Bearfest gearing up for annual marathon

With activities for Alaska Bearfest 2017 already underway, running enthusiasts are gearing up for its finale on Sunday.

This year’s Bearfest Marathon-1/2-5K will be featuring three separate but concurrently run events, with participants taking on either the five-kilometer (3.1 miles), 13.1-mile or 26.2-mile runs. The start time is at 8 a.m., outside the Nolan Center, but day-of registration opens up at 7 a.m.

Becca Rice has been organizing this year’s event, which has been a component of Wrangell’s bear-related celebration for its past eight years. Though she has never run in it herself, as an...