Race Day Info
The Essentia Health Fargo Marathon starts and finishes at Fargodome in the heart of Fargo, ND on Saturday, May 20, 2023, but that's just one event that take place over this week-long celebration! We'll be updating this website regularly with new information, so be sure to check back.
RACE DAY PARKING & SHUTTLE
FARGODOME PARKING
The FargoDome provides parking for participants throughout the week for the Fargo Marathon events. Cyclothon, Furgo Dog Run, Youth Run, and the 5K will have ample parking for participants. On Saturday morning, there will be parking available for participants at the FargoDome. Please see the map linked below for areas to park at specific times to achieve the easiest access out of the FargoDome once your race is complete.
RACE DAY SHUTTLE
For our friends from out of town or for those people who don’t want to hassle with looking for parking spots on marathon morning, we are pleased to provide race day shuttle bus transportation sponsored by the Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo Convention and Visitors Bureau, from various locations throughout Fargo/West Fargo & Moorhead to the Fargodome. The shuttle map and schedule links below show the current locations where shuttle buses will be picking up runners.
Shuttle buses will depart from those locations every 15 minutes starting from 5:15 AM until 6:45 AM on Saturday morning.
Shuttle buses will also be taking runners back to these locations (leaving from the Fargodome) on a regular basis from 10:30 AM until 2:15 PM on Saturday afternoon.
All runners with a bib number are allowed on the bus at no charge. Only runners with a bib may ride the bus - no extra passengers.
Shuttle Bus Pickup Points
West Acres Mall – WEST PARKING LOT
Scheels Arena – SOUTH PARKING LOT
Radisson Blu Hotel – DOWNTOWN FARGO
Expo
The Essentia Health Fargo Marathon features a two-day Health & Fitness Expo prior to the race, which all participants must visit in order to pick up their race packets. Free and open to the public, this expo features the latest in running technologies, fitness apparel, health & nutrition information and interactive displays.
All runners must visit the expo to pick up their race number, gear bag and race shirts/hoodies.
Interested in becoming a vendor at the expo? Click here to learn more!
Packet Pickup
Packet pickup will take place in the days leading up to or the day before your race. In order to get your packet, you will need to bring the email confirmation you received during race week that includes the unique QR code for race week. This can be printed out and/or shown on your mobile device.
If you cannot pick up your race packet before packet pickup closes Friday evening, we have two options for you. First, you may have another person pick it up for you as long as they have the confirmation email. We do not offer packet pickup on race morning, Saturday, May 20th. The second option is bib mailing. You can select this option during registration. It is important to note that you’ll have to pick up your race shirt and other goodies after the race. The last day to register for the bib-mailing option is April 25, 2022.
Packet pickup for the Cyclothon will be held at the Buffalo Wild Wings in North Fargo on Monday, May 15th from 12 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Please see below for the complete list of packet pickup times and locations.
CYCLOTHON
Buffalo Wild Wings, North Fargo
Monday, May 15
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
FURGO DOG RUN
Fargodome, South side
Tuesday, May 16
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
YOUTH RUN
Fargodome, Lower level (take escalators)
Thursday, May 18
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
ALL OTHER RUNNING/WALKING EVENTS
Fargodome
Thursday, May 18 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday, May 19 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Pace Team
Need someone to help you make sure you don't start off too fast or too slow? Well, we have a pace team for you!
The Fargo Marathon will offer pace groups for the following time goals for the full marathon: 3:00, 3:10, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 3:55, 4:00, 4:05, 4:10, 4:20, 4:35, 4:50, 5:00, 5:15, 5:30, and 6:00.
We will also offer pacers for the half marathon for the following times: 1:30, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:45, and 3:00.
How do you join a pace group? Feel free to stop by the pacers table at packet pickup and sign up for free. The pacers will be handing out cool pace bands to all runners. They will also hold signs with their pacing time on them during the race.
Bands on the Run
The 2023 Essentia Health Fargo Marathon will feature over 50 bands and DJs on the course again! There is no need for headphones on this course! Sponsored by BNSF Railway - click the dropdown below to see a list of bands and DJs set to attend this year's race!
Aid Stations & Nutrition
The runner’s experience is very important to us, and part of that experience includes an adequate number of Aid Stations (Water & Electrolytes). The full and half marathon courses in Fargo have these stops located approximately every two miles.
Our Aid Stations have water and Mountain Berry Powerade (Thank you Coca-Cola for your continued sponsorship!). In addition to the above, we also provide GU Energy Gels to the full marathoners at approximately miles 10 and 20 and to the half marathoners at approximately mile 8.5. A variety of flavors will be available, including chocolate, salted caramel, strawberry banana, and vanilla.
We also have Medical Dropout points located at mile 7, 12, 20, and 24 for full marathoners. For half marathoners, the Medical Dropout points are at mile 7, 10, and 12.
Results & Photos
Your 2022 results and photos will be available as soon as you cross the finish line!
27th Mile Post Race Party
Saturday May 20th
3:00pm - 7:00pm
When your race is done….it’s time to celebrate! And what better place to celebrate than in downtown Fargo!!
Running on May 20th from 3:00pm until 7:00pm, the 27th Mile Post Race Party will be an epic blast of music, food, cold beer and fun!! Brought to you by our friends at Marsh McLennan Agency, this is the FINAL event of the weekend for everyone to enjoy!
Broadway Square is THE place to be on Fargo Marathon Saturday! During the race, this will be the home to the Marsh McLennan Aid Station – rockin’ the tunes and helping out the runners with water, Powerade and fun!!
When the race is over, we want everyone to come back down to Broadway Square (well….maybe go to your hotel and shower first😊) and take in a great post-race party complete with live music from the band Guys and Dahls! The FIRST 1,000 attendees will receive their official “27th Mile Finisher Medal”! Re-load with some cold brews and great food in downtown Fargo and celebrate with your co-runners and friends!
