Valley Thaw Out Races
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Valley Thaw Out Races : April 25, 2026, Palmer, AK
The Valley Thaw Out Races take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm, 4350 Bodenburg Loop, Palmer, AK 99645. The event is a fundraiser for the MatSu Running Club. Distances offered are:
- Marathon
- Half Marathon
- 10K
- 5K
- Kids 1K Run
Course layout and participant rules
All races start and finish at Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm. Courses use Bodenburg Loop, the Glenn Highway bike path, and nearby roads; specific turn directions are provided for each distance. The official marathon course is pending permits and may follow the bike path toward Colony High School.
Road traffic will not be closed on Bodenburg Loop; runners will use the shoulder and run against traffic. No strollers or dogs are allowed. Race age minimums: 5K and 10K open to ages 7 and up; half marathon open to ages 10 and up; marathon open to ages 14 and up. Any child under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult for the entire race. Volunteers will assist at crossings and blind corners.
Registration, limits and race items
Registration opens November 7, 2025 and closes April 18, 2026. The overall participant cap is 250 across all divisions (kids run excluded). There are no refunds or deferments. Finishers of the 5K/10K/half/marathon receive a 2026 race shirt (if registered by March 21), a finisher's medal, and a VTOR sticker; kids receive a finisher's token and a VTOR sticker. Bib pickup is available the Thursday before the race and at the race venue on event day. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
