5 running events in Fairbanks, Alaska

Join us for the annual Beat Beethoven 5K running race! This is an all ages, all abilities event that is a fundraiser for the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra. Racers will start when Maestro Zilberkant drops his baton and gives the down beat for the start of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony! (Bum-bum-bum-baaa!) The goal is to finish the 5k before the end of the symphony. Music will be streamed from KUAC local radio and the recording will be our very own Fairbanks Symphony! Racers can listen to the music during the run.

Considered a bucket-list race, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Midnight Sun Run 10K is a uniquely Alaskan race that attracts participants from all over the nation and all over the world. The race begins at 10:00 PM on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice. Starting at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, participants wind 6.2 miles through area neighborhoods lined with thousands of high-spirited spectators. The course ends at Pioneer Park, where the festivities continue until well after midnight.

The race is chip timed, with an elite runner corral that allows serious runners a place at the head of the race, while also supporting every pace and ability. The costumed division is perhaps one of the most anticipated aspects of the race, showcasing true Fairbanks creativity.

Proceeds from the race support the mission of Fairbanks Resource Agency (fra-alaska.org) and the Paula Kothe Scholarship Award, which gives $6,000 in scholarships to local student athletes.