Nighttime Runners... where are you???

AZTrailRunner

Who here runs in the dark?
Why do you (schedule, work, other)?
Do you use a headlamp or is your path lit?
How far are you running in the dark?

Let us know!

LorinaLynn

I joke that I have such bad eyesight that I use sonar like a bat, but I don't trust my sonar enough to run at night.

jacque1109

And do you take a tazer with you!!! I wouldn't run at night b/c I'd be too afraid

AZTrailRunner

I imagine there are as many safe places as unsafe. I know some running clubs head out in packs at night. That would be fun. Personally, I'm jones'n to do my nearby trail run at night when it's under 100 degrees. I'd certainly be using my mega-watt headlamp!!

Athena413

I've never ran at night before, but I am tonight! Our local running club is hosting a summer nighttime series and tonight is their second 5K/10K out on the trail...there aren't lights on the trail, but they made Chinese lantern things to light it. Should be interesting!

Athena413

I've never ran at night before, but I am tonight! Our local running club is hosting a summer nighttime series and tonight is their second 5K/10K out on the trail...there aren't lights on the trail, but they made Chinese lantern things to light it. Should be interesting!

OH! And they're providing glow-in-the-dark shirts and glow bracelets! :drinker:

watermelonstarfish

I used to run at night when I had a dog, I wouldn't now without one. I ran on the sidewalks with lots of reflective gear, with streetlights to show my path. I wouldn't run in the park ever, scary and might step on slugs ewwww!

eversits

I run at five a.m. and it is still dark outside. And I do take my tazer. I can only run at that time because of work and school... And I am starting to build myself up to run 5 miles comfortably because I am training for the tough mudder. www.toughmudder.com

wbgolden

I run in the dark, well in the early AM. I do use a headlamp. I don't generally try new routes though because by now I know the footing of my most common routes.

7.5 miles is my longest run in the dark. I like it because I live in the city and I love the quiet. Nice to be able to listen to your footsteps and breathing and not traffic.

Plus less cars. WAY less cars. Easier to breathe

TheTeeWhy

This sounds like it would be kinda cool. This would be basically the only time I'd entertain the idea of running outside.

kassandra1717

If i'm running outside I wait till 11 ish to run so its not to hot. I rather run at night than in the day cuz its more peaceful and private.

pepperedmoth

I don't always, but I do sometimes. Pretty much if I'm working 12-hour nights (right now) I run during the day, but when I'm working 12-hour days . . . I run at night. I like that it's nice and cool. I run faster when I run at night.

I wear an orange and yellow reflective vest and a headlamp. I've never carried a weapon since I've lived on a peaceful dirt road for years, but we just moved to suburbia so now I carry pepper spray, just in case. Never had a problem, though!

koosdel

I love running at night. Calm, quite, and that's when the cool people are out. Just watch for hay bales if you take any short cuts. They come out of nowhere!

circusmom

Sometimes I go out early, about 5:30am, other times it's abot 9pm, depends on the hubby's schedule, either way it's while the kids are in bed and nothing else is going on. The street we live on is well lit and there are a lot of houses, so I don't worry, I'm also not out on a busy street (very quiet neighborhood).

Athena413

I love running at night. Calm, quite, and that's when the cool people are out. Just watch for hay bales if you take any short cuts. They come out of nowhere!

:laugh: Please tell me you speak from experience?!

Hamibh

I much prefer running at night to during the day. Im often out running any timebetween 9 and midnight, and even a couple of days ago I was still out at 1am. Makes it more private in my opinion. It may also be to do with the fact that it takes me a while after work to motivate myself. Yes, definitely the last one.

mamato4kids

I don't run at night, but run early enough in the morning that I need a headlamp. I have one that clips to the brim of any baseball cap. I also wear clothing that isn't dark and can be seen. We have also used glow in the dark bracelets...the cheap one time use ones.
Why do I run so early? Because hubby works and I have 4 kids under the age of 8, that aren't very keen on logging miles with me during the day!

koosdel

I love running at night. Calm, quite, and that's when the cool people are out. Just watch for hay bales if you take any short cuts. They come out of nowhere!

:laugh: Please tell me you speak from experience?!

I thought I ran into the barn! It freakin hurt!

bexdc

If I don't start super early in the morning on my runs, then I wait until dusk. Like today. Heading out in 30 minutes to log 12 miles. I wear a headlight sometimes, but I always wear a fluorescent yellow vest so cars can see me.

bexdc

My path is only semi-lit. There are some miles without any street lights. I also tend to run on the road (tarmac is much more forgiving than concrete sidewalks), so I never wear headphones to watch out/hear cars. I also sometimes carry mace, but I forget that a lot.

Zeromilediet

I don't run anymore, but when I did run at night it was primarily a scheduling thing--after work and in the winter time here it's dark at 4:30 in the afternoon. Usually ran with a friend and had a reflective vest, ran mostly on city streets. In the summer it's much cooler.

TheTeeWhy

The other plus about night time running, you can get into an impromptu brawl and utilize any mma skills you may have acquired if you were doing p90x or something

(this post is satirical and not meant to be taken seriously)

Honestly would love to try nighttime running though only time I'd ever do running outside cause I hate the thought of people seeing me workout.

ridgellmomof3

I run at night because of kids and work. I love it! The humidity is less and my endurance seems better, plus I get to let of some steam before bed and I sleep better. Plus after a run I don't have the urge to get the munchies before bed. I run on the streets so the street lights keep my run well lit

ShaeDetermined

I usually run at 530am (gotta sneak out before the kids wake up). In the dead of winter when its pitch black I do my run at the gym.
I only run at night when my husband will run with me. We try to get in a 10mile run sat or sun nights.

rachel5576

I run at night in the winter all the time. I wear one of those dorky reflective vests to make sure the cars can see me. Better to be safe than sorry so they say. I actually really like running at night its so quiet and peaceful. I live in a really safe small town though. we never lock our homes or cars til we go to bed.

actually i dont lock my car when i go to bed.

rybo

I ran at night this past winter. With short days, I had no choice. I wear a headlamp, a reflective vest & some other eflective gear. I run on roads that get a lot of traffic so I need to make myself visable.
During the summer I'd be running way too late & be up all night if I waited to run in the dark.

DonPendergraft

M-F I always run when it's dark. My alarm usually goes off at 3am and I'm off. I now live in a suburb, so I find I don't need a light. Even when it's cloudy and very dark. The pavement is relatively smooth. When I lived in the country, I lived on a dirt road. I had to run with a light because of large rocks, holes, etc. And of course and trail runs at night require a good light. On the road I always wear the big reflective vest and a flashing light. I should light up like a Christmas tree when lights hit me! That's a good thing.

iplayoutside19

People run in the daylight? I do 90% of my running in the dark. Mostly morning. I live on the edge of a small town and run on dirt roads outside of town. While there is little traffic it only takes one driver to ruin your training. I wear one of those yellow reflective road guard vests. For the longest time I would go without a headlamp or flashlight. Beleive me, your eyes will adjust to the darkness where you can see what you need to see. The only problem I've had is a patch in the road turned out to be a skunk one time.

However, I signed up for a night trail 10K that requires a headlamp. I bought a cheap $12 lamp and have been running with it trying to figure out what works best before race time. The race starts at 830, which it could very well be in the upper 90's low 100's at race time the way this summer is going. After this week I will move my running to race time to get used to working a full day and then running in warmer temps.

TheMaidOfAstolat

During summer I prefer to run at night since it's cooler. I wear reflective gear and I'm usually at my local park which is lit up...I do take my mace with me. If I run in the neighborhood I take one of my dogs. If I trail run at night....I take a head lamp if I need it. I love nights when it's a full moon....there is something blissful about running in the still of the night when all you can hear are the crickets.

MassiveDelta

I dont generally run at night but I definitely prefer it. My running gear all has reflective material on it. I do wear a headlamp and Its incredibly calming and soothing to run in the pitch dark stillness of the night