Running on a streak of luck: Juneau Trail and Road Runner's Flanagans Run

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Saturday, March 18th, 2023 1:50pm

By Jasz Garrett

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Yellow lab Aly congratulates runners as they finish the fun run. (Photo credit Jasz Garrett/KINY)

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Saturday morning, the Juneau Trail and Road Runners (JTRR) held an annual fun run to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Juneau Trail & Road Runners (JTRR) (formally known as Southeast Road Runners - SERR) is a group of dedicated individuals who take advantage of the natural setting available in Juneau to achieve a healthy and positive lifestyle through running.

The club strives to represent the entire Juneau running community, young and old, male and female, recreational and serious, by organizing races and group runs suitable for a wide spectrum of abilities.

Jeff Gnass is a runner involved with JTRR. He said the Flanagans run has been occurring for over 10 years.

"This year we're starting in Savikko Park, the Sandy Beach area and the one mile goes out back towards the north towards Douglas and then stays on Front Street. There's a turnaround there and it just comes back to the start," he said. "The five-mile goes out the same way but then you cut up to First Street, you go north on First Street, and eventually go onto the Douglas Highway. There's a turnaround at Breeze In and then you just retrace the course for the five-mile."

The weather was lucky, cloudy with a hint of blue sky, although there was no rainbow leading to a pot of gold.

Runners were also cautioned of patches of black ice on the road.

The run was a fundraiser. Adults participating were $10 and youth $1.

Gnass said usually funds from the races go towards sport-orientated groups.

Nearly 30 people participated Saturday.

Above: Eric Antrim (center) finished 1st Saturday. On the left is runner Eliza Dorn and to the right is runner Jim Ustasiewski, who both came right behind Antrim. Below: Antrim continues running after he's completed the 5-mile run. (Photo credit Jasz Garrett/KINY)

Antrim said that it was the first race he had ever won, and although it was a fun run, he was counting it as a win.

He finished the 5-mile portion of the race at 34 minutes and seven seconds.

This is JTRR's second run of the season.

"This is one of the first races of the season, the first race is usually on the closest weekend to Valentine's Day. It's called the Sweetheart Race and that one can be very iffy weather-wise, like snow, slush, ice," Gnass said. "It's kind of nice because you get to see all your former racing friends come out again after the winter. It's kind of a launching the season again event."

Gnass shared his favorite races.

"I love running out on North Douglas, there's a 10k out there that's usually the middle of the week and July so the weather's usually pretty nice," he said. "I like some of the trail runs that go up into Perseverance Trail in that area. Those are a lot of fun. There's the Eaglecrest road run, which is challenging, a lot of uphill."

The big events of the year include the Juneau Marathon, the Douglas Island Half Marathon, as well as the Mt. Roberts trail run.

The Douglas Island Half Marathon began in the '70s, and registration is open now.

To register for future races and view the full calendar, go to JTRR's website.

The next upcoming run will be at Mendenhall Glacier on Mar. 25, a 10k and 1 mile. Register here for March's glacier run.

Proceeds will go to the Thunder Mountain High School track team.

JTRR has 20 or more races throughout the year, which Gnass noted is impressive for a local club.

Their last race of the year is their Veteran's Day Race.

Another long-standing traditional race is the Cancer Connection, 'Beat the Odds' run or walk that JTRR supports.

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