FAIRBANKS—Six Fairbanks runners proved to be nearly superhuman or maybe insane, by completing Running Club North’s Chilly Buns Mid-winter Fun Run Saturday morning.

The temperature was 49 below when the 6.4-mile race began at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Patty Center parking lot, with thick ice fog shrouding low lying portions of the hilly course.

Five of the six participants insisted on running the entire course, which follows Sheep Creek, Mill Hill, Yankovich, Ballaine roads and returns to the starting line via Farmers Loop and campus roads. The low-lying areas of the course

All finished safely and in good spirits, according to finisher Jane Lanford.

Dirk Nickish was the first finisher in 50 minutes and 14 seconds, followed closely by Bruce Sackinger in 50:51.

Lanford, the only female participant, finished third in 57:02. Don Kiely crossed the line in 58:06 and Bob Vitale finished in 60:52.

Paul Reynolds ran a 2.5-mile course in 30 minutes.

Ski race postponed

The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks postponed today’s Flint Hills Town Series Kendall Subaru of Fairbanks Classic cross-country ski race scheduled for today on the Jim Whisenhant Ski Trails at Birch Hill Recreation Area.

Race coordinator John Estle said the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks would try to reschedule the event, however he noted in an email that the race calendar is filling up quickly.

As of today, the Besh Cup races scheduled for Feb. 4 and 5 at Birch Hill are still on.

Estle said the Cross Country Alaska Competition Committee will meet Wednesday night to make a final decision on whether to hold the races as scheduled, delay them one week or change locations.

Since the Besh Cup races are U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association sanctioned events, they cannot be held if the temperature is colder than 4 below.

ADMA races canceled

The Alaska Dog Mushers Association canceled the fourth Annamaet Challenge Series race of the season Saturday when the temperature was 47 below and the trails were shrouded in ice fog at 8:30 a.m.

The final race of the Challenge Series is scheduled for Feb. 5 at the Jeff Studdert Racegrounds.

ADMA has held just one race this season and only a handful of mushers participated.

Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.