Running Through the Night: Devil After Dark Marathon Recap

Eddie Hahn(MM184) – WARNING: Long Boring Runner Post, Devil After Dark , Lovell Canyon NV. Recap (September 20, 2025)
I signed up for the Devil After Dark about 6-9 months before the race. I hoped to “albi” a did not start (DNS) from 2024. I went to a concert and stayed out too late,
I had run all of Joyce Forier’s Calico events at least once-except this one. However, in April 2010 I ran the same course under the banner “Lovell Canyon Marathon.” I reported in my notes that I ran while sick and was using a decongestant. It took me 5:51. Judging from my other marathon finishes around that time frame, I was likely not in very good form then either.
From my last marathon in San Francisco July 27.I would have about 7 weeks.
I avoided the temptation to run any other potential marathons between the two because of needing to be nearby with mom’s health this year and not wanting to go out of the way to run a summer marathon which I am not a fan of as it is. I also committed to register about 6 months in advance,
I developed a routine of running about an hour a day on most days. I train at 4900-6000 feet, slightly higher than the race elevation of 4,000. I tried to add a few days of heat training in Rancho Cucamonga or San Bernardino at the lower 1,000-1200 feet . I also tried to add one day a week or so of speed work-where I ran my normal course at a speed about 12 minutes faster than I do on maintenance runs. To supplement that cardio, I work 10 hour shifts 4 days a week in an Amazon Warehouse moving and lifting freight. I also did a fair amount of late night running in the dark.
I looked at the course map: an 11 mile out and back with a 4 mile out and back lap at the turn around. I noted that there was more than 2,000 feet of ascent and descent, generally rolling throughout with a paved surface.
I viewed the results from prior years. Generally the first three finishers were well below 4 hours. Taking an educated guess and looking further into age group-it seemed like if I could finish in about 4:20, I could probably win the men’s 50-59. Since the marathon race field ranged between only 20 and 40 finishers there would only be one award per 10 year group.
I guessed that I would need to place between 4th and 10th to win 50-59.
Race start was about 80 F and seemed to be about that the entire first half-except a few occasions where the setting sun was blocked by some peripheral lone mountain outcropping. Aid was every mile and a half with heed and water and every 5 miles were-gel-so I opted not to carry anything. Most of the aid stations were staffed, though a few weren’t.
We wore reflective vests and were required to use a handheld flashlight or headlamp.
As we assembled for the start, I commented to one runner how different this was from a “big city” marathon where people sometimes bowl each other over to get close to the line. Despite instruction from the RD, all of us were standing 10 meters behind the start line. No one wanted walk up to it.
One male runner quickly bolted to the lead and I settled in eventually at what seemed like about 200 meters behind him. I was trying to avoid going under 9 minutes a mile (9:09 is needed to average for a sub 4 hour marathon and I suspected there was no way I could average that on this course).
After 2 miles the runner in the lead began to fade.
My first thought was “am I going too fast.I really don’t want to pass this guy. “ I didn’t feel like I was overexerting myself despite averaging close to 9 minute pace, since the first couple miles were only a very slight grade. As the gap between us shrunk, I realized I would be passing him and assuming the overall lead.
After four miles and finding myself in the unanticipated position of being in the lead, I decided I would discontinue checking mile splits and just run to an even effort since the course was wildly undulating.
Mile 5 to 6 ¼ was ominous and foreboding. It was a steep downhill descent. This naturally suggested a steep ascent from 20-21 on the out and back course. As I neared the turnaround on the out and back internal loop between mile 11 and the half marathon represented the last vestiges of sun rays as the shadows from the trees were absorbed into darkness and I turned on my small strap free headlamp that I used as a handheld light the rest of the way. (I can’t tolerate anything strapped to my head.)
At the internal turn around lap, I observed the next participant behind me was a lady, about 400 meters back.
When I reached 20 miles and began to climb the steepest section of the route, I tried to draw on memories in my mind of all the training runs I had done-one has about a quarter mile ascent in two different sections. At about 20 3/4s the grade became the most pronounced. I passed through two large dirt berms on the left and right where the road had been cut through. My breathing was extremely labored and my stride was pathetically shortened. I was suddenly reminded of the Indian Trails 15K in New Jersey in 1993 when I worked hard to catch a runner who was walking before the crest of a hill, and I fell just short. He took off, never to be seen for the rest of the race. Lesson learned. I opted to “power walk” about 50-100 meters-as it seemed more effective.
I considered running a section, power walking a section the rest of the hill, but once I got beyond the steepest section of grade, I was able to get back into running rhythm.
At mile 22, both quads started getting crampy. I was thinking of all my friends that run promotionally for Heylands legs cramps and wishing one would have been nearby with aid. I tried to just mind-over-matter the annoyance when, at 23 miles, my right front foot struck a pothole, and that sent right calf into a lock/knot.
I had no choice but to stop and try and message the cramp out. I was again forced to try and power walk until I could establish a running gate.
“I am doing everything I can to lose this race, and “snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory” The mind was willing, but the body was unable.
Twenty-three and a half was my final crisis.
From there on I managed a strong, solid gait, and as if I might be able to fight off any runner who approached to pass.
Though I didn’t download Garmin race data, I estimated that I slowed about 6 minutes overall thanks to the two stops. I also got a small but somewhat weighty rock embedded in my shoe that added a few ounces which I inadvertently carried for the last 6 to 8 miles. I won, finishing in 4:14.
Second place was 63-year-old Maria Rene in 4:18 and third was 21-year-old Ethan Lombardo in 4:20.
In the end, finishing first out of 23 can be added to my small list of marathon “wins”. I dedicated the win to my mom Gay Leisure and my kids Julian Hahn Francis Ruben Hahn and Sam Hahn

Photo and Post Credit Eddie Hahn