, did not.
The leader got there before the volunteer, so he turned around and did a different marathon course, Atkinson said. One person ran across without waders. At one point the volunteer gave piggyback rides. It was a variety of different ways across it.
Atkinson used the chest waders on her way out. The creek was about waist-deep then, she said.
On her return trip a couple of hours later, the tide was coming in and the creek was chest-deep. The waders had gotten pretty soggy by then, so volunteer Quinn Iten put Atkinson on his back and carried her across.
Atkinson finished in 6 hours, 21 minutes, according to her watch. Klejka, who ran a marathon distance despite his Sadie Creek detour, finished in 3:48:44, according to his watch.
There were no official times. No entry fees. No prizes. Precious few aid stations.
The race was so only-in-Alaska, there were signup sheets for marathoners (6 of them), half marathoners (10 of them, including Will Wiese and Wills mom) and 4-wheeler support (11 of them).
It was so only-in-Alaska, recommended gear included bear spray and an inReach device.
It was so only-in-Alaska, sled dog puppies from a kennel on the beach tagged along with runners throughout the day. They ran quite a lot that day, and they were great companions to have, Atkinson said. And yes, some of them crossed Sadie Creek.
It was so only-in-Alaska, it came with a land acknowledgement noting it was being held on Iupiaq lands. Cape Blossom, which juts into Kotzebue Sound 13 miles away from town, was originally called Igluruat, meaning old houses, and was named after ancient beaver houses that have since washed away.
Willie Goodwin recalls seeing the beaver houses when he was a young man, says the acknowledgement, researched by Atkinson. Igluruat is the tallest feature on the landscape (and) is used as a look out for seal and beluga hunting.
Hannah Atkinson runs on the beach at Cape Blossom. (Photo by Ali Everhart)
Atkinson, 29, has lived in Kotzebue since she was 14 and works for the National Park Service as a cultural anthropologist. She participates in shorter races in Kotzebue home of the Mosquito Haven Half Marathon but shes never heard of a full marathon happening there until now.
Roads in Kotzebue are at a premium. Front Street is paved and a little more than a mile long, Atkinson said. Base Hill road is unpaved, goes about 5 miles out of town toward Cape Blossom, and the hill leads down to the beach. An 8-mile road loops through the tundra.
People on 4-wheelers sometimes camp at Cape Blossom, and Atkinson has hiked through the tundra to get there. Last summer she decided to run there via the beach.
Thats when I realized it was 13 miles from town to Cape Blossom and I thought maybe I should turn this into a half marathon or a marathon, she said.
Atkinson has helped organized Kotzebues Kobuk 440 sled dog race for the last three years, and knowledge gained from that plus help from friend James Austin V helped make the marathon happen. Austin, accompanied by sled dog puppies for part of her run, finished in 4:51:11.
Marathoner Ramon Ramos runs toward Crowley. (Photo by Elizabeth Ferguson)
Race day brought rain, wind and temperatures in the low 30s. Besides the raging waters of Sadie Creek, runners contended with tall deposits of grass, mud and water blocking the beach. Atkinson called them mud slumps.
About a mile or two from Sadie Creek there were mud slumps coming out of the tundra, she said. This happens sometimes on that part of the course. Last year you were able to make it over on a 4-wheeler, so I was expecting it to be easy to cross that area.
This year theres a series of (places) where tundra is coming down into the ocean. You had to scramble over these slump piles, run a little on the beach, and then theres another one. There were four of them.
Mud slumps turned around a bunch of people.
Atkinson navigated them twice, and the second time was so much harder she came up with a mantra: Dont get stuck in the mud.
It was much worse the second time, she said. I was really tired and the water was higher. You could still make it over them, but it felt scarier and harder. Those waves were coming up higher and there was less beach in some places.
Only two marathoners made it past the mud slumps. The others devised new courses on the fly, and all of them ran 26 miles.
Which I think was amazing, Atkinson said. To not have it go as planned and get turned around and still finish a marathon.
This story has been updated with marathon times for Jesse Klejka and James Austin V.
See more here:
- Steer clear of seals, warns Hout Bay Seal and Rescue Centre - IOL - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- People really live in the world's tiniest 'state', Sealand - Supercar Blondie - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- This is the Smallest Country in the World Its Entire Population Could Fit in a Chair - AZ Animals - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Sealand firing times 18 to 24 November - GOV.UK - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- Franklin Templeton mulls options on China JV - Fund Selector Asia - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- State Flag And Seal Designs Available for Public Viewing - redlakenationnews.com - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- News Release Department of Health issues voluntary recall ... - David Y. Ige | Newsroom - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- Glover Road and US 93 project complete | News | charkoosta.com - Char-Koosta News - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- easyJet Will Collect & Deliver Bags Straight To Hotels For Its ... - Simple Flying - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- Recalling a moment of valor - Yahoo News - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- Discover 7 DIY Solutions to Preserve Leaves This Fall - AZ Animals - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- Why advocates for transgender rights are so thrilled with election ... - Route Fifty - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- Drop in temps led to Mill Creek chip-seal failure - The Times ... - The Times-Independent - November 13th, 2023 [November 13th, 2023]
- Sealand firing times 11 to 17 November - GOV.UK - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Flintshire Council greenlights new gym and community hub in ... - Deeside.com - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Sealand firing times 12 to 18 August - GOV.UK - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Design and Delivery of Elegant, Compact, and Eco-Friendly (ECEF ... - Digital Journal - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- From Sea to Stars: The remarkable journey of a Navy Seal and ... - Chicago Star Media - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Fresh and Naturally Fermented Birch Juice: A beverage made from ... - University City Review - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Photos of the Week: Trump, the Bidens vacation and fans remember Paul Reubens - The Hill - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Global Airport Baggage Protection Market Size and Forecast | Safe ... - University City Review - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Texas man sentenced to 10 years for operating human smuggling ... - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Newsroom - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Road Slurry Seal and Micro Surfacing Equipment Market 2023-2029 ... - University City Review - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Reward offered in Kellogg vandalism - Shoshone News Press - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Nearby waters a white shark hot spot | Inquirer and Mirror - The Inquirer and Mirror - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- All Aboard: Haunted Ship USS Nightmare Hiring Actors and Makeup ... - Cincinnati CityBeat - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- CJ Logistics teams up with ONE as strategic partner - India Shipping News - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- The fashionable riviera the Danes want to keep to themselves - The Times - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Wands and Wizards Weekend Brings Magic to Fairfield County - Cincinnati CityBeat - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- 10 DC Comics The Superman & Lois TV Show Never Adapted - CBR - Comic Book Resources - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Sealand firing times 29 July to 4 August - GOV.UK - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Sealand firing times 22 to 28 July - GOV.UK - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Single mum to open florist near Chester after retraining in lockdown ... - Chester and District Standard - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- 10 Most Popular Hotspots In The Mexican Caribbean For a Unique ... - TheTravel - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Chester homeless shelter evacuated after torrential rain | Chester ... - Chester and District Standard - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Campbellton Neighbourhood Association dedicates Beaver floatplane - Campbell River Mirror - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Searching for the best of all possible worlds in London - The Spectator - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Councillor Ian Roberts to continue to lead Flintshire Council - Herald Wales - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Sealand firing times 20 to 26 May - GOV.UK - May 14th, 2023 [May 14th, 2023]
- Is Sealand a Country? - WorldAtlas - February 2nd, 2023 [February 2nd, 2023]
- Sealand Power Distributors, LLC - February 2nd, 2023 [February 2nd, 2023]
- HF FOODS GROUP INC. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. (form 10-Q) - Marketscreener.com - February 2nd, 2023 [February 2nd, 2023]
- Long Beachs Aquarium on Wheels is back, bringing the ocean to classrooms and communities - Long Beach Press Telegram - January 6th, 2023 [January 6th, 2023]
- Im an appliance expert and youre not cleaning your washing machine enough, there are four steps to take n... - The Scottish Sun - January 6th, 2023 [January 6th, 2023]
- Report raises question of hunting seals to save Washington salmon - The Center Square - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Nora Fatehi Get Trolled For Wearing White Fleece Coat On Airport, Aditya Seal And Anushka Ranjan Give Couple - India.com - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- 'This gentleman had his weekend plans all figured': Anand Mahindra's Friday tweet involves a seal in the pool - Business Today - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Our story: The birth of Sealand | Principality Of Sealand - December 2nd, 2022 [December 2nd, 2022]
- Sealand Container Tracking | Shipup - November 7th, 2022 [November 7th, 2022]
- Brown: Come to Penn Museum for an Adventure of the Ages, Nov. 19-20 - Main Line - November 7th, 2022 [November 7th, 2022]
- A Comprehensive Introduction to Seal and Valve Maintenance - AZoMining - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Pingree and Thelander clash over support for the lobster industry in 1st Congressional District debate - Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Gray fitness trainer, former reality TV contestant, accused of welfare fraud - Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Alex Caruso, Bulls reserves have makings of another Chicago bench mob - The Athletic - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Vidillion Receives Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) Verification, and Anti-Fraud Certification across North America - Yahoo Finance - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Courier letter: Ed Thelander loves America and its people - Courier-Gazette & Camden Herald - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Ocean currents have sheltered the Galpagos from global warming. Now it's time to protect them - University of Colorado Boulder - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Police teams fan out to check veracity of 4500 affidavits found in court - The Indian Express - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- 8 million NZTC funding allocated to 20 low-carbon technology projects - Current News - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Is promotion written in the stars for Wrexham AFC? - The Leader - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Sealand Road - Wikipedia - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Shell Island tourist and 'depraved' sex offender among those jailed last month - North Wales Live - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Recycling centres in Cheshire West to move to winter opening hours this weekend - Chester and District Standard - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Five Blacon properties that could be yours for less than 170,000 - Cheshire Live - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- 'Psychotic' killer whale scalped and dismembered trainer as horrified tourists looked on - The Mirror - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Top 30 Ocean Carriers: Riding high on wave of profits - Logistics Management - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Airport Baggage Protection Market Size And Forecast To 2022 |Safe Bag Group, TrueStar Group SpA, Sealand Go, Flymate services, Tripod and Secure Wrap.... - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Shoebert the Seal's Week on the Lam in Mass. Pond Appears to Be Coming to an End - NBC10 Boston - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- BYD Reports Firm That Faked Being Bought by NEV Giant to Chinese Police - Yicai Global - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Seal breeding forces Blue Lagoon to close to the public - South Wales Argus - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Report highlights return of EU wildlife over past 50 years - Agriland - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- The North Wales criminals locked up for crimes of aggression and violence - North Wales Live - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- CIDCA to send medial, disaster assessment teams to flood-hit areas of Pakistan - Daily Times - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- The Smallest Country in the World That No One Knows About - History of Yesterday - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Commission on changing state seal and motto behind schedule - WWLP.com - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- A short history of luxury: Mumm, the "Champagne of the Sovereign of England" - Luxus Plus Mag - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Seal spotted in freshwater pond on North Shore of Massachusetts - WCVB Boston - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Genshin Impact 'Try to Lift the Seal' Guide: 7 Seal Locations and how to lift them - The Click - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- The example of the late Queen will shape the future, hopes the Bishop of St Asaph - Rhyl Journal - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- Frozen Planet II: Viewers in tears as seal pup abandoned at 12 days old - Metro.co.uk - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]