How to Run in the Dark
In winter, the worst morning jogging is not the cold (we know how to dress for this ), but the darkness. Even after the solstice, the sunrise is still quite late and there are a few precious minutes of sunshine in the evenings. How to run outdoors safely?
Wear a headlamp
First of all, you must see where you are going. If you can’t count on streetlights or the full moon, you’ll probably need a flashlight.
Rather than carrying one in hand, the most serious night runners rely on a headlamp that clips around your forehead to look silly and light your way with ease. Runner’s World has reviews of some of the higher end models , including the one designed to be worn around the waist. You can find cheaper versions at most camping gear stores, but they usually won’t be as bright or high quality.
Be sure to consider what you will do if your batteries suddenly run out or if you drop your headlamp and break it. It can be a mild inconvenience when jogging in your neighborhood, but in the woods, you’d better have a spare flashlight.
Stock up on reflective clothing
If you are running anywhere near traffic jams, it is not enough to see; you must be seen too. I like to see pedestrians approaching even in car-free parks. It’s very scary to cross paths with someone you didn’t even know.
The worst thing is to wear black or dark clothes because you blend in with the night. White or light colored clothing is just a small step forward. If you are anywhere near traffic, you really need reflectors.
If you do not have highly visible clothing, wear protective vests. There are things designed for running that aren’t too annoying to wear, such as Amphipod vests and suspender-like xinglets. Or wear an LED vest with glowing laces that cover your torso.
Check the conditions the night before
The worst combination is darkness and ice, and you may not always know what to expect on the road. One day I got out of my car in a local park and found that the entire parking lot was covered in black ice. On other occasions, the roads seemed dry at first, but as I ran, I had to dodge ice patches, receiving a warning in just a few seconds about each one thanks to the headlamp.
So check the conditions the night before. If it rains and the temperature is below freezing at night, I assume there will be ice and plan accordingly. (You can wear yaktrax or other ice-compatible shoes, or just switch to a treadmill.)
When doing this, do not forget about the usual precautions: run along the side of a road that meets traffic, find safe paths and sidewalks, tell someone where you are going, and everything else that you should do anyway .