Why do so many posters here find running in the dark so undesirable?

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.

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.

I've been running at 5 am most weekdays for over 3 decades, but I think what Hardloper says is correct. I find it very hard to run fast in the dark.

I don't like running in real darkness mainly because of the danger of tripping on rough ground or unseen obstacles. I have no problem running when it's dark on streets that have street lights, or under a bright moon.

I think many people are afraid to run in the dark because they're concerned about personal safety. I have always found that there are far fewer scary-looking people out at 5-6 am than at any other time, but I guess darkness makes any scary thing look scarier.

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.

In our city, just this week a woman was attacked from behind during her morning run in the burbs. She woke up after it was all over. Try having some empathy.

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.

I disagree. I've run at least half of my mileage in the dark during the winter, and 25 percent of it during the summer (at MUCH faster velocities than you) and have a totally different perception than yours. Perhaps you are running on sidewalk rather than the open road? Running at night through "Goatman Road" at night during my high school years probably resulted in my epiphany that tempo runs can be done many times a week if you are doing them right. Made me fit as hell too.

Running in the daylight is ideal. Why do you find this puzzling? Running when it's very very cold, or very hot isn't desirable either.

Why wouldn't anyone in their right mind rather have conditions closer to the ideal than not?

I run a little earlier... like 5:00am. I enjoy it because no one is in my (cars). Plus it is quiet.

This is what Goatman Road looked like, literally.

http://oi66.tinypic.com/11ta7aq.jpg

malmo wrote:

This is what Goatman Road looked like, literally.

http://oi66.tinypic.com/11ta7aq.jpg

That's reminds me of a canal trail i used to run on. Pretty creepy at night, but it was a fun experience. It was also much safer than running in the ghetto in which i currently reside.

Mostly, I just hate being blinded by the headlights of approaching cars. When I do run in the dark it is mostly in my rather suburban neighborhood, roads and sidewalks. Not heavy car traffic, but when are car comes at me, I really can't see the ground at all for several strides.

FWIW, my perception when I run in the dark is that I'm going faster then I really am.

malmo 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.

I disagree. I've run at least half of my mileage in the dark during the winter, and 25 percent of it during the summer (at MUCH faster velocities than you) and have a totally different perception than yours. Perhaps you are running on sidewalk rather than the open road? Running at night through "Goatman Road" at night during my high school years probably resulted in my epiphany that tempo runs can be done many times a week if you are doing them right. Made me fit as hell too.

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.

Because creepy people.

Because mommies basement dwellers are easily scared.

Its much colder when the sun hasn't risen yet, or has set already. For me, I spent a few years running before work, but it IS the coldest time a day, 5am is usually at least 10 degrees colder than 5pm, unless there is a strange weather pattern happening. However, it is safer in the morning, due to lack of traffic. The other primary motivation for me to run during daylight is being able to run on trails safely. During the winter when the snow also makes trails impossible, running on the roads and in the dark cold weather, is much less motivating than a cool summer evening with a run through the woods before the sun goes down.

I live in a small city (about 20,000 people) and running at night is actually preferable. About 12:00am to 4:00am because there's barely any vehicles out. I run from my house out and back and I have to run right through the center of town to get to the running path by the lake and in the day time it would just be chaos having to stop at every intersection for cars coming from all 4 sides but at night I might run 3 miles out 3 miles back and only see 1 or 2 cars. It's nice and peaceful.

When I used to run, I was shouted/screamed at too many times after dark to enjoy it any more. One time I was running past traffic waiting at lights and someone screeched in my face from a wound down window... just got fed up with it.

Fortunately the track was a lot safer after dark (floodlit and well attended).

Bob Sacamano the fake one wrote:

There are constantly posts asking about how to avoid running in the dark while working full time. I truly don't understand this. I've been a 4:00 am runner for over 2 decades, and I think it's great. Go for a run under the stars while the world is quiet, clear your head before heading to work, enjoy that satisfied post- workout feel all day...greatness.

Why are so many of you scared of the dark?

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.

Darkness closes off pretty much all trails and slows you down as much of roads become invisible and makes blind curves on roads dangerous. If you like wearing an uncomfortable headlamp, I guess its not too bad, but I hate running at night because those things never fit right, they're always falling down into my face, so its that awful feeling or not being able to see the areas where I would like to run.

Why do most humans live between 40 latitude south and 40 latitude north? As humans, we tend to prefer twelve hours of day light and twelve hours of darkness. If we cannot have 12 and 12, then no worse than fourteen hours of darkness and ten hours of day light.

Another thing, I'd rather run in the nice state park by me than some boring suburban neighborhoods. The state park is definitely closed and locked up at night.

The world is quiet in the morning, but not when I get off work and its also dark! If you're doubling running in the dark in the evening means tons of traffic and some runs might be awful due to street crossings. Why are >99% of races in the light? Hmmm