Arctic Festival in the Light and Darkness

Literature | Movies | Training

19 January 2021

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Last week at the Mørketidsløpet in Tromsø they were handing out free books along with the race bibs, so naturally I took one. Who doesn't like to read about running, right? Jonny Hansen's Arctic Festival in the Light and Darkness was an enjoyable read. Local history in the extreme! It has a large format with nice color photographs that lends itself well to placement on the coffee table. Even better it has norsk and English text side by side like the Rosetta Stone of the north. So good for any guest who might come by to pick up.

Format aside, Hansen weaves the tale of the history of the Midnight Sun Marathon, the organization it spawned, and the various events they hold throughout the year. I felt the festive family atmosphere the first time I traveled to Tromsø for the 2018 Mørketidsløpet with Alora and Brittan, who ran the 5K while I ran the half marathon. We had a great time not just running, but doing the warm-up dance, hanging out in the lavvo, and attending the dinner with other runners. Fast forward three years to last week. Alora and Brittan haven't answered my phonecalls in over a year. There was no warm-up or lavvo before the race. There was no dinner with the other runners. We generally had to all keep our distance. But we still went the distance. And though there were few spectators, those who did turn out cheered us on whole heartedly. It was a bittersweet experience in a completely different world, and yet some things remained the same.

Hansen wrote his book for the 30th anniversary of the summer race, the Midnight Sun Marathon, in 2019. Thus the spirit of his book is of that earlier world. Reading about it after returning there I found myself transported back and was able to wrap myself in the joy that is the runner's life. As long as my legs can carry me I can always find that joy.