Description
The Race Across Alaska Winter Challenge (RAAWC) is celebrating its 5th year this Winter 2024-2025! This is a multi-sport, multi-distance winter challenge with the goal to log as many miles as you can over 3 months starting the first day of winter, December 21st, 2024 and ending the last day of winter, March 20th, 2025.
You can Walk, Run, Fat Tire Bike, Indoor Bike, XC Ski, Swim or log "other" for exercises not included like ice skating, kick sledding, stand-up paddle boarding or anything else where you can accrue mileage. Next you will pick which race distance you'll like to accomplish across Alaska with your choice of 8 different routes of varying distances depending on your goals!
Race Mileage if you begin December 21st, 2024
- 60 miles = Anchorage to Whittier (0.7 miles/day)
- 125 miles = Anchorage to Sheep Mountain (1.4 miles/day)
- 235 miles = Anchorage to Denali National Park (2.6 miles/day)
- 350 miles = Anchorage to Delta Junction (3.9 miles/day)
- 500 miles = Alaska Long Trail, Seward to Fairbanks (5.6 miles/day)
- 800 miles = Denali Highway Loop (8.9 miles/day)
- 1,150 miles = Historic Iditarod Trail (12.8 miles/day)
- 2,000 miles = Ketchikan to Deadhorse (22.3 miles/day)
You will have the ability to log your miles, track your progress, collect virtual badges, and see how you rank up to others on the leader board daily. Invite your friends for a discount and to challenge you to stay motivated all Winter long!
RAAWC is a Fundraiser for Alaskan Non-Profits!
Alaska Trails, Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage and Challenge Alaska were are 501(c)(3) nonprofits in 2024. Stay tuned for our NEW Non-profits! Our non-profit's share the vision of supporting Alaskans through physical activity, $10 will be donated to the non-profit of your choice OR you can divide between all 3 PLUS racers can donate additional funds to support our non-profit donation goal. Since 2020 we have raised over $200,000 through racer participation and additional donations!
Official Race Cannon Start
The official race cannon will be fired at the Zoom Kickoff Party on December 21st at 6pm AKS (10pm EST). Join our facebook group to hear about pop-up Zoom and/or Zwift FREE workouts, weekly photo contests, and join others in our very fun social media group!
So, the question is; Who’s ready to play?
Trifecta Fitness Challenge
What is it?
The Trifecta Fitness Challenge is a 3 challenge event designed to keep athletes moving October 1st thru June 15th. We've recognized that many athletes are often struggling during these darker, colder (cooler) months and we wanted to make a special way to keep everyone active. We recognize how big of a piece physical fitness is to your mental health and we see how many people struggle with mental health during these colder months. These 3 challenges allow all kind of athlete to log their minutes/miles with an objective without the added stress an in-person physical event often has on individuals. We notice that often challenge athletes are those that are competitive in an intrinsic form though they love the motivation our leaderboards, weekly newsletter, private social media group and swag give them as far as being apart of something big.
All racers that sign-up for all 3 challenge events by November 15th will receive this Trifecta Challenge ring FOR FREE. After November 15th, there will be a limited quantity of rings available yearly for purchase at a first to purchase, first served basis but once they're gone, they're gone!
Do It for the Swag!
This year's Race Across Alaska gives participants the choice between a tri-blend heather black long sleeve hooded shirt, lattice black polyester t-shirt or lattice black polyester tank top, all made from Leslie Jordan. All racers will also receive a sports spandex hat with internal fleece lining. All items fit true to size. See our sizing chart on the FAQ page!
**Please note that shirt style and color may change, based on availability. Supply chain shortage is an issue races are experiencing as well.
**THIS IS THE WINTER 2024 RACE SHIRT & HAT DESIGNS!**
BACKSIDE OF SHIRT
All starters will receive a long sleeve shirt and hat. For those who persevere til the very end, we will have a bottle opener medal for you to enjoy your celebratory drink with!
**THIS IS THE WINTER 2025 RACE MEDAL!**
In-person shirt & hat swag pickup is TBD, typically Dec 31st! For every person that picks up their packet, we will donate an additional $5 to our non-profit donations bank!
We realize not all racers care for the swag but we're unable to remove it from the challenge price as its a package deal. Racers can chose to opt out of swag when registering by picking "No thank! Donate it!" when choosing your shirt size. If you opt out of swag, this will opt you out of the shirt and hat but we'll donate an additional $25 to the Alaska Trails for you! All those that opt out of shirts, we will circle back to in March to confirm you would like a medal. If you opt out of medals, we will donate an additional $10 to the Alaska Trails.
All other racers will receive their swag in the mail! Shipping is included in our race price, EXCEPT outside of the USA receive an additional $10-35 shipping charge, country shipping cost dependent.
Register by December 1st to be included in the first wave of shipping out by New Years Eve.
Register by January 2nd to be included in the second wave of shipping out by January 31st.
Register after January 2nd: Limited sizing will be available on Feb 1st for shipment. NO guarantee on shirt sizing. You WILL receive your finisher's medal!
Racers will also get virtual race badges as you reach destinations along your race course!
This is our 2023 virtual badge designs races can anticipate seeing when they log their workouts! Every race has 8 custom race badges, our 2000mile challenge has 16! **STAY TUNED FOR WINTER 2024 BADGES**
All racers will receive weekly newsletters. The newsletter will have an highlights for the week about our race newsletter along with an activity focus like "Fat Tire Biking", include a workout, good places to go, and any events coming up.
Lastly, we have lots of fun "add-on swag" options available this year!
Race Contact Info
If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.
Safety Considerations
This is intended to be participatory, fun and keep the community active and engaged
Athletes must obey the rules of the road
Use common sense when deciding when and where to participate
Wear reflective gear if competing at dusk or dawn
Don’t bike in high traffic areas
What is the Alaska Long Trail?
The Alaska Long Trail
From the Camino de Santiago in Spain to the Great Himalayan Trail in Nepal, the Inca Trail in Peru to the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails in the United States, long trails have captured the attention of travelers the world over. With some of the most stunning wilderness in the world, Alaska is long overdue in creating a world class long trail of its own. Long trails engage visitors in everything from simple day hikes to multi-week, bucket list lifetime accomplishments. Alaska Trails and its partners are proposing such a route connecting Fairbanks and Seward. This first 500 mile segment could ultimately expand into a 2000+ mile trail extending north from Fairbanks to the Brooks Range and the North Slope, and south to a future SE Long Trail, following an alluring mix of trails and ferry rides. Many sections of the proposed trail already exist or are currently planned, and the route is almost entirely on public lands, enormously reducing the complexity and cost.
It’s time for Alaska to invest in its future by creating a route that will stand with the other great long trails of the world.
Learn more at https://www.alaska-trails.org/the-alaska-long-trail.
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