Ten years ago a race captivated my interest. It offered the prospective of running through the night at the mercy of winter weather and for the first running of the event the conditions were spectacular. I can’t recall the exact temperatures at the time, but packed snow covered the ground and a crystal clear sky ensured they stayed low. Overhead a full moon and sparkling stars shone brightly. The hilly course is tough enough, but the unpredictable aspect of the elements provides a dimension that gives  participants who normally finish further down the pack, a competitive edge if they are able to adapt to the dark and temperature extremes. Many of the young bucks who sprint off into the dark at the start look a lot less confident later in the day! [Read more...]

As with my first marathon and 50K (the Bluff), my first 50 miler felt like something that happened to me, rather than something I actively chose. I’ve never had real aspirations to go further than 50K. Yet when Bimblers proposed the appealing Highland Sky 40-miler early this season I decided to run it in spite of the bonus mileage.  When I missed a turn at Highland Sky, that 40 miles became almost 45.  And, suddenly, it seemed like I was too close to that 50 mile mark NOT to attempt a 50-miler at least once.  [Read more...]