Get out of bed in the morning: It’s dark. Leave the office: It’s STILL dark. Winter is coming, and you know what that means—it’s time to embrace the darkness, keep on running, and look forward to (slightly) brighter days ahead. Luckily, you’re not alone. From Baltimore to Scotland to Alaska and beyond, runners are getting together to celebrate the solstice, and the longest night of the year.
For the Record-Breaker: Longest Night Run, Everywhere, December 21–22
How far could you run from sunset to sunrise on the longest night of the year? Find out by joining the Longest Night Run Challenge, where you—surprise!—run as long as you want (or can) during the winter solstice. You can even test your endurance for a cause, like U.K. runners Andy Oates and Chris Marritt, who are running through the night to raise money for Shelter, a program that helps people struggling with homelessness obtain affordable housing.
For the Traditionalist: Celtic Solstice 5-Miler, Baltimore, Maryland, December 16
Expect bagpipes, tartans, and plenty of kilts in the 18th annual 5-miler in Baltimore's Druid Hill Park, celebrating the city's rich Celtic tradition. There will even be magnificent Irish Wolfhounds parading you to the starting line. Entry is $35, but if this is your kind of race, you'll probably want to drop $70 on the premium entry, which includes an Asics winter running fleece embroidered with a celtic design. If plaid isn't your thing, don't worry—it’s common for racers to break out their Santa hats instead. Celebrate at the finish line with soup, cookies, and—yes!—hot wine.
For the Yeti: Willow Winter Solstice Marathon, Half-Marathon, & 5K, Willow, Alaska, December 16
Nowhere on this list is the night longer than in Willow, Alaska, where on December 16—a few days before the actual solstice—it’s an insane 18 hours and 30 minutes. The average temperature: 13 degrees. In other words, you’re going to want to bring your fur-lined tights and rechargeable mittens for this (the race website says you must have cold-weather and deep-snow training). Technically, this race, held entirely along trails, is a daytime race, although it begins 40 minutes before sunrise, and if you run slow enough, you could complete the marathon after sunset. At the finish line, thaw out with post-race potluck—and cross your fingers someone brought five-alarm chili.
For the Stripper at Heart: Run Your Pants Off, Columbus, Ohio, December 21
Remember when Mom used to bundle you up in so many winter clothes you couldn't move? Now’s your chance to relive—and relieve—your childhood traumas! The idea behind Run Your Pants Off is to pile on as many layers of clothing as possible, then run a 1.25-mile loop around downtown Columbus as many times as you can (or want) within one hour. As you overheat, you pull off those layers and toss them into strategically placed donation bins, to be sent to local shelters after the race. Strip down as much as you want, as long as you don’t violate Ohio laws on indecent exposure. The event starts and ends at Land Grant Brewing, which sponsors the event and hosts the after-party (first beer is free!) and raffle. The slots for this race are already full, but you can still enter the lottery for a spot in.
For the Dusk Chaser: Fitness Fun Winter Solstice Fun Run, Burghead, Scotland, December 23
This is a no-pressure event—unless you count the pressure of the fast-setting sun. The challenge: outrun the fiery orb by starting at Burghead Headland, going out to Hopeman Pier, and making it back (5.5 miles in all) before sunset. When you return to Burghead Headland, you’ll be greeted by darkness—and refreshments.
For the Insomniac: Longest Night’s Run, Brooklyn, New York, December 21
Tackle the solstice in the city that never sleeps because apparently you don’t sleep anyways either. Meet South Brooklyn Running Club at 11:30 p.m. in Carroll Park on the night of the winter solstice for a short run to a TBD location. Wherever the run ends up, it will be just in time for the darkest moment of the year, and you’ll celebrate the beginning of the slow, upward climb from the winter’s night to the summer’s sun.
