Question 1

How long is the race?

Accepted Answer

The KRR is a 175-kilometre relay race broken into 10 legs, varying in distance from nine-25.6 kilometres. There is also a half-leg race option that starts in Carcross, YT and ends in Whitehorse. The half-leg distance is 70.7 kilometres.

Question 2

When is the race?

Accepted Answer

The race starts in Skagway, Alaska on Friday, September 11, 2026. It continues overnight and ends in Whitehorse on Saturday, September 12th.

Staggered start times are assigned to teams based on speed of team.  Teams needing more time to complete start earlier in the night.

Question 3

What is the Klondike Road Relay?

Accepted Answer

The Klondike Road Relay is a 175 km running relay race starting in Skagway, Alaska and finishing in  Whitehorse, Yukon. Teams start in the evening and run through the night to finish the following afternoon in Whitehorse

Question 4

What are the cut off times?

Accepted Answer

Skagway to Whitehorse race: 21.5 hours to complete the race
Half leg (from Carcross) cut off times:
- Walkers: 11.5 hours
- Youth: 10.5 hours
- Running: 10.5 hours

Checkpoint opening and closing times (Yukon Standard Time)

Question 5

What is the terrain like?

Accepted Answer

The relay is run on a paved highway through the night and into the next day over challenging terrain and through breathtaking scenery.

Question 6

What weather conditions should I expect?

Accepted Answer

The weather varies from beautiful starlit nights with breathtaking displays of the aurora to cloudy, foggy, rainy, and sometimes even snow. More often than not, the race ends on a sunny, crisp fall fay in the Yukon's capital. Participants must be prepared for all weather conditions.

Question 7

How are the race-legs distributed?

Accepted Answer

The 175km relay is broken into 10 legs, varying in distance from nine - 25.6 km. It starts at sea level, climbs to an elevation of 1,004 metres in the first two legs and descends to approximately 610 metres toward the finish line.

Question 8

What if my Leg 9 runner does not arrive on time?

Accepted Answer

There will be a mass start at checkpoint 10 for all teams who's runners haven't arrived on time.

Runners
- If your Leg 9/Leg 9B runner does not arrive by 3:00 p.m., your Leg 10/Leg 10A runner will start anyways.

Walking
- If your Leg 9/Leg 9B runner does not arrive by 2:00 p.m., your Leg 10/Leg 10A runner will start anyways.

The Klondike Road Relay wants everyone to have the chance to run and enjoy the full experience.

Question 9

Looking for more of a challenge?

Accepted Answer

There is also an ultra category, where one person starts in Carcross and completes legs seven to ten solo, a 70.7km distance.

Question 10

I am nervous about running at night in an unfamiliar place. Do you have any advice for me?

Accepted Answer

This is a common concern for individuals running overnight relay races. Along the race, each team is allowed one support vehicle to leap frog their runners and pull off the road every mile or so to wait for their teammate to pass and cheer them on. There are also several patrol cars on the course bringing awareness to runners and making traffic slow down.

Question 11

Is there cell service along the route?

Accepted Answer

After you leave Skagway you are in the wild of Alaska, BC and Yukon! 
Cell service resumes just outside Carcross.   Along the route from Carcross- Carcross corner (#10) there is spotty cell service.

Question 12

How does crossing the border into Canada during the race work?

Accepted Answer

All racers and team members must be admitted into Canada by a Canada Border Services agent.

Leg 3 and 4 racers submit their passport information in advance using the registration system (instructions can be found below).  Leg 3 runners must carry their passports and stop at the designated Racer Border Crossing just before Checkpoint 4 and be admitted by the CBSA agent.  Leg 4 runners and team members should proceed immediately to the border after their Leg 3 runner starts as vehicle lineups are quite long during the race.  If the team's support vehicle is delayed in the lineup, the Leg 4 runner may proceed on foot to the Racer Border Crossing so they can wait at Checkpoint 4.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions