The historic Matanuska Peak Challenge lived up to its momentous name, rewriting the record books on the circuitous race. With approximately 9,100 feet of vertical gain and descent, runners ascend a 14-mile out-and-back route up Lazy Mountain towards the backside, connecting with Matanuska Peak before returning on the arduous journey to the finish.
Lars Arneson
Above the clouds, Lars Arneson of Anchorage reigned supreme on the 34th edition of the race, slicing over two minutes off of Eric Strabel’s record of 2 hours, 55 minutes and 43 seconds from 2012. With his time of 2 hours and 53 minutes, Arneson becomes the fourth person to go under the famed 3-hour barrier, joining Strabel, Ben Marvin, and Lyon Kopsack.
For Arneson, the record was an endeavor five years in the making. After competing for the UAF Nanooks in Nordic skiing and cross country running, he believed his collegiate years marked the finish for his athletic undertakings. Fast-forward to 2017, Arneson finds himself spending his inaugural summer in Anchorage, discovering solace in the mountain running community. He joined a friend at the Matanuska Peak Challenge that year, coming away with the win, and earning a spot at Mount Marathon the next summer. Arneson neared a turning point and jumped headfirst into countless trail and mountain races.
In recounting his journey, Arneson found himself a tad nervous, pondering if his peregrination back to the starting line would pay off. As he crossed the finish line, he was reassured. “I was very nervous to find out if those 5 years and millions of vertical feet made me any faster over the 12.6 miles and 8,600 ft course. I’m so happy they did!” He added, “It felt so good! I’m so stoked about it.”
Wasilla’s Josh Taylor took second place in 3 hours, 6 minutes and 32 seconds, after recently competing at the World Youth Skyrunning Championships. Third place went to Ben Marvin of Palmer, finishing in 3 hours, 17 minutes and 10 seconds.
Meg Inokuma
On the women’s side, Palmer’s Meg Inokuma has become a force to be reckoned with, claiming her first win at the Matanuska Peak Challenge. While she fell short of Christy Marvin’s record of 3 hours, 26 minutes and 32 seconds by a mere two seconds, Inokuma was able to better her second-place finish from 2020, shaving off over ten minutes on the grueling course.
Her steady rise to the top has included numerous accomplishments, but not without obstacles along the way. Acquainted with challenging terrain, Inokuma overcame low hemoglobin levels in 2018, building up her endurance and confidence to go longer distances at a faster pace.
In the years since, Inokuma has regained momentum and ascended to new heights. She obliterated the course record at the Resurrection Pass 50-miler in 2021, placed runner-up at Bird Ridge earlier this summer while breaking Nancy Pease’s age group record, and took fourth in a loaded Mount Marathon field in her debut. With the mountains as her playground, Inokuma has become empowered, shooting for goals that were only dreams a few years ago.
Mat Peak Finishers. From Left: Sophie Wright, Meg Inokuma, Josh Taylor, Gail Taylor
Rain, fog, and snow transpired at this year’s Matanuska Peak, though Inokuma was unphased by the elements. Given a challenge, she becomes relentless in her pursuit of greatness.
Throughout the race, she drew inspiration from Marvin, who often competes without nearby competitors. Inokuma stayed motivated during the climbs, focusing on competing for herself. “I really wanted to PR; I knew I could run faster than I did in 2020.”
While she neared the finish, Inokuma was unaware of how close she was to Marvin’s record, but is proud of how she competed—a culmination of weeks of training and tapering for the occasion. Will she return? Only time will tell, but for Inokuma, no challenge is too great.
Palmer’s Sophie Wright, who placed second at Cirque Series Alyeska last weekend, claimed silver in 3 hours, 40 minutes and 6 seconds. Wasilla’s Gail Taylor, the mother of runner-up Josh Taylor, took bronze in 3 hours, 45 minutes and 29 seconds.