What started as a routine Sunday training run turned into one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Some things you plan for months — and some things the universe just hands you when you least expect them.
Setting Out
It was around 6:30 PM when I hooked up Team 1 — Luna and Lokie — for what was supposed to be a standard 7km evening run through the Skärplinge forest trails. The air was cold and crisp, maybe -5°C, and the dogs were fired up as always. Lokie was bouncing in his harness, pure focused energy, and Luna was doing her usual pre-run inspection of the equipment.
The first team out, as always. These two know the drill — they set the pace and the standard for every run.
When the Sky Changed
About 3km into the run, I noticed the sky starting to shift. At first it was just a faint greenish haze above the treeline — the kind of thing you might miss if you weren't looking. But within minutes, it exploded.
"The whole sky came alive with shimmering curtains of green and violet light. Luna and Lokie kept running, their breath visible in the cold air, their paws crunching through fresh snow — and above us, the Northern Lights painted the most beautiful show I've ever seen."
I pulled the ATV to a stop and just sat there for a few minutes, watching. Luna and Lokie stood at attention, ears up, looking at the sky like they knew something special was happening. These two veteran runners had probably seen Northern Lights before during their years on the trail — but for me, during a run? This was a first.
All Three Teams Under the Aurora
When I got back to the kennel after Team 1's run, I knew I had to get the other teams out while the lights were still active. I worked fast, hooking up Team 2 — Oden and Angel — and heading back out.
Oden ran with his usual power and determination, but even he seemed to glance upward at the dancing lights. Angel, with her joyful energy, was practically bounding through the snow. The aurora had shifted to deeper greens with hints of purple — it was like running through a dream.
And then Team 3 — Thor, Zara, and Pella — finished the evening in absolute style. By now the lights were at their peak, stretching across the entire sky. Pella, on just her second season of trail runs, kept up with the veterans beside her, all three dogs moving in rhythm under the most spectacular natural light show I'd ever witnessed.
A Night to Remember
By the time all three teams had run, it was past 9 PM. The dogs were fed and settled in their kennels, the aurora still flickering in the distance. I stood outside for a long time afterwards, coffee in hand, replaying the evening.
🌌 The Run in Numbers
- 3 teams, all running under the Northern Lights
- ~21 km total distance across all runs
- 7 dogs experiencing the aurora
- Temperature: -5°C — perfect Malamute weather
- 1 musher with tears in his eyes from the beauty of it all
Some evenings you just go for a training run. And some evenings, the universe reminds you that this isn't just a hobby — it's a way of life. This was one of those evenings.
Thank you, Luna, Lokie, Oden, Angel, Thor, Zara, and Pella. You gave me one of the best nights of my life. ❄️🌌