Equinox Marathon & Half Marathon

Saturday, September 21, 2024 • Fairbanks, AK

Going into its 60th year as a full marathon event and its 3rd offering a half marathon race, Equinox Marathon & Half Marathon is a premier running race residing within interior Alaska.

Historical Fun fact: Throughout the 1960s, the Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks, Alaska was named the largest marathon in the world three times!

During the time of year in which this race takes place, runners can expect to be greeted with beautiful autumn leaves of orange and yellow hues, naked yet picturesque trees, and if you’re lucky, some end-of-summer sun and warmth that’ll keep your toes warm throughout the 13.1 trail race.

Of course, participants can also expect the entire Fairbanks community there to cheer them on; as a historical and annually anticipated community event that’s only grown over the years, Equinox is a favorite day amongst locals and participants alike.

Kicking off the race with a single mass start at 8:00 a.m. sharp, this half marathon shares the first 8.5 miles with the full marathon runners while also sharing the final 1.3 miles toward the finish line.

This challenging climbing trail course takes runners up and over East Dome, with many ascents and descents along the way. For the first several miles, runners journey through the Skarland Trail area, with water stations at miles 2.1 and 5.3 after passing Muskox Farm.

Once runners reach Ann’s Greenhouse at mile 8, they’ll be welcomed with another water station at mile 8.8, right after the course turnaround. They make their way past Lake Kularney and Smith Lake before reaching the finish line near Ester Crossing.

Remember, this is largely a community-based event created to bring fun to the people of Fairbanks. As such, runners can enjoy generous cut-off times of 10+ hours.

Upon crossing the finish line, runners will then head toward the doors of the Equinox Awards Banquet whereby all participants and spectators gather to celebrate their accomplishments, flaunt their finisher medals, and indulge in food and drink whilst speeches and prizes are being presented.

We ranked the Equinox Marathon as one of the most difficult in the United States.

Race Weather & Climate

Fairbanks, Alaska, is located in the interior of the state, close to the northern border with Canada. It is approximately 360 miles from Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska.

In mid-September, Fairbanks, Alaska experiences the onset of autumn, bringing about a noticeable change in its climate. The average high temperature for September 16 in Fairbanks typically hovers around 59°F (15°C), while the average low temperature dips to around 38°F (3°C) in Fahrenheit.

September is generally a drier month in Fairbanks, with an average rainfall of approximately 0.9 inches (2.3 cm). This lower precipitation level is largely due to the decreasing daylight hours and the gradual transition from summer to fall weather patterns

On race day (September 21), the average low is 38ºF and the average high is 50ºF.