I run almost exclusively in the dark. Come to think of it, all of my races are in the daylight. No wonder I suck at them.
I run almost exclusively in the dark. Come to think of it, all of my races are in the daylight. No wonder I suck at them.
Hardloper wrote:
But would you do hard mile repeats in the dark? I am open-minded when it comes to training but anything like a fartlek at higher intensity in the dark is just slower and much less fun than in the daylight.
Would I? I've done them hundreds of times. I'm positive, all much more fun than slogging in the daylight.
Hardloper wrote:
It's fine for easy runs but it's difficult to get in quality fast running when it's dark. There's evidence that you perceive paces as harder in the dark due to lower visibility.
More speculation from a guy afraid of the dark who has probably never tried to run fast after sundown.
Wolf's Bane wrote:
stars? You can't see them because of light pollution. I lived in the country where I could see the stars for a while, it was nice, but not to run, at least not without an uncomfortable headlamp.
You missed out. What urbanists and suburban types don't realize is out in the country it is seldom really dark when your eyes are dark adapted. No streetlights. I run well before dawn and I don't run with a headlamp. I carry a single knuckle LED light but use it only when a car approaches. I start it high, then to dim, then to flashing. That attracts attention and usually the driver gets it and switches to low beams. I always run with reflective vest and clothing, too. I run on black top with white line near the shoulder, and head to quiet unpaved roads as soon as I can. I run on roads that I've run many times before. No surprises. Almost always plenty of ambient light (especially when snow on the ground, as usually the case up north), only really dark on moonless cloudy nights with rain. Sometimes I pass runners with headlamps, they leave them on, I think they just don't get it.
It can be hard to get in quality work on sidewalks or trails in the dark because of the risk of tripping but running on a track in the dark isn't so bad. Any amount of light from the moon is usually enough to guide you around a track and lacking that a headlamp works.
I love running in the evening/dark. I used to try running in the morning like you, however my digestive system did not like that idea. I do my weekend long run in the early AM (5-530 start time), however I plan my meals accordingly for that. I got myself a sweet little LED slap bracelet for light, and I feel that I memorize the terrain the more times I go out.
I second the comments about the challenges associated with running faster pace workouts in the dark.
For me, however, the bigger issue has to do with artificial lights. When I was growing up I enjoyed running at dusk / after dark. I still do when I visit my parents, who live in an area with low population density. Running there, my eyes can almost fully adjust to the dark so I can still see fairly well.
However, I live in an intracity suburb, ~5 miles from downtown. The streets are laid out on a grid and there are streetlights / cars everywhere. My eyes can never adjust to the dark because of the artificial lights and I find that I trip, step in potholes, etc. This happens even when I wear a headlamp. I suppose I could wake up super early and run when it is more peaceful out, but I'd rather spend more time socializing.
mountain lions
Precious Roy wrote:
I think it is mostly the younger runners who are used to sleeping in and running in the afternoon. Getting up early and doing your run in the dark before work is a difficult transition to make. I struggled with it for a few years. Once I adjusted, it was no problem and I could even get in a 20+ miler before the sun came up in the summer to avoid the heat. But, if I had my choice, I would prefer to run when the sun is up, especially during the sunrise. You do feel more awake and aware when the sun is up.
There's the answer. Most of the posts whining about running in the dark are from recent college grads who are used to a luxurious college schedule, and are not yet accustomed to having to be at a job all day during daylight hours.
They eventually either get used to running in the dark or become former runners.
Current college runners take note: you will never have more schedule freedom than you do right now.
I like running at night in the summer. I also usually like to rip my runs at night because the cool temps and just feeling in general.
I am just scared of dogs that is mainly it. Other than that it is colder in the dark.
Don't know. Work at home these days, so it's not a problem, but for years , all running in the week was after work at somewhere between 6-7:00 pm at night. Apart from track sessions in the second half of the year, I did all my runs on suburban roads/pavement (sidewalk). That included group runs with a club that might have up to 25 runners, and could be sub 6:00 pace for 10 miles (this was England at a time when a running club was purely competitive runners). We'd also run reps on a block of approx 3/4 mile in an industrial estate, and reps in a multi-story parking lot.
Did the same thing for many years in the Long Island suburbs even through winter, and never had much concern about running at night, in fact I often did it by choice over early morning (could never get going on early morning runs) and lunch-time running.
If you are a white guy you will probably never understand why women would prefer to run in the daylight (or to take it a step further truly understand systemic racism). It is the sort of thing that you just don't have any reason to think about because it is not an issue for you.
Yes, I'm a woman, and I'm lucky enough to live in reasonably a safe city. I have to do a lot of early morning running due to my work schedule. I feel much safer on the days I can meet up my training partner--even though nothing terrible has happened, I have definitely encountered some shady figures at 5 am.
For a decade I ran in the dark and enjoyed it immensely. I lived in a suburban town in which the roads were choked with traffic from 7 AM (or before) through the evening. When I ran between 4:30 AM and 5:30 AM the streets were like a ghost town. Visibility was good as there were many street lights. Fast forward to a decade ago. My new home is far away from any metropolis. The streets are extremely dark and the major roads have either no shoulder or a very narrow one, totally the opposite of where I once lived. I never run early mornings as it is now dangerous.
It actually feels FASTER in the dark wrote:
Hardloper wrote:
It's fine for easy runs but it's difficult to get in quality fast running when it's dark. There's evidence that you perceive paces as harder in the dark due to lower visibility.
More speculation from a guy afraid of the dark who has probably never tried to run fast after sundown.
I don't think you realise how stupid you are
Coach J46 wrote:
For a decade I ran in the dark and enjoyed it immensely. I lived in a suburban town in which the roads were choked with traffic from 7 AM (or before) through the evening. When I ran between 4:30 AM and 5:30 AM the streets were like a ghost town. Visibility was good as there were many street lights. Fast forward to a decade ago. My new home is far away from any metropolis. The streets are extremely dark and the major roads have either no shoulder or a very narrow one, totally the opposite of where I once lived. I never run early mornings as it is now dangerous.
Had the same experience, but in reverse. I grew up in a rural area and moved to a suburban area after school. I run in the mornings pre-dawn, and the streets are lighted by street lights, and traffic is very minimal at that hour.
I once visited my old rural town, went for a morning run, and was stunned at how DARK it was. No street lights. I couldn't see my hand right in front of my face. Couldn't see where I was putting my foot with each step. I felt like I was blind.
We suburbanites have it easy when running pre-dawn.
I think you can only do it when there is no traffic and you can run in the middle of the road. Sidewalks or headlights would make it awful.
I didn't understand it either for years, until I moved and tried to run in some places that are actually pretty damn scary to run in the dark at. It depends on the city, demographics, lighting, and potential hiding places for creepy people. And of course, as others have said, time of day (in my experience mornings generally have had less incidences with creepers). But don't rely on that. I have heard of people getting attacked running at all times and light/dark of day. And, in my own experiences, I have been running in the middle of the day and have had profanities yelled at me by a car going by, just as I have almost been hit by many a car trying to turn right (and the driver only looking left) in front of me. And then I have been running at night in the dark, and nothing happen to me while running through a neighborhood with well-known gang activity (didn't know this until a cop told me this along with a warning to be careful as he drove by me).
I have very bad PTSD I seriously get startled by the smallest thing. I can't run when it is dark I get too scared. A loud noise when stop me in my track. This is the first year since 2014 that I have managed to run off of a treadmill and it has been amazing over a 1,000 miles this year. However the pictures that are displayed on this post no way could I do and my hats off to all of you that can run in total darkness.