Running in the winter/dark
beth0277
Posts: 217 Member
I work full time (8-4:30) and love to run but feel like I can't in these winter months because of how early the darkness comes. What do you all do to combat this? I can run anytime on the weekends, but I need at least 2 other runs during the week. I have a gym membership but running on a treadmill hurts my shins. (A physical therapist had an explanation of one of my muscles not being engaged on the treadmill, I don't remember the specifics but it's not a possibility). Any tips? I'm a 30 year old woman so don't really want to run out in the dark by myself and have no running partners.
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Well if you don't want to run outside in the dark and you can only run at night... You will have a problem. There is no miracle solution to create daylight at night....
So you either get a headlamp and reflective clothing and run outside or run on a treadmill.
Sorry, but that's the way it is.0 -
Well unless you can find a running partner, there's not much you can do about the "by yourself" part. I would look for some well lit streets in your neighborhood, or maybe a school track that's lit up at night.0
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im in the same boat. legit same work hours too. But you have to. just get up and do it or run after work. A lot of times after work I run and by the end of my run its dark out but whatever. I just try to stay in a well lit area. welcome to add.0
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The school track is a good idea! I hadn't thought of that.
I'm not looking for a miracle solution for daylight, just wondering what other people do that works for them.
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Would you have access to an indoor running track? (If you have a college or university in town they may have one as part of their athletic facilities and access is usually pretty affordable)
Is there a running club or running group in town? Many of them will have mid-week group runs and you could even meet a suitable running buddy for other runs during the week.
Run at lunch time during the week?0 -
What about running on your lunch break? I do it occasionally in the winter because with it being cold I don't get as sweaty so I don't have to worry about being sweaty in the office all afternoon. I'm not sure how your work is, but mine is pretty flexible and I can take a 40-45 minute run at my lunch break as long as I get my hours in elsewhere.
What about changing up your cardio? What about stationary bikes, stair climbers, etc. at your gym during the week and saving your runs for the weekends?
Otherwise, I think you may just have to get the proper equipment such as reflective clothing, possibly a headlamp, and get some pepper spray if it offers peace of mind.0 -
Can you run during your day (say at lunch time) at all? That's what I usually do over the winter.0
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Same here. I tried running at night in my neighborhood with a flashlight. I wasn't concerned about the cars because I knew they could see my flashlight. Wasn't worried too much about safety because it's a pretty safe neighborhood. I was worried about what I couldn't see on the road... cracks, uneven surfaces, limbs, etc. The flashlight's glow was not so bright that I could see everything in front of me. Didn't enjoy that run at all!
And like you, treadmill running is uncomfortable (and boring) for me. So, I take running gear to work and run at lunch. Yeah, it's aggravating to spend my lunch break that way, but I take a protein shake as my meal, so it's quick and easy. And I towel off the sweat when I'm done. It's not a perfect solution, but if I've got to get my runs in, it's the only one I can think of.
Good luck!0 -
My alma mater has an indoor track but they want $400 upfront to use it for the year and I just can't stand to fork that over. Lunch break would be tough. I work at a hospital and dress up (think suit jacket, heels, etc) so by the time I would change out of my clothes and hang them up, make my way outside, and give time to come back, clean up a bit and get my clothes back on, I doubt I would get much more than a 20 minute run. We get 30 minutes for lunch but I'm sure I could squeeze 45 out but I don't know. I'm in a professional position so I guess it might be a little uncomfortable for me to walk around the hospital in my work out clothes (I'm on the 4th floor so would see several people on my way out), if that makes any sense.0
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I usually don't get to run until about 7pm myself and I just run around the neighborhood. I do live in a good, well-lit area (and I am a guy). If you really don't want to run in the dark by yoruself I 2nd the school idea. I have a middle school by my sub-division where the kids have soccer practice and the big spot lights are on illuminating about 2-3 fields well after I am done running (usually around 8:15 or so).
If I was adverse to running around my neighborhood, i would probably go run around those soccer fields. But I do admit that at this time of year I enjoy running around the neighborhood and seeing all the Christmas lights up.
Good luck on finding a solution. 0 -
I used to run at 3:30 in the morning till it got too blasted cold - I bought a bright headlamp flashlight and reflective vest and just went. The head lamp can be angled to illuminate the road ahead of you so cracks and bumps are much less of a hazard.0
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can you run early in the morning? getting brightly colored clothes and a headlamp are great to be seen by vehicles. a road id bracelet is great just in case something happens and emergency personnel can identify you.
as far as safety from an attack, you need to be careful. can't take the same route every day. tell people where you are going. carry a safety horn thing. those are better than pepper spray because you don't have to really aim it, and it will alert people around you.0 -
The school track is a good idea! I hadn't thought of that.
I'm not looking for a miracle solution for daylight, just wondering what other people do that works for them.
Some high schools will allow you to use their track for free as long as school activities aren't going on. Worth making a call to a local school.
However, I think I'd rather run on a treadmill than around a track.
Either get over it and run in the dark solo with headlight and reflective gear and no headphones or get a dog as a running partner.
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I can't believe they are charging you that!! I guess being in the military has babied me a little. We have a gym that is almost 24hours (4-10) with an indoor track and it costs nothing to use it. Some classes are around $3 to take, but that's understandable.0
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What about running in the morning? Yes, it's dark at 5pm, but it's also light at 6am.0
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I don't know, $400 seems pretty reasonable... works out to just a bit over a $1 a day. It might be a little more palatable looking at that way. Maybe you can claim it as a donation to the school 0
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During the week, I run after work, in the dark (sometimes, even in the summer!)...and I run by myself 99.9% of the time. My neighborhood has some streetlights, but they're like every 3rd or 4th house, and not that bright.
I wear reflective clothing, a blinkie light that goes on the heel of my shoe, a blinkie reflector that I put someone near my waist on my back and another on my front...I wear a headlamp pointed at the ground so I can see where my feet are going to land (our road is in good shape, so the concern is usually ice/snow)...and this year, I started attaching my crazy bright and blinding LED headlight from my bicycle to my watch's wriststrap - it helps with additional light to see where I'm going, and for cars to see me....it's so bright, that I've actually not bothered with the headlamp for the past few night runs.
That said, I reserve my night running for shorter runs, because I won't leave my development (we have a higher traffic, narrow, poorly lit road that is my connector to other developments - I'll run on that in the daylight, but not at night)...I save my long runs for the weekend when I can run in the daytime - there's only so many times I can run around the same 2-3 blocks (even if the blocks are a half mile around). LOL 0 -
I run at night sometimes with a headlamp and a flashlight. I also carry a knife and pepper spray and run with my German Shepherd. It's kind of scary, especially since I run out in the country vs in a lighted town but ya gotta go what ya gotta do. Safety 1st... or 3rd... or whatever.0
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I generally ride or run during my lunch hour.0
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Running in the snow is a fast way to the ER.
Source: Live in Michigan. Sprained wrist and ankle slipping on ice two years ago trying to run. Never again
Gym membership has paid for itself in lack of medical bills the past two years. 0 -
I'm a large male that looks like a sumbitch so I don't get the safety insecurities that the ladies do, but I understand that's a big hang-up. Lit, unlit, I don't care. I just go out with the headlamp and dress appropriately for the weather. Night trail running in the cold has become one of my favorite things though.
My only suggestion is to get to know the area and your path really well in the daylight. Then get to know it really well in the dark by car. That way you know what's supposed to be there and what isn't, and just be very cognizant of what's going on around you when you're out at night.
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The school track is a good idea! I hadn't thought of that.
I'm not looking for a miracle solution for daylight, just wondering what other people do that works for them.
Some high schools will allow you to use their track for free as long as school activities aren't going on. Worth making a call to a local school.
However, I think I'd rather run on a treadmill than around a track.
Either get over it and run in the dark solo with headlight and reflective gear and no headphones or get a dog as a running partner.
our track is open all the time as long as there isn't a school event... but the nice thing about tracks is it usually has a field- field means you can do different kinds of sprints (I do a big X on the field- sprint corner to corner- jog across the top- sprint corner to corner- walk to starting point- repeat- do 5 of those and you're set.
Also tracks often have stairs- running stairs is a win.
But no way I'd do track running if I was doing longer distances- I had to run 1.5 miles on an indoor track for the Army PT test- I thought I was going to die- b/c that track is shorter than a standard 1/4 mile and is sloped. my knees were killing me. (might have been the Marine one though- which is worse at 3 miles- I honestly don't remember- I try to block such trauma's from my brain)0 -
I run after dark, but I wear a reflective jacket, stick to well lit residential streets that I know, and always tell someone when I'm leaving and when I intend to return by. I always take my phone because I use Runkeeper, but would take it on night runs anyway so I can call someone if I trip or injure myself which is more likely in the dark. Be careful if wearing heaphones that you can still hear what's going on around you as obviously your vision will be compromised. Some days I will use the treadmill at the gym because I want to run for longer without having to do loops round the same neighbourhood which is mind-numbingly dull.
Obviously you want to be safe and responsible, but I don't think a woman running by herself in the early evening in a reasonably safe area is at any great risk. I don't want to miss out on my runs. In the winter it helps keep me warm, and I'm permanently chilly October-April!0 -
I run in the dark, I take my gun, my mace, my phone, in a tight little running belt. I also use the track and the bleachers at the high school, so it's well lit and there are usually some people around (janitors, etc) I go at 5 am a few times a week. Occasionally I take my dog0
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Is there a specialty running store near you? Maybe they have a running group you could go out with so you're not alone. Or they might be able to match you up with another runner who is looking for a running partner.
I really don't like running on the treadmill, either, so I'm doing all I can to keep running outside for as long as possible...
We live in a little bit rural area without sidewalks... normally when I can get out during nice weather during daylight hours I will run on the roads, but with fading light and a bush-league snow plowing effort, that is out for me now. Yesterday I drove over to a part of town that has sidewalks and streetlights and ran a loop there in the evening (still wearing my fluorescent vest and flasher). I've considered going to the high school to get a few laps in on the track there. We have a prep school campus in town, and that's well-lit and pedestrian friendly, so I'll probably run there sometimes, too. I'm not terribly worried about the safety of running alone, but I do try to mix up my routes so they're not predictable in case someone is watching. I am also considering buying some running snowshoes so that I can head off on some of the local XC trails for a change-up that keeps me running in some capacity.0 -
I don't mind going out at dark – my partner worries about it more than I do! I live in a pretty safe, fairly well-lit neighborhood, though. I (probably foolishly) don't wear any special stuff, lights or reflective equipment, but the streets are not very busy and I try to be very aware of what's around. I'd probably run/walk at night more if it wasn't for my partner's concerns. I belong to a gym and enjoy the treadmill as well. Good luck with whatever you do!0
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Running in the snow is a fast way to the ER.
Source: Live in Michigan. Sprained wrist and ankle slipping on ice two years ago trying to run. Never again Gym membership has paid for itself in lack of medical bills the past two years.
Ouch. Yeah, you've got to be careful. Personally though, I could never use a treadmill. Tried it a number of times and it just makes me sick.
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I run at night, after work. There's a major city park near my work that has well-lit lighting on the running trail. It's also always populated. You could check into what local parks are around you.
If I can't run at the park, I run in my neighborhood, using a light. I run in the street against traffic, and jump on the sidewalk if cars approach. Works well enough.0 -
Running in the morning would be perfect, but right now it's not light out here early enough. I just checked and the sun rose at 7:24 this morning. I could possibly take my dog with me but she is a bit of a sniffer. She will run like the wind, but gets easily distracted. Maybe I'll try it. She is a boxer and would be decent protection, or at least a deterent.
The $400 for the gym for the year wouldn't be awful other than I would only use the indoor track for maybe 4-5 months a year. It just seems like a lot if you think of $100 or so a month for the time I would be using it.0 -
Running in the snow is a fast way to the ER.
Source: Live in Michigan. Sprained wrist and ankle slipping on ice two years ago trying to run. Never again Gym membership has paid for itself in lack of medical bills the past two years.
Operator error.
Your 1 experience shouldn't dictate what the general public does or doesn't do.0
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