Running in the dark

[tony_a]

Out just after 5.30 this morning for my first trail run in the dark. Pouring with rain so considered a change of plan but decided to go for it.

As promised in another post, these are my first thoughts on using a head torch. I tried my new head torch on in the house yesterday and found the plastic unit at the front a bit uncomfortable so I wore my buff as a headband and had the head torch over the top. Worked a treat.

Did my warm up walk over a bit of the park that is always dark, to check if the headtorch would be bright enough. It was so I ducked down the footpath between the trees and out towards the fields. There was no problem with visibility (the torch I’ve got is pretty bright) but I did find it helps to know you’re route. You only realise how often you look into the far distance for way markers when you can’t see them.

Did the last km on country road. Encountered five or six cars. All saw me from a distance away though I stepped onto the verge just in case.

Head torch I’ve got is a Petzl Reactic. My first thoughts on it:

Pros: very bright and adjusts to light conditions - good for trails and roads, comfy to wear; torch can be angled up or down a bit for best coverage

Cons: heavy (thought I didn’t notice once running); bit bulky; expensive; no tail light (I’ve ordered a separate one)

As others posted on my original post yesterday I reckon for roads and dark pavements a cheaper, lighter torch (possibly with a tail light) would do the trick. Time will tell on whether the automatic brightness on my one is more than just a gimic. But overall very happy that it’s done the job - I can go on dark routes and can see well enough to run at normal pace without fear of tripping.

By the way - I do use Live Track when I run so my other half can see where I am, just in case. I did love running in the dark and will do so again but definitely worth giving safety some thought if heading onto the trails in the dark.

[misswobble Graduate10]

You can get your light over a cap too 👍😃💪

Glad you got out to do some product testing 😃

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Couldn’t wait to try if out. Look ridiculous though (or so I was told when I got home) so may need ensure runs both start and end in the dark 😂😂

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Hmm your mention of a tail light had me imagining one that fixes on ones bottom. I presume it actually goes on the back of ones head though.

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Nothing to stop you attaching it to your bottom instead 😀😀

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10 in reply to tony_a]

A red light and it would match my shoes and my face!

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Sounds like it worked well. You are brave to attempt a trail in the dark, I’ve never done my woods with my head torch as a lone female etc... and you are right it does help to know the route as well...

[tony_a Graduate10 in reply to ju-ju-]

There’s a fine line between brave and stupid 😉