Whitehorse runner Wayne Smyth has returned from doing a half trail marathon in England. The run took place in the Exmoor National Park on April 6.

The race featured 283 runners in the half marathon, which is 21 kilometres, and Smyth placed 153rd, which was good for second in the male over 60 category. He finished with a time of 2:32:57.

Smyth said the run featured really tough trails along the coast. Of the 21 kilometres, only about two were fairly flat, he said, with the other 19 km either steep hills going up or down.

Because of the trail conditions, Smyth said, it was one of the hardest runs he has done.

"It was one of the toughest half marathons I have ever done," said Smyth. "You were unable to pass so you got behind somebody it was very difficult to get around. There was 283 other runners in the half marathon, so that makes it difficult.

"The terrain certainly was challenging. The weather was cool but it didn't rain during the race. You could see the ocean and that's what made it spectacular; that you were running along the ridges next to the ocean, one slip and you'd be down."

Since he was running along single-file trail on the cliffs, Smyth said, it affected his speed.

"It does," said Smyth. "You are focused so much on your next step so you have to make sure and the trail was muddy in some places. They call it a technical course and I suppose that is one way to put it, very challenging. So my time was two hours, 32 minutes. I will typically do anything to a 1:50 to a 2:15 depending on the race."

Smyth said the race was less about posting a fast time.

"For me, it's less of a timed race and more of an exciting race, just to run somewhere different," said Smyth, " and to run in beautiful country like that."

In the winter, Smyth trains to run the Arctic Ultra Marathon. In the spring and fall, he tries to do an international race. He compared the trails Exmoor to a trail in the Yukon.

"There was lots of steep downhills, lots of steep uphills, of course," said Smyth. "Part of it was like climbing on the Chilkoot Trail. Of course, you risk injury running downhill. It's hard on your legs, hard on your knees. I enjoyed every second of it."

While running, Smyth said, it was easy to get caught looking at the surrounding scenery.

"It's easy to get sidetracked simply because the scenery is so spectacular," said Smyth.

Taking second in his age category wasn't much of a surprise for Smyth.

"I had passed a few people," said Smyth. "And truth be told, I slowed down and took a couple of my own photos. If I hadn't done that, I probably would have had a good chance of coming in first in my age group. There was seven of us in the over 60 group, and I was quite happy to come in second."

Smyth, who works for the Whitehorse Fire Department, said running is a great way to blend his hobby with work.

"It is very much so," said Smyth. "It's just such a good way to promote fitness and that fitness does pay off. At 61, if somebody told me 20 years ago I'd be running marathons at 61, I would have laughed at you. By the time I got to 50, I said, 'it's time to step up your game,' because I had been doing half marathons for years."

Fitness, Smyth said, is a big part of the fire department's culture and all his colleagues are supportive of his races.

"I have to go back and emphasize that it's such a big part of the Yukon and Whitehorse Fire Department," said Smyth. "We've entrenched it as part of our culture here and it's wonderful to see."

Having done his fair share of marathons, Smyth is noticing a positive change in the demographic of runners.

"I think it's just kind of good to see older people more active, and I think you see more of that now, I'm seeing at more marathons that I do," said Smyth. "Not only are there more old people taking part, but there is more women which are getting involved, which is fantastic.

"It used to be that half marathons were half-and-half men and women. Now it's more women than men, it seems like. And the full marathons it used to be a male-dominated sport. Nowadays there is a lot of women that are doing the full marathons. It's nice to see."

Smyth has raced in Edinburgh, Dublin, and Amsterdam to name a few.

"For me, like it is one way to travel around the world," said Smyth. "It's nice for me to meet people in different countries and it's a great way to see a city. How else would you see Edinburgh other than by taxi if you don't put on your running shoes?"

For his next race in the spring, Smyth said, he is planning to do a marathon in Melbourne, Australia.

After his Exmoor race, once he had crossed the finish line, Smyth said he enjoyed a pint in the English pubs.