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Equinox Marathon and Relay race photo

Equinox Marathon and Relay

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USSeptember 202742.195km
Quintin Soloviev · CC BY-SA 4.0
Race date Sep expected
September 2027
City · Distance
Fairbanks · 42.195km
Entry fee
$100From the 2026 edition
2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon
2026Date Sep 19, 2026 · Entry Apr 21, 2026 ~ Sep 18, 2026 · Entry fee $100 · Start 08:00
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 11, 2026
Equinox Marathon and Relay race photo
Quintin Soloviev · CC BY-SA 4.0
About the raceHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Equinox Marathon and Relay — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Founded in 1963, this is a signature long-distance event of interior Alaska.

Held at the peak of fall foliage, it tests both physical stamina and mental toughness.

Besides the marathon run, there are also a marathon hike and a 3-person relay, so non-runners can take part as well.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Equinox Marathon and Relay runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

No runner reports yet. We'll add them here as they come in.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Winning Alaska's Toughest Marathon | Equinox 2025

Finn Morley

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Equinox Marathon and Relay — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2026 edition

Marathon Run

Entry cost $100

until Aug 1, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Marathon Hike

Entry cost $100

until Aug 1, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Relay

Entry cost $245

Marathon Relay · until Aug 1, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Equinox Marathon and Relay course map and elevation

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 08:00
START · FINISH

Student Recreation Center Field, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

Start · Google Maps
Show more

The Marathon Run, Marathon Relay, and Marathon Hike events are held together.

The start time is 8:00 a.m. local time.

Course is a loop course that returns to the starting point.

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your Equinox Marathon and Relay race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Relay teams cannot collect their race materials on race day.
They must collect them during the advance collection period, when section assignments will also be confirmed.
Advance pickup date to be announced · 9/19 (Sat) 06:30–07:30 (marathon only; no race-day registration)

Advance pickup: UAF Student Recreation Center, Fairbanks, AK / Race-day pickup: on site

marathon only

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

MACS Transit bus stop at UAF Wood Center (adjacent to Patty Center)

Start/finish is at the Patty Center on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus (1962 Yukon Dr, Fairbanks, AK 99775). Fairbanks North Star Borough's MACS public bus system has a stop at the UAF Wood Center, a short walk from Patty Center; MACS operates Mon-Sat only.

Date matches official site (Sat Sept 19, 2026) for the annual autumnal-equinox race.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start (loop course finishes at Patty Center, UAF)

Course is a loop starting and finishing at Patty Center/UAF campus.

Map

Start shuttle

Race organizer runs shuttle buses on a loop between UAF, Ann's Greenhouse, and Henderson/Ester Dome Road for relay exchange points until ~3pm race day.

Transit card

Fairbanks' MACS bus system charges a flat cash fare per ride, with no rechargeable smart card or tap-to-pay bank card option, so carry exact change or check the Fairbanks North Star Borough website for current fares. Most Equinox Marathon visitors coming from outside Fairbanks will rely on a rental car, since weekend bus coverage to the University of Alaska Fairbanks start area is limited.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Course starts on the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) campus and follows trails and unpaved roads up to the summit of Ester Dome (about 708m elevation),

then descends via the summit to Henderson Road.

It then passes through Henderson and Gold Hill roads back to campus, with a total elevation change of about 1,001m (3,285 feet).

The race is held around the autumn equinox, on the third or fourth Saturday of September.

Times are local to Fairbanks. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Fairbanks car rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Fairbanks Airport

Hotel · 3.9km

8.4/10(223)
View on Booking.com

Fairbanks Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq

Hotels near the Equinox Marathon and Relay start line in Fairbanks

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start/finish area.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Fairbanks Airport

Hotel · 3.9km

8.4/10(223)
View on Booking.com

Birch Suite: 2 Bedroom, King Bed, Pour Over Coffee

Accommodation · 3.7km

9.8/10(16)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Fairbanks car rental (EconomyBookings)

Compare rates from various rental car companies, self-drive (price confirmed at time of reservation) · Make reservation after checking price

View on EconomyBookings

Fairbanks Car Rental (Qeeq)

Compare budget-friendly rental cars with a free-cancellation option (check the price when booking) · Check price and book

View on Qeeq
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Fairbanks with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Fairbanks.

Total cost and budget for Equinox Marathon and Relay

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Equinox Marathon and Relay

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Fairbanks runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Equinox Marathon and Relay

FAQ
When does Equinox Marathon and Relay 2027 take place?

Not officially announced yet.

It's expected in September 2027;

the 2026 race was held on Sat, September 19, 2026.

When does registration for Equinox Marathon and Relay 2027 open?

Not announced yet. Entries for the 2026 race opened on Tue, April 21, 2026.

How much is the Equinox Marathon and Relay 2027 entry fee?

Not announced yet. The 2026 race entry fee was about $100.

What distances does Equinox Marathon and Relay 2027 offer?

Marathon. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Equinox Marathon and Relay 2027 start?

The race starts at 08:00. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Equinox Marathon and Relay 2027 start?

Student Recreation Center Field, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK.

(From the 2026 edition)

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