Totem to Totem Half Marathon

Ketchikan's first half marathon will **hopefully** return to its traditional route this year, beginning at Rotary Beach and ending at Potlach Park! 

Runners, walkers and relay teams will begin at Rotary Beach (Bugge's Beach) and follow Tongass Highway along the water side, 13.1 miles and finish at Potlatch Park. 

There is currently no major construction scheduled for Tongass Highway, so we are planning for the half marathon to follow the traditional coastal route along the highway from Rotary Beach, through beautiful downtown Ketchikan and ending north of town at Potlach Park. HOWEVER, construction activities are subject to change, and may disrupt the route again this year. If the route changes we will notify runners and walkers as soon as we are aware of changes. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding. Rest assured that regardless of Ketchikan construction, we will have a beautiful 13.1 mile Southeast Alaskan course with ocean and Totem views.   

The event is open to both runners and walkers and usually features a smaller field of participants, as the race usually sees between 100 and 200 runners and walkers cross the finish line.  Aid stations, amenities and finish line swag will be available until 2:30 pm, which gives participants 5.5 hours to complete 13.1 miles, which equates to approx. 24 minute mile pace. For safety concerns, pets and strollers are not allowed at this event.

Race will start at Rotary Beach and end at Potlach Park --- construction permitting!

QUICK INFO

• Race Date: Saturday April 25, 2026
• Registration Deadline: Online registration closes on 4/23/2026 at 11:59 p.m.  In person registration will be available at bib pickup on 4/24/2026 from 4-7pm at Ketchikan Parks & Rec. Please plan accordingly!
• Bib Pickup: Friday 4/24/2026 4:00-7:00pm at Ketchikan Parks & Rec AND 5/4/25 8am-8:45am at Potlatch Park 
• Start Time: 9:00 AM for All Participants

RACE FEES

Registration for the half marathon is $60; early registration discounts are as follows: $45 if registered by Jan 31, $50 if registered by Feb 28, $55 if registered by March 31; KRC annual members receive a $10 discount 

BIB PICKUP

Join us at Ketchikan Parks and Recreation Center in the Art Room, the first room on the left as you enter the main doors - we will be there on Friday April 24 from 4pm to 7pm for bib/swag pickup and for in person registration.  Last minute bib pickup will be at Potlatch Park from 8am-8:45am on Saturday morning.  

FINISH LINE CELEBRATION

For ALL participants the finish line refreshments will include plenty of water, Gatorade, Green Bean coffee, sparkling water, etc. Along with a variety of replenishing snacks

Madison Lumber & Hardware will host a BBQ, free for all participants!  Spectators can enjoy the BBQ as well on a donation basis.  Burgers and hot dogs will be available.  

The Asylum will be at the finish line with a beer garden, use your bib tag marked for DRINK TICKET to redeem your choice of drafts- available for participants 21+ years of age.  Available to spectators (21+) for purchase.

We are hoping to host Wild Cones again in 2026, dependent on their availability.   

START AREA

The race will start at Rotary Beach south of town. Parking is limited, please carpool or use public transit if you are able to. A small borough bathroom is available.

KRC Volunteers will be on hand at the start to answer questions and help take care of last-minute needs. Snacks and beverages will be available. 

Opening ceremony will begin at 8:50am.  

Walkers and Runners will begin at the same time at 9:00am. Walkers please stage at the back of the starting corral, runners near the front; quickest paces at the starting line.    

WEATHER

Located near the southernmost tip of Alaska in the state’s southeastern corner, overlooking the mountains of the Clarence Strait, Ketchikan typically experiences cool, sometimes cold and often rainy weather in April, which has brought record temperatures here as low as 20ºF (in 1954) and as high as 75ºF (in 1976).

On race day (April 25), the average low is 37ºF and the average high is 50ºF.

AID STATIONS

1 ~Mile 4 

2 ~ Mile 5.5  

3 ~ Mile 7

4 ~ Mile 8.5  

5 ~ Mile 10.5 

All aid stations will have water, gatorade, snacks, first aid kit and a portable restroom

RELAY HANDOFF POINTS

Relay handoff points will be of the relay team's choice.

COURSE SAFETY

Please stay on the water side of the highway and use the shoulder. There is a section along the South Tongass Highway heading north from Rotary beach with a narrow shoulder. Be alert and as much as possible do not enter the highway. The route then joins the Joseph C. Williams Sr. Kee-Nax Coastal Trail in Saxman and follows the sidewalks through town. North of town past the airport, the route again merges with the North Tongass Highway. Stay on the left side of the highway, facing oncoming traffic at all times. At no point on the course will you cross Tongass Hwy. Absolutely NO dogs on the course.  Strollers are also a safety concern.  

MEDICAL

Every aid station on the course will be supplied with a first-aid kit. If you are in need of any of these items, simply stop and ask the volunteers at the aid station and they will be able to help you.

Extra Ambulance service will be on duty race day to respond quickly in case of medical emergency.  If you see someone in need of medical care, please dial 9-1-1.

SPECTATORS

Spectators are WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED along the route and at the race start and finish. 

Parking

Because of limited parking at the start and finish line, participants are encouraged to carpool, get dropped off, and/or use The Bus.  

Pay attention to the areas marked for NO PARKING.  The cones and tape mark off areas where no parking is allowed to ensure safety when busses, cars and runners are sharing the road.  

Please look at the map of the finish line below- NO PARKING is marked in red - there is limited parking available where it is marked yellow

City Bus

The Bus has agreed to waive fares to the start line and from the finish line for participants showing their race bib. The Silver Line arrives at Totem Bight bus stop on Sundays at 54 minutes past the hour, every hour.  Please check out the bus schedule here: https://www.kgbak.us/145/Transit The last pick up to leave Totem Bight is at 7:05PM.