MapMyRun Helps Running Group Conquer First Night Race

By Richard Hale
A MapMyRun.com Contributing User & Axe Valley Runner

As featured in the December 2007 Newsletter

Axe Valley RunnersTraining in the dark of winter around the village of Beer on the UK Devon coast has restricted the Axe Valley Runners to slog up steep hills with undulating road and flat esplanade, sprinting under the safety of street lighting. But no more! We are accustomed to our sport, but we cannot remain passive about our running. Using MapMyRun.com to explore, prepare, and save routes, we now run off-road at night every two weeks along muddy paths, tree-lined trails, open fields, cliff tops, and stretches of shingle beach.

Local store suppliers of head torches were exhausted as 18 runners arrived for the first "Torchy" session. It was a great success and a new experience for most of us. A cautious first run led to more adventurous runs with terrain more suited to daylight, off-road running. Somehow, we have completed all sessions safely for almost two years.

Picking out white staring reflections of cattle, sheep, and horses when they turn their heads; searching out dark shapes of gaps and gates in obscure hedges; running along a blackened shingle beach looking ahead at lights of others; seeking out the breaking waves; standing in awe under the starry sky on the very edge of a dark cliff top; sharing our own personal thoughts with an elated feeling that we were just one step away from the edge of the known world -- These experiences will stay with us for a long time.

For safety, the pace was naturally slower, but we were given new insight and motivation in our running and felt we must continue. Each year, we looked forward to the dark winter’s training with renewed enthusiasm and interest. When we thought things could not get better, we found details of the first ever UK nighttime trail race.

Nine of the Axe Valley Runners became the "Night Axe Valley Runners" on the night of the Autumn Equinox of the 22nd and 23rd of September, 2007. We travelled from sunny Devon to darkest Wales for an overnight tent camp and to enter our first ever 20-mile night trail race in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Unfortunately, we never got the 3/4 moon or clear skies predicted, but it did remain dry.

What a great time we had. We loved the dense, dark forests and open mountain moorland. It was perfect running weather. The manned checkpoints and a few waypoints were welcome to confirm that we were heading the right way and that we were on the required route. Some of us found navigation difficult at times and extra miles were added on as tracks were retraced and correct paths found, especially on the first, steep forest sections. The long climb up through the mountain cloud to Bwlch ar y Fan was rewarded with a stunning view of the twinkling lights of the town of Brecon below as we cleared the summit.

It was a well-enjoyed weekend by an excited running group who felt we were in something special and will be returning for the same event next year.