While they're yet to take-over from Australia's still-healthy obsession with commando-style courses (more than 50 are scheduled this year), it's likely they're not far away. Australia already has ultra-marathons that happen well into the night - thanks to distances like 100 kilometres. In Sydney there is a Night Trail Run at Manly Dam taking place in August while and the second annual Nike She Runs event is happening in Sydney on May 4th. The Nike event is starting at the un-traditional hour of 7pm, 6000 women, which is up 50 per cent on last year, will take to the 10 kilometre course around a darkened Centennial Park. If the prospect of running at night alongside thousands of other women doesn't give you a buzz, this next part might: reports have surfaced stating myriad health benefits. Associate professor Shawn D. Youngstedt from the department of exercise science at the University of South Carolina has found that – contrary to popular belief – late-night exercise doesn't disrupt sleep. Furthermore, that the two hormones which are important for energy metabolism (cortisol

and thyroptopin) also peak in the evening. And because our body temperature is at its

highest at night, our joints and muscles are up to 20 per cent more flexible.

Narelle Lee, is a 54 year old long-distance runner from Parramatta. She's been pounding the dimly-lit pavement for 15 years – initially, she says, for pragmatic reasons: it was the time that suited her travel-laden work schedule. But soon she found herself addicted. "I am convinced my body is more effective [at night]," she says. "For years I've been doing longer training runs into the evening and started to love it more once I realised my body prefers it. "It seems to fit with my body's rhythms and I've built a belief around that, so my

unconscious mind kicks in and makes it a reality," she says. She's on to something: a large part of why people love late-night running is, in fact, actually mental. Running coach and physiotherapist Ross Kinsella from Croydon, in Melbourne explains, "We are very visual creatures and with only a head-torch to lead the way in the dark, you're forced to focus on objects in front of you." This makes runners feel like they're moving faster – which in turn provides a huge psychological boost. In other words: you get an even bigger 'runner's high'.

"It also forces people to stay in the present moment," he continues. "You are concentrating so hard on your footing that you don't have time to think of anything else. Technology sucks up so much of our time and energy nowadays that people are craving this type of quiet time." Kinsella, who competes in ironman and triathlon competitions himself, says isn't surprised

by "how jazzy" this trend is becoming. In fact, he even knows of guys who organise night runs for 10pm through Facebook. But given there are no major suburban "dark races" on our radar yet (other than two in Sydney), you have plenty of time to get in some practice. But before

you go sprinting out the door, Kinsella warns to take care. "It sounds simple, but you have to be very careful where you're placing your feet," he says, citing rolled ankles as a key hazard. Traffic, unsurprisingly, comes in at a close second. "Reflective clothing is a must. I would also start out on a predictable path too as your

running technique changes in the dark too. You have to learn to be lighter on your feet," he says.

If you want be super authentic, you can even take a cue from the Brits and strap on a head-torch. Don't worry about how goofy you'll look – in fact, just accept that you will. And besides, it's a fashion faux pas worth committing if by the time these races do arrive on our shore, you'll already be a pro.