It wasn't easy, but the view made it worthwhile for runners in this week's Thursday Night Trail Run.

Thirty participants showed up for the race, which used the always-scenic Yukon River Trail Marathon's Leg Two route.

The run was approximately 10-km in length, starting at the Miles Canyon Bridge and ending at Chadburn Lake. The first four-km, or so, ran along the canyon walls that overlook the Yukon River.

Tom Ullyett, soon to be a 2009 World Masters Games competitor, didn't let a few hills and hot temperatures stop him from posting the best time in this week's run.

Ullyett finished just ahead of Doug Mayr with a time of 46:20. His time was less than 30 seconds faster than Mayr's.

"These Thursday night trail runs are wonderful because it's not really about who crosses the finish line first," he said. "There's a lot of socializing that goes on before and after the race, which is always fun and you get to see the trail network around Whitehorse."

Ullyett is planning on running legs one and four in the Yukon River Trail Marathon, scheduled for Aug. 2.

He said he is trying to participate in multiple races each week to simulate what it will be like at the World Masters. Ullyett will run four separate races in six days at the World Masters.

Coming in third on Thursday was Scott Gilbert, while Sandro Holzinger placed fourth and Keith Thaxter rounded out the top five.

This was Thaxter's first Thursday Night Trail Run of 2009.

Thaxter said it went well, but admitted to being kind of tired after running three marathons in just as many weeks. He also ran 15-km on Thursday during his lunch break.

Thaxter, who is on the organizing committee for the Yukon River Trail Marathon, plans on running the race's four legs this year, adding its really helpful doing each one beforehand.

"Anytime you run long distance, knowing the course is a major advantage," he said.

"It's like anything, even on a bike race or a road run, as soon as you know the course you have the home field advantage."

Thaxter said this year's Yukon River Trail Marathon will have licensed plate-sized signs, marking each of the four legs. The first batch is done and should be set up for next week's Thursday trail run, which uses the marathon's Leg Three, he said.

Thaxter said there will be as many as 150 to 200 signs marking this year's River Marathon course, which will all become a permanent fixture on the trails. Signs will have an orange arrow directing runners where to go.

Sue Bogle, who is one of the regulars for the Thursday Night Trail Run, had the best women's time (51:45). Bogle placed seventh overall and was happy with her performance.

"I felt good at the end," Bogle said. "There's so many good female runners in Whitehorse and I'm just lucky some of the most competitive ones didn't show up."

Top 10 Thursday Night Trail

Running Times:

1. Tom Ullyett (46:20)

2. Doug Mayr (46:40)

3. Scott Gilbert (46:58)

4. Sandro Holzinger (47:06)

5. Keith Thaxter (48:23)

6. Darren Holcombe (50:52)

7. Sue Bogle (51:45)

8. Holly Goulding (56:18)

9. Ryan Hennessey (58:17)

10. Bob Nishikawa (58:17)

11. Mike Cozens (58:32)

More information about upcoming Thursday Night Trail Runs and other Athletics Yukon events can be found at www.athleticsyukon.ca.