For most individuals, working for twenty-four hours can be sufficient of an journey. For the actually intense folks who need much more of an edge to their race, Sinister Sports activities is taking ultrarunning up a notch with their latest extremely, The Darkish 24, held from Dec. 2-3. Runners will spend six, 12 or 24 hours working on a loop course in Alberta’s Bellevue Underground Mine (BUM).

“Are you a baby of the evening? Are you eager for the nice and cozy embrace of a darkish cavern?” Sinister Sports activities’ web site asks. Recognized for internet hosting a number of the hardest races in North America, together with the Canadian Dying Race and Sinister 7, the crew is at all times on the lookout for distinctive methods to take their races to the subsequent degree.

Runners will loop round a mine shaft that’s 250 metres lengthy, with a one per cent grade–so every loop is 500 metres. The Sinister Sports activities web site explains that the mine shaft is roughly 4 metres broad for many of its size, so 4 folks ought to be capable to comfortably run facet by facet. “Rivals will run till they can not run anymore inside their six, 12, or 24-hour time restrict. The purpose is to finish as many laps to the top of the shaft in that point interval,” the positioning says.

Crystal Olive, a resident of Fort Macleod, Alta., has participated in lots of Sinister Sports activities’ occasions and is able to sort out the six-hour portion of The Darkish 24. “I signed up for this race to run with/assist a pal who helped crew me this summer time,” Olive says. “I’m afraid of the darkish and small areas, so this can be a nice alternative to work on some psychological toughness.” Olive says she’s wanting ahead to “a enjoyable day underground with some nice folks.”

BUM is a traditionally designated underground mine in Crowsnest Cross, Alta. It presents guided excursions throughout a part of the yr, the place they take guests 1,000 ft into the mine, 150 ft under the floor. Visitors are proven the inside workings of the mine whereas studying the historical past that surrounds it.

Clearly, ultrarunners are prepared to sort out any bizarre problem that comes their manner. One perk of working in a mine is that it’s temperature-controlled, that means runners know they’ll be working in a crisp 0 C to 2 C  repeatedly. “In all probability essentially the most predictable climate you’ll ever have at a race,” Sinister Sports activities says.

Due to the restricted house within the mine, the race, starting Dec. 2, might be capped at 100 runners. To be taught extra or to enroll, head right here.