Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon

Pros: Well organized, scenic and good marathoning weather.
Cons: Hills and unpaved trails will reduce your pace.

When I first ran the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage, some ten years back, a hundred or so of us, mostly locals, stood milling around the parking lot at Bartlett High about 8 a.m. Someone shouted runners to the starting line, and we gathered ...

Pros: Spectacular scenery, well-organized, lots of fluid stops, good support, might see a moose or bear
Cons: moderate difficulty, not actually run at midnight!

Although the name of the marathon implies a run under the midnight sun, this race really starts at 8AM. However, after completing the marathon, you can celebrate well into the sunlight as the event is held on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice....