This week’s Tuesday’s on the Run topic is Running at Night.
Personally I don’t have a whole lot of experience running in the dark other than a Ragnar Relay, a 10k and a handful of times when I went out deep in the wee hours of the morning because I had mega miles to get in before the heat set in. I’ll also be running the #stripatnight at Rock n Roll Vegas in just a few weeks. Some words of wisdom if you’re venturing out in the dark:
Wear white and/or hi-viz clothing. Now’s not the time to go all ninja on us.
Be reflective. Most running shoes and gear is surprisingly reflective. Here’s when it totally pays off.
I really like these LED light belts from Illumiseen. Read the full review here.
Lights. Wear a headlamp, blinking lights, the more the merrier. Make sure you can be seen from all angles.
Run with a buddy. In the dark is no time to go all lone-wolf on us.
Choose a very familiar route. A well-lit one if possible. Not on busy roads. This is not the time to explore and risk getting lost.
Watch your step. Potholes, curbs and sidewalk cracks are no fun.
Skip the music. Devote your full concentration to where you’re going and your surroundings.
Have you run or raced in the dark? What are your tips?
Be sure to join us this Friday and every last Friday of the month for the Runfession Linkup! Share your run- gym- swim- any confessions are fair game and link them up. I promise you’ll feel better!
Great tips! I also need the reminder to put my music and phone away at night. It’s really easy to misstep when distracted!
These are great tips! Someone in my neighborhood was actually hit recently 🙁
I had to do some zero dark thirty runs this summer to get the miles in before work…it is always a little unnerving heading out into the dark. I wear my headlamp for visibility as well as illumination–the roads around here have some uneven pavement. I avoid the sidewalks for that reason too….
I had a misstep during MCM as we went under a bridge into a dark area. I couldn’t see the ground and stepped into a crack that was filled with water. Nearly hurt my ankle and then had a soaked foot. So, watching your footing during a night time run is super important.
As you’ll see, Vegas was my first night race! I don’t run in the dark often, either. Great tips!
Yes, when you’re running at night – going solo should definitely be a last resort! I need to see if I can buy some of these nicer high visibility accessories!
Even though I’m not running at night, it may as well be at dark-thirty a.m. I always wear blinky lights and Brooks makes some fantastic dark time running gear that is crazy reflective. I do agree on trying to stick to better lit streets and have recently changed up my routes somewhat to put me on better streets. It’s nice to see where you’re feet are landing 😉
The more lights, the better. I don’t run in the dark since it’s Texas, and even in the suburbs I’ve seen coyotes and some people have seen bobcats. I always think be lit up like a Christmas tree when you’re running in the dark.
I’ve only done one 5k in the dark. It was tricky with potholes and things in the road, but it was fun. Definitely be reflective and maybe even get a headlamp. It may be dorky, but it’s better than falling on your butt!
Wonderful tips, Marcia! I do need to wear reflective gear, but I don’t and that’s STUPID of me.
Most of my running is at night, but the several news stories of runners getting mugged/raped/you name it I have found I don’t run as much during winter months unless I have someone to run with. Which during the week, isn’t very often sadly as most of my friends are stay at home Moms and get their runs done while their kiddos are in school. I may have to make up with my dreadmill.
Skip the music??? So in other words…don’t run at night. haha! I’m not a night runner either for this very reason. Great tips though.
The Vegas strip sounds like a great place to race at night. Can’t wait to hear about it!
Great tips! Thanks or posting!
Oh Marcia I didn’t realize you were doing the Vegas strip at night race! That is so cool and a bucket list of mine! I never know how to fuel for a night race, ya know I have it down for a morning race but I never quite know how much is too much and how long out before a night race I should fuel. I guess I don’t do enough. Great tips!
I do a lot of my running in the dark and I’m pretty good about most of these things – but not wearing lights. I nearly always forget to put them on. But because the paths I choose are well lit it doesn’t bother me.
More great tips! If I ran outdoors at night these are great to apply
Good tips!
I run in the dark A LOT. Usually very early morning, just because that’s when the temperatures are usually tolerably cooler.
I don’t like running at night because my vision is not great and I don’t enjoy it. Too stressed that I will fall …
When it comes to running outside at night, the brighter your clothes, the better.
Great tips. Definitely skip the music!
I used to do training runs in the dark often. Now I am lazy since I have a treadmill in my house. You’ve hit the nail on the head with tips here. The other thing to be mindful of is varying your routine a bit (which is good for daylight or not) in case someone with less than good intentions is watching you.
I completely agree with not listening to music when running at night. That can actually be kind of dangerous!
I typically don’t run at night. I’m injured right now but back when I could run, my neighborhood was not the safest at night (bc I lived in a big city)
I couldn’t agree more! It’s so important tp be visible and aware during evening runs…I find it too exhausting to run without music, so if I’m going to go on an evening run I stick to well lit parks/tracks/etc with lots of people and no cars!
I am not a huge fan of running at night. My boyfriend and I just did a night run earlier and I even though there were tons of people out and i felt safe, i was so worried i was going to fall and twist my ankle
My main tip for running in the dark is to never run alone. I have run in the dark but I typically run by myself so not very often.
Great tips. I learned from Ragnar the importance of reflective gear and now I almost always use my headlamp even though my neighborhood streets are pretty well-lit.
Excellent tips! I rarely run at night because thankfully my schedule allows for mid-morning and afternoon runs. I save the super early AM runs for the summer when it’s light out earlier 😉 But these are all things every runner should know, regardless of whether they actually have to put them into practice or not!
I do a lot of my running early am so it’s dark. I love my knoxgear vest and my knuckle lights. And I ALWAYS skip the music when I’m running in the dark.
I don’t ever run alone at night!!
I used to jog a lot at night, after work. I never participated in a race in the dark though. It must be so cool.
I am getting back to my run to hopeful join my first race after brain tumor surgery in November. I’m truly looking forward this 5k.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share our links!
I haven’t had to run in the dark, but these are great tips for when I will have to! Thanks! 🙂