Twelve brave souls tested the limits of endurance and perseverance in the 6th edition of the grueling Darkside 8-Hour Run. A formidable course consisting of a challenging ¼ mile, not-as-flat-as-it-appeared oval loop tested the runners’ patience and mettle by changing direction every two hours. Temperatures ranging from the mid-50’s to the mid-70’s, occasional cloud cover (resulting in two random one-minute rain sprinkles) and winds gusting up to as much as three miles per hours proved to be all the runners could handle as they circled the rubberized track time after time after time.

Gary Griffin of Tallahassee, Florida and Debbi Legg of Suwanee, Georgia ultimately prevailed in a ‘perfect storm’ of difficult course, horrific weather and a competitive field of runners by completing 45.0 and 42.3 miles, respectively. Two women made their ultramarathon debuts in the event: Alicia Milner and Enithie Hunter, both recording personal distance bests.

The complete results:


          Gary Griffin            45.0 miles
          Jeff Bryan              43.5 miles
          Debbi Legg              42.3 miles
          Alicia Milner           40.27 miles
          John Falk               38.0 miles
          Enithie Hunter          33.52 miles
          Anne Rentz              29.0 miles 
          Charles Cohn            24.84 miles
          Eric Stanley            20.0 miles
          Susan Lance             13.0 miles
          Scott Ludwig            10.0 miles
          Al Barker               8.0 miles

Submitted by Scott Ludwig, Race Director