Midnight Sun Run - Fairbanks, Alaska - Running

The Midnight Sun Run is a Running race in Fairbanks, Alaska consisting of a 10K.

More than just a 10K running race, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Midnight Sun Run is a uniquely Alaskan event that attracts participants from all over the country.

The Midnight Sun Run nonprofit organization has been responsible for the popular community race for over 30 years. Proceeds from the race benefit the Fairbanks Resource Agency who is currently producing the event, and four $2500 scholarships are awarded to local student athletes.

The race is held in June on the Saturday closest to the Summer Solstice. Despite its late evening start, there's no need to bring flashlights, as the summer solstice sun shines brightly in the skies, from start to finish and beyond. The race attracts over 3,500 participants, from the elite runners who are aiming to break the finish line ribbon to back of the pack strollers simply out to have a good time.

Even those who don't enter the race have opportunities to enjoy the event. The race course, which starts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Patty Center and ends at Pioneer Park, meanders though a number of Fairbanks neighborhoods, where spectators are often times lined up elbow to elbow to cheer the participants on.

While most participants prefer to wear shorts and a t-shirt, others choose rather unconventional clothing, such as a cow costume. The costumed division is perhaps one of the most anticipated aspects of the race, and given the fact that folks in Fairbanks have plenty of hours of daylight to work on costumes, the final products are unique, to say the least.

Proceeds from the race help support Fairbanks Resource Agency (FRA) programs for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, as well as seniors with Alzheimer's and related dementia.