It’s not a secret that I’m scared of the dark. (And if it was a secret, it’s not anymore.) In the winter months in New York, there is just SO MUCH DARK. According to the iPhone weather app, the sun rose at 7:13am today and will set at 4:30pm. That is way less than 12 hours of sunlight. Which brings me to the point: if you run in the winter and you have a desk job, you have to run in the dark (whether that means morning or night).
I am in a severe “I hate the treadmill” phase, so I aggregated some ways to play it safe and smart while running outside in those pre-dawn or post-sunset hours.
1. Run with a friend. Four feet are better than two. As much as I love a solo run I feel safer when I’m not alone on a dark or isolated running path.
2. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back. This is a security blanket as much as anything else. If you’re going out into the dark of night, let someone know where you’re going and what your route will be. It’s a smart precaution.
3. Wear bright, reflective clothing. Make it easy for cars to see you. Some reflective clothing for you to shop here. Oh did I just give you an excuse to shop?
6. If it’s really dark, consider wearing a headlamp. But nothing too bright. A biker in the park blinded me with his helmet light and I nearly lost my footing. So ideally a light you can adjust.
9. Find a running group. Many running stores (Jack Rabbit, Lululemon for examples) organize runners to meet for post-work jogs. If you don’t have a friend to run with, consider stopping by your local store (of if you’re in NYC check out this list) to avoid running alone.
Resources:
Any other sunlight-free running tips to share? Leave them in the comments!
Great tips! I have to run in the dark all winter long – our sun rises sometime after 10:30 and sets around 3 here in Alaska, so if I want to run when the sun is “out” (not up – it’s really low on the horizon) I have to run at lunch. My headlamp and bright running jacket are my BFFs in the winter!