Over the years, one of my favorite times at our Running with the Devil extreme heat race in late June is when the sun sets, and the night air just beckons you to be outside and run! Devil After Dark brings you that magic with a late summer evening run.
Commencing just before sunset, Devil After Dark runs through Lovell Canyon while enjoying the stunning sunset as day falls into night. Sun is replaced by stars and moonlight lights the way. The omnipresence of the surrounding canyon under the moonlit starry night is magical! Pinion Juniper trees dance in the shadows and the neon lights of Las Vegas are just minutes away. An enchanted late summer evening run.
Commencing at an elevation of roughly 4500 feet, runners will experience high desert vegetation to include Joshua Trees, Pinion-Juniper, Mountain Rose, Sagebrush, and a relatively lush Toiyabe National Forest not commonly associated with Las Vegas. The road twists and turns thru the canyon; a true treasure of the Spring Mountains N.R.A. enjoying temperatures ~10 degrees cooler than the Las Vegas Valley, under the late summer nighttime sky.
*This event is held on the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, under a special use permit.
Start/ Finish Line: Lovell Canyon Road and Highway 160 Junction, just ~30 minutes drive from the Strip.
Marathon: USATF Certification #NV09003DCR: The Devil After Dark Marathon is an official Boston Marathon qualifier! 5pm Start time.
The Marathon runs along the paved Lovell Canyon Road for roughly 11 miles twisting and turning covering rolling and gradually uphill terrain. At mile 11 marathoners will turn around and run 2.1 miles out and back along the same paved road, before returning to this same aid station. You will turn around again and return the 11 paved miles back to the finish line. The course is very easy to follow and will be well marked. 7 hour time cut off
1/2 Marathon: USATF Certificate #NV09002DCR: 6:30pm Start time
The 1/2 Marathon runs along the paved Lovell Canyon Road as it twists and turns covering rolling and gradually uphill terrain. Runners turn around at mile 6.55, retracing their steps back to the finish line. Total paved= 13.1 miles. 6 hour time cut off.
10K: USATF Certificate #NV09001DCR: 6:45pm Start time
The 10K runs along the paved Lovell Canyon Road as it twists and turns covering rolling and gradually uphill terrain. Runners turn around at mile 3.1, retracing their steps back to the finish line. Total paved= 6.2 miles. 5.75 hour time cut off.
5K: 6:45pm Start time
The 5K runs along the paved Lovell Canyon Road as it twists and turns covering rolling and gradually uphill terrain. Runners turn around at mile 1.55, retracing their steps back to the finish line. Total paved= 3.1 miles. 5.75 hour time cut off.
**Sunset is at 6:45pm** The course is unlit, and therefore all runners on the course after 7pm are required to be reflective from front and back AND wear a headlamp or carry a hand held flashlight.**
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Devilish Hills, Heavenly Weather
This race follows the same Lovell Canyon course as the race in June, but with a 5 pm start. Cooler weather although the hills are still just as tough. This … MORE
This race follows the same Lovell Canyon course as the race in June, but with a 5 pm start. Cooler weather although the hills are still just as tough. This is not a PR course, but it is a great way to get some hill training in, see the canyon in a different light (pun intended), and enjoy the cool, clean high desert air. Once it’s dark, the canyon scenery disappears and the stars become your scenery. You’ll see stars you didn’t know existed because you’re about 30 miles west of Las Vegas. Course support and finish line atmosphere are great. I ran the marathon, but there’s also a shorter distance for everyone.
Tough trail run with gradual inclines
This run is tough the majority of the first half is a gradual incline that doesnt look like your climbing but you could feel it and time was a bit … MORE
This run is tough the majority of the first half is a gradual incline that doesnt look like your climbing but you could feel it and time was a bit slow. At night its pitch black a lamp is a must. I had bever train or worn a head lamp, i brought a head lamp and a small handheld one after 4 miles my head was hurting and I switched to my hand held. The stars were a sight to see but this run is not for the weak minded most of the race you will he alone in pitch darkness just running.
Challenging, but rewarding course
This was the first race I had the privilege to run since COVID-19 caused so many races to go virtual. Kudos to the race director for making it work! There … MORE
This was the first race I had the privilege to run since COVID-19 caused so many races to go virtual. Kudos to the race director for making it work! There were only 11 of us running the marathon. We started at about 4500 feet and climbed 2000 feet of elevation. The course was definitely the most challenging marathon course I have run. Aside from the altitude and the hills, I underestimated the psychological impact of running alone in complete darkness . . . for hours! The race began about an hour before sunset–the canyon was beautiful. I have always wanted to run a marathon at night, and now I can check this off my list!