Oregonian Marathoner On A Roll In Alaska

He won two marathons in two days.

M.J. Engle hasn’t been visiting Alaska just for the scenery. On Saturday, the Coos Bay, Oregon resident won the Frank Maier Marathon in Juneau in two hours, 49 minutes, and 498 seconds . The next day, that’s right, with just 24 hours of recovery, the 40-year-old Engle did it again when he was victorious at the Bearfest Marathon in Wrangell in 2:58:10.

These wins were Engle’s 250th and 251st marathons.

“I like marathons for the pain and the challenge, and every day that I finish one I know I can finish anything else I want to do,” he said.

Fifty-six-year-old Jane Lanford of Fairbanks won the women’s division at the Bearfest Marathon with a 3:34:47. A total of 12 runners finished the marathon.

Four other runners, all over 60, did the same thing as Engle, completing both marathons in consecutive days. Their ages ranged from 60 to 69.

In other Alaska racing news, Laura McDonough eclipsed her own women’s 100-mile race record by defending her title at the Resurrection Pass 100-miler.

For More: Anchorage Daily News