Whaleathon

Whaleathon 2026

Whaleathon is a community endurance challenge held around the "Out of the Blue" roundabout at 900 S and 1100 E in Salt Lake City's 9th & 9th neighborhood. Participants complete a full marathon around the roundabout: 26.2 miles, roughly 630 laps. Whaleathon began organically in 2023 and has grown each year. Runners are still welcome to run the Whaleathon at any time and submit their recordings to the website. Whaleathon 2026 is the first official, permitted edition, organized by the original founders. Unlike past editions, the roundabout will be closed to vehicle traffic for the event, giving runners the full loop to themselves and allowing for the biggest turnout in Whaleathon history.

The Basics

Date: October 24, 2026 Start time: 7:00 AM Location: "Out of the Blue" roundabout, 900 S 1100 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84105

What’s different this year

Road closure: The roundabout will be closed to vehicle traffic for the event Whaleathon is free for spectators, activates a neighborhood public space, and supports local vendors.

How it works

Direction switches: Every 30 minutes, race directors will signal a direction switch, and all runners switch direction around the loop Timing and distance: Self-monitored. Runners track their own distance with a GPS watch or phone. Recording must be shown in order to be recognized as a finisher. Laps: Running along the outer edge of the roundabout's center island, each lap measures 0.04 miles, or 630 laps to complete a full marathon. Competition: There is no winner and no official timing Etiquette: Runners will be moving at a wide range of paces in close quarters, so stay aware and courteous of others on the loop Pace zones: Slower runners should stay toward the inside of the roundabout, so faster runners can pass on the outside

Community Benefit

15% of proceeds are donated to Grow the Flow, supporting the Great Salt Lake.

History

The idea came about in 2022, when Evan Service jokingly floated it while training for the Salt Lake City Marathon: what if you just ran the full marathon around the whale? Evan worked out the specifics with Caleb Leftwich, Jackson Bradshaw, and Wyn Barnett on runs around the city, and the first Whaleathon was completed on October 21, 2023. Since then, 132 people have finished it, logging 3,734 combined miles and 89,632 laps.