The Equinox:

When the University of Alaska athletic department created the Equinox Marathon in 1963, fewer than 20 marathons existed in the United States.  Hardly any included women, children, and hikers, the groups that quickly turned Fairbanks’ burgeoning event into the largest marathon in the world for three years – exceeding even the famous Boston Marathon.

Nat Goodhue, one of the founders, predicted the Equinox wouldn’t last long. Instead, the small-town race has generated a lively history in its first 50-plus years that includes Stan Justice’s long-standing record, a cancellation due to deep snow, Marcy Trent’s three wins in her 50’s, and 12-year-old Mara Rabinowitz’s record-breaking run.  Finishers also include legally blind runners, a guy on crutches, and a women who hiked the arduous course with an owl on her shoulder.

Many more stories, along with recaps of each race, fill the pages of THE EQUINOX: Alaska’s Trailblazing Marathon.

About the Author

Matias Saari grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and moved to Alaska for a reporting job with the Ketchikan Daily News in 1995. He spent a dozen years in Fairbanks before moving to Anchorage Hillside in 2010.

Matias discovered distance running at age 27. His first marathon, the 1998 Equinox, was a disaster. Through 2015, he has finished the race 16 times – and managed to hold his own.

Matias Saari
equinoxmarathonbook@gmail.com