MatSu Relay
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MatSu Relay : September 12, 2026
MatSu Relay is a 50 mile team relay staged in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. The course is divided into 12 legs and is most commonly completed by teams of six, allowing each runner to run two legs. The traditional rotation pairs legs so that runner 1 runs legs 1 and 7, runner 2 runs 2 and 8, and so on.
The route begins near Independence Mine at Hatcher Pass, descends along the Little Susitna River toward the north side of the Valley, and continues through a mix of farmland and forest in autumn color. The finish is on the shore of Wasilla Lake at Everett’s, where participants are hosted on the lakeside patio and are offered appetizers and one complimentary beer or nonalcoholic drink.
Several legs are on road shoulder with active traffic; most roads have a sizable shoulder. On legs 3 and 4 the shoulder is narrower, with the fog line coned by traffic control and increased signage. Weather conditions are highly varied; recent events have seen snow near the start line and afternoon temperatures rise into the 50s. Typical team completion times range from about six to nine hours.
Team formats include Standard (5-6 runners), Ultra (3-4 runners), and Duo or Solo. For each team type there are three age divisions and three gender splits, producing multiple competition divisions; a team’s division is set based on the roster at check-in. Each team must either supply a volunteer or pay a volunteer fee used to hire local groups to work the race. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
