Ironman Heads to Juneau for First Alaska Race

The Ironman Group is continuing its recent expansion, announcing the first event ever held in Alaska — a full-distance race planned for the state capital in Juneau on August 7, 2022.

The inaugural race will cover 140.6 miles of territory in and around Juneau territory. A two-loop swim will begin the action at Auke Lake with Mendenhall Glacier in the distance. Athletes will then use the Glacier highway to head north until the road ends 28 miles from Auke Lake. After the two-loop bike course, the run course will cover two historic trails in the area including Montana Creek, and a running a loop around Auke Lake.

“Hosting an Ironman event in Alaska has never been done before and we are beyond excited to partner with Travel Juneau to showcase the unbelievable destination that Juneau is,” said Dave Christen, regional director for The Ironman Group. “This world-class host city will demonstrate to the Ironman community a truly Alaskan experience at every turn.”

The local Tlingit people have a rich history in Juneau and a local artist, Crystal Worl, was commissioned to create the event’s logo. Her local Juneau business, Trickster Company, features the formline art technique highlighted in the new event’s identity.

“I am thrilled to share Tlingit art and cultural values on Áak’w Ḵwáan territory,” said Worl. “The salmon symbolizes the strength, resilience, and endurance it takes for the journey home to spawn. It is this salmon that brings nitrogen and nutrients from the deep ocean to our land, which has enabled our land to become as lush and green as it is! It is with great honor I am able to create the Ironman logo for my hometown Juneau.”

Juneau is unique among state capitals in North America in that there are no roads connecting the city to the rest of the state. The absence of a road network is due to the rugged terrain surrounding the city.

“Travel Juneau is thrilled to welcome Ironman to our community,” said Travel Juneau President and CEO Liz Perry. “We have a physically active, adventurous population and a surprising number of community groups in the running, trail running and cycling worlds. With over 250 miles of trails, combined with our mild coastal climate and the stunning Tongass National Forest, Alaska’s capital city is a terrific destination for Ironman. We look forward to working with Ironman, our hospitality partners, and the city and borough of Juneau to make the 2022 competition a success.”