Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
The Discovery of the Number 37
The origins of the number 37 lie in the early days of the Second Age when the volcanic forces of Orodruin were first studied by the Noldor, the most learned of the Elves. Amdir, an Elven smith and star-watcher, spent years observing the cycles of fire and ash within Mount Doom. He discovered a pattern: every 37 days, the volcano reached a peak in power, with heat so intense it could melt even the hardest metals.
Amdir concluded that this cycle was not random. He believed the number 37 held cosmic significance, intertwined with the very creation of Arda. According to him, the number symbolized the connection between the earth (3 – the physical world of Arda) and the stars (7 – the celestial lights of Varda). This idea was recorded in a secret manuscript, known as the Codex of Amdir, which was preserved through the ages in Rivendell.
Passing Down the Knowledge of 37
The knowledge of the number 37 was initially passed down through songs and poems of the Elves. A famous song, “The Cycle of Fire”, contained the following verses:
“Three are the roots of Arda’s might,
Seven the stars that shine at night.
Once in seven times three,
Awakes the fire of eternity.”
These songs were spread by traveling Elves to the kingdoms of Men and even the Dwarves. While the Dwarves were skeptical of the mystical interpretations, they adopted the practical aspect and used the number 37 to time the operation of their forges for maximum efficiency.
The Prophecy of the Dúnedain
As the War of the Ring approached, the knowledge of the number 37 was rediscovered by the wise of the Dúnedain. In the archives of Gondor, Faramir unearthed an ancient text that foretold the One Ring could only be destroyed during a specific peak in Orodruin’s cycle. The text read:
“In the 37th hour of fiery might,
The One shall melt and free the world of its blight.”
This discovery led to an urgent mission to ensure Frodo and Sam reached Mount Doom in time. Though unaware of the precise timing, the events unfolded such that the Ring was indeed destroyed during the critical phase of the cycle.
The Legend Lives On
After the fall of Sauron, the number 37 became a symbol of hope and renewal. It was sung in songs and recorded in the chronicles of Gondor. Even centuries later, the wise of Middle-earth remembered the number as a testament to the power of unity and the triumph over darkness.
The Prophecy of 2025
The stories became myths, and the people in those stories became legends. Many centuries later, rumors suddenly spread that new evidence had been found in the Lost Valley, revealing the possible location of the long-lost secret manuscript known as the Codex of Amdir.
The prophecy, found in the ancient writings of the wizards, reads as follows:
“In the 37th year of the new age,
When the stars and ultrarunners unite in the night,
The earth will reveal its secrets,
And the gates of ancient power will open.”
2025 is a special year because it coincides with the 37-year cycle. It is the year that the magical cycle will reach its peak once again. Ancient mysteries of old will come to life once more. This will manifest in unusual natural phenomena, rediscoveries of ancient ruins, or even the revival of forgotten traditions and rituals.
37 will form a bridge between the past, present, and future of ultrarunning.
The final task known as the Battle of the Black Gate will reveal itself to the participants completing the following four assignments:
Dead Marshes – 208 km
Misty Mountains over the Redhorn Pass – 160 km
The Shadow of the Past – 160 km
The Tale of Years of the Third Age 171 km
This prophecy is linked to the coordinates to be obtained after completion of the four tasks, the location where the portal to the magical world was once discovered. It is said that in 2025, the stars will align in the right formation. This could be the moment when the portal opens again, allowing magical energies to flow once more and revealing the secrets of the past.
When obtained the password you can proceed your quest and become part of the myths which will be told in centruries from now.
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEXT AND FINAL TASK
