THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS RUNNING CLUB SCALES MOUNTAINS BY 8AM.

ON CERTAIN WEEKDAY MORNINGS, AROUND 5.30 or 6am, a small group of athletes gathers at a trailhead in Boulder, Colorado.

-  JENNY MCCOY

From there they run a kilometre or two along the dirt trails that snake up to the base of the mountain, gaining elevation as they hop over rocks, roots, and whatever obstacles lie in their path.

But when they near the Flatirons, the iconic slabs of rock that overlook town, the real adventure begins. Instead of reversing course as many runners do, the athletes forge ahead to the base of the rocks. Without breaking stride, they lean forward, place their hands on the rock, and continue their skyward journey, scrambling up the massive sheets of sandstone, typically without the safety or comfort of any climbing equipment – relying just on the grip of their own fingers and feet.

Once they reach the top of a slab, they either climb down – again, without equipment – or, on steeper sections, fix a rope and rappel to the base, sometimes dropping 60 metres in less than a minute. Often, they repeat said scrambling routine on another slab of rock before hustling back down to the trailhead by around 8am – just in time for work.

These aren’t professional ninjas or stunt people in training. They’re members of Satan’s Minions Scrambling Club.

“In some respects, it’s crazy what we do,” says Bill Wright, 57, a father of two and software engineer who founded the Minions. And that inherent craziness is why, in a town teeming with Olympians, Ironman finishers, elite runners and other extraordinary athletes, the Minions still manage to stand out.