The Dark

A 24-hour race below ground

"Are you a child of the night? Are you longing for the warm embrace of a dark cavern? Do you love coal and mining history? You are in luck! Welcome to The Dark – a loop race in the Bellevue Underground Mine (BUM). This race calls on the brave to test their limits in The Dark. The mine shaft is 250m long with a 1% grade, so each loop is 500m. It is approximately 4m wide for most of its length, so there is comfortable room for four people side by side (except by the old mine car). Competitors will run until they cannot run anymore within their 3, 6, 12, or 24-hour time limit. The goal is to complete as many laps to the end of the shaft in that time period. BUM is almost always 0˚ to 2˚C, 365 days a year, so it's probably the most predictable weather you'll ever have at a race. There will be a warming station with food at the entrance to the mine. The race is limited to the number of competitors due to the tight quarters. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Bellevue Underground Mine."