On Saturday morning nearly 30 runners gathered on Grey Mountain Road drinking hot chocolate, sorting food bank donations, and discussing a great morning of running.

The athletes had just completed the Winter Solstice Run, a 12 kilometre adventure up Grey Mountain Road and back down again.

The athletes registered for the race by submitting food donations and with a large crowd competing they were able to come away with a substantial amount of food.

Tom Ullyett and Brittany Pearson-Smith were the first runners to complete race, making it to the top of the mountain in 41 minutes and completing the race in one hour and eight minutes.

"A race like this isn't about the time,” said Bryan Craven, who participated and helped organize the event with Athletics Yukon.

"It's a tough race and it's about coming out and enjoying it.”

While the racers faced the difficulties that accompany running up a mountain covered in snow, the weather was on their side.

A clear day with mild temperatures made the event even more enjoyable said Ullyett.

"You couldn't ask for a better day,” he said. "It's the best weather we've had for this event in years.”

Craven agreed, noting that last year the temperature was around minus 30 and once the race completed the participants were quick to warm up in their vehicles and head home. That wasn't the case this year as the athletes grouped together at the end of the race, taking some time to socialize.

Pearson-Smith, who is currently competing in cross-country skiing and running at Carleton University called the race a great welcome home and noted the scenery and landscape from the top of the mountain.

"Seeing the sun rise over all the drifts of snow at the top was unreal,” she said.

"After the death climb to the top and all the hills and remembering how the dry air makes your lungs feel, you come over the edge of the mountain and see all the pink streaming through the drifts of jagged snow.

"It's gorgeous.”

Pearson-Smith, who regularly competes in the summer solstice run, said she usually gets home too late from exams to run in the winter event and noticed some differences between the seasonal races.

"It's much easier coming down the hill in the winter because you have the snow as a cushion,” she said. "You don't feel like jelly, like you do in the summer.”

Ullyett also noticed the benefits of running in the snow, saying that running on the gravel really takes a toll on your joints and quad muscles.

Ullyett said he became involved in the race for four reasons; the challenge, the scenery, to support Athletics Yukon and to support his own fitness.

He also noted the improved weather from previous races.

"It would be minus 30 at the bottom and minus 15 at the top,” he said. "So as you ran back you would feel yourself running into the cold air then get in your car and leave.

"It's not like today where we can actually enjoy the run and after enjoy the social aspect of it, as well.”