Steve’s Equinox Training Runs
Steve’s Equinox Training (SET) Runs are a series of 8 runs starting on July 8 and ending on August 23; all but the final run start at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Over the course of eight weeks, you’ll explore every inch of the Equinox Marathon course in various ways, with the support of both marathon veterans and other newbies. You’ll find the complete schedule on Running Club North’s calendar page (link here). There is no cost and no need to pre-register. Just show up! If you show up every week, you’ll be well familiar with the course so that you know exactly what the challenges will be come race day! Of course you can do these runs on your own at any time. Remember, the more you train on the course, the less daunting it will be on the day.
These training runs were started by the long-time Equinox race director Steve Bainbridge and the founder of the Fahrenheit Be Damned/Darned sister series Scott McCrea way back in 1997. That’s right, we’re talking decades! They’ve helped countless newbie marathoners and seasoned runners alike prepare for the Equinox Marathon and attain their goal, whatever it may be. We’re here to help you reach yours!
For more information, contact George Berry at gcberry@att.net or 907-687-8769.
Here’s the schedule for 2026:
SET #1 – July 8, 6 p.m. — 7 miles; meet at UAF Patty Center
SET #2 – July 15, 6 p.m. — 6 miles; meet at Large Animal Research Station (Musk Ox Farm) on Yankovic Road.
SET #3 – July 22, 6 p.m. — 9 miles; meet at Anne’s Greenhouse pullout on Sheep Creek Rd.
SET #4 – July 29, 6 p.m. — 4.5 miles; meet at top of Ester Dome between the two antennas
SET #5 – August 5, 6 p.m. — 5 miles; meet at top of Ester Dome between the two antennas
SET #6 – August 12, 6 p.m. — 6.5 or 9 miles; meet at top of Ester Dome between the two antennas
SET #7 – August 19, 6 p.m. — 9 miles; meet at UAF Patty Center
SET #8 – Sunday, August 23, 9 a.m. — Longer run, choose your distance; meet at Large Animal Research Station (Musk Ox Farm) on Yankovic Road.
If you wanna finish, you gotta start! And it all starts with training!
There’s an app for that!
Everything you need in one place. Click the button below to go to the SET web app. It’s a normal web page or you can install it on your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. When you get to the web app, click the Install App menu link for details on how to install the app on your device. Here’s what you can do…
- View maps for each SET run. The maps include an elevation profile and a locator button to show you where you are on the course.
- Get details on the route such as a full route description and elevation stats.
- Download a GPX file for each route.
- Check-in to a SET run from your phone. You always have the option to sign in on a paper roster or you can use the app by clicking on the Roster menu link. You need to create a profile to login so do that before your first run. All you need is your first and last name and optionally your cell phone and email address. Then when you sign in to a run, your name will be added to the roster.
- When you’ve finished the run, click the checkbox next to your name on the roster to let us know you’re done. Don’t forget that! If you finish and then go home without checking the box, we’re going to be out looking for you so please remember to do that. This is also a good reason to enter your phone number with your profile. That way we can call to see whether you need help.
Even if you don’t carry your phone with you while you run, it’s a good idea to look over the course each week so you have a better sense of what to expect. Our goal is to help you with your training for the Equinox Marathon and keep you safe along the way.