AOTW: David Norris breaks own course record at 2024 Mount Marathon

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - In David Norris’ first attempt at conquering mighty Mount Marathon in 2016, he set the course record at 41 minutes, 26 seconds.

Since then, he had won the historic race three more times in 2018, 2021, and 2023, but had not eclipsed his record-setting time from his debut race.

“Ever since, I feel like I am fitter, stronger, and I have just kind of wondered how have I not beaten my original race record time?” Norris said.

Eight years later, Norris — now 33 — smashed his previous record by clocking in at 40:37 Thursday in the 96th running of Mount Marathon.

“It’s awesome, there are all these kids sticking their hands out for high-fives and this year I knew I was chasing the record, I want to get those high-fives in but I knew the clock was ticking,” Norris said after the victory.

Norris made light work of the uphill that features roughly 3,000 feet of elevation, reaching the top of the Mountain in 29:47, almost two minutes ahead of the next competitor, Max King.

“The seconds add up so trying to run where you can run, hike fast where you can hike, and just being persistant on that,” he said.

Norris flew down the mountain in under 11 minutes — from the summit to the finish line on Fourth Avenue — to cruise to his fifth Mount Marathon victory in five tries in historic fashion once again.

Expect the skier-turned-runner to be back in this event in the future to shave off even more time from his new record.

“As long as I can,” Norris said of competing in Mount Marathon. “I just love running and stuff so having some targets and carrots out there to chase, I think it’s healthy for me.”

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