Marathon registration deadlines approach

Early Bird registration for the 2007 Mayor Marathon and HalfMarathon, presented by ConocoPhillips, will wind up Friday, June 15. Late registration will be available June 16-20 and last-minute applicants may register June 21-22 at the Mayor's Marathon Expo at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. The 34th annual marathon is scheduled for June 23.

Registration is available online at www.mayorsmarathon.com . A hard copy of the registration form can also be printed from the website or may be obtained at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex and various locations around Anchorage. However, racers are encouraged to use the online registration system and take advantage of reduced entry fees as well as the website's other features, which include interactive course maps, travel information and more.

Recent permit approvals have allowed race officials to make significant improvements to the half marathon course. The route change will offer participants a more scenic and race-friendly course and will continue to be USATF-certified. More information concerning the revised half marathon course is available online at www.mayorsmarathon.com.

The Mayor's Marathon Expo at the Sheraton, which will include race packet pickup, is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 21 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 22. No race day registration or race packet pickups will be available.

The marathon (26.2 miles) and half-marathon (13.1 miles) events are sanctioned by USA Track and Field as. The top Alaskan male and female marathon finisher will win a trip for two to Honolulu. In addition to the marathon and half-marathon, three other individual events are offered - a 26.2-mile marathon walk, 5-miler and 1.6-mile Youth Cup. Also, back is the popular marathon relay, featuring four-member teams running 6.5-mile legs.