Dear Fellow 5 AM Runner....

Colstriper

Since it's pitch black out and there are cars going by, please make SOME kind of noise as you're coming up behind me so that you don't scare the **** out of me and I can keep my heart in my chest, where it belongs, instead of my throat!

A nice "Hello" or "Good Morning" would be MORE than sufficient!

Thank you!

That would be me, I wear all black or camo on my morning runs! Luckily I'm on a trail so I don't have to worry about cars.

tabinmaine

Yes I think our running environments are completely different. When I go out for a run it's pitch black on a back country road, each property is at least an acre apart and there are NO/ZERO street lamps... the roads are all in horrible shape so there are lots of potholes and uneven ashphalt.....oh and no sidewalks. There is always a skunk, racoon, moose or deer along the way so you want to see them too.

I run in usually in dark pants but my jacket, vest and shoes are all reflective. Plus I have a flashlight in my hands too

wolfgate

Curious - for those that run in the dark without a light, why do you chose that?

Street lamps, and I run on a sidewalk meant for pedestrians. It's dark but not so dark you can't see the pavement.

Yup, this. I don't need a light to see where I'm going. As I mentioned above, I DO get blinded sometimes by oncoming cars with their brights on, but a headlamp or flashlight wouldn't really help with that. I kind of find it odd that people need a light to see outside at night, unless you're in a more rural area (which I am not) or you know, in a cave. Where I am there are some street lights, a sidewalk and except for when the moon is in crescent or new phase, that provides some light as well.

OK, I can see that in those circumstances. Visiting Vegas, I ran pre-dawn without my headlamp because it's never needed there.

I run through suburbia, which has some streetlamps, but I prefer the softer asphalt over concrete sidewalks when going through the neighborhoods. That dictates a headlamp, IMHO. In that case it isn't totally about me seeing, it's also about being seen (hence my flashing red lights also front and back). Don't ever want to surprise sleepy driver who hasnt had coffee yet.

wolfgate

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scottb81

Curious - for those that run in the dark without a light, why do you chose that?

When I'm on the bike/running path I simply like running in the dark. The path is fairly new and I don't need to see where I'm going since I run there all the time.

On roads though I always use at least a blinking green light.