What is this obsession with running in the dark, asks runABC South news writer Alan Newman. Is it a long-suppressed need to overcome childhood fears of the dark or some sort of double-negative reaction to the long, dark months of winter – it might be dark but you can't stop us from having fun?

Alan reckons he has enough trouble staying on his feet in broad daylight, so he'll leave the skill and courage needed to race in the dark to the specialists, or the more adventurous life-on-the-edge types among us! 

Earlier this week we lauded the competitors in The Tunnel who will run up and down a gloomy, disused railway tunnel for up to 55 hours – in the pitch black during the night.

This weekend we have two twilight adventures in the runABC South race listing. Our Featured Event is Dark Skies Surrey Hills at Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking in the Surrey Hills AONB on Saturday (28th January). The programme of three trail races at 10 miles, 10K, and 5K plus 1K and 2K Kids races are part of the Wild Night Run Series by Wild Running. We previewed Dark Skies Surrey Hills in runABC South here.

Going head torch to head torch with Dark Skies Surrey Hills are White Star Running's Dark Moors trail races over 10 miles or 5 miles, also on Saturday evening. Dark Moors is set within Moors Valley Country Park, Ringwood, Dorset offering you a fantastic chance to run on the trails and through the woodlands in the dark. With the 5 miles starting at 5:00pm and the 10 miles off at 6:30pm some masochists will tackle both events on the same evening!

The broad paths, great facilities, and fantastic forest setting mean there is a buzz when all the lights, high-vis, and bright colours fill the country park. The course is well signposted with reflective arrows, marking tape, and flashing lights. Marshals are positioned along the route so you know you’re on the right track.

It all sounds like a lot of fun and perhaps a race in the dark should go on our correspondent's running bucket list – maybe.

Of course, we'll never keep you in the dark for long with our rapid results, daily news reports, and comprehensive race listing service at runABC South!

Image courtesy White Star Running Dark Moors gallery