Equinox Marathon

Equinox Marathon takes place in Fairbanks, Alaska, on September 19, 2026. The event offers the trail marathon (26.2 miles) starting at 8:00 a.m., and a marathon relay run over the same distance. Fairbanks is in Alaska's interior, and the race takes place near the fall equinox, which explains the name.

A trail marathon is considerably harder than a road marathon over the same distance, so your finish time will not compare with your road PR. This is a race for runners who want a demanding, scenic marathon rather than a fast one, and for teams looking for a shared challenge through the relay. Build for it with a 16- to 18-week plan that includes at least half of your long runs on trails and hills. Late September in interior Alaska can be cold at the start, so plan layers you can shed, and expect that the long climbs and descents will demand more from your quads than a flat course would.