When forget the clocks have changed, your run selfies look like this!!! ☀️

[MissUnderstanding]

I feel like a bit of a wazzock. I’m hoping I’m not alone. 5.30pm pre-dinner is often a good time to squeeze in a run because you catch the last of the light,…except when the clocks have changed! Doh. Time to get all the see-and-be-seen kit out. Route change to run along more predictable ground. Time to head out for three easy miles.

Running with a head torch is still a novelty at this point in the season and I felt like a hero goi g oh in the dark and light drizzle. I’m rubbish at working out what to wear and the long sleeved top was an error. Too hot! Reflective jacket ended up round my waist within a few minutes.

This was quite a functional run-twice to the park and back, then down along the path I’d walked to warm up and a loop round the village. I really enjoyed it though! I’ve reached a nice point in training where going out for ordinary almost-5k runs like this is comfortable and easy. That’s still a surprise. I was listening to a great podcast (The Growth Equation-Quitting:when to give up and when to push on) which I’d really recommend. Thought provoking but not heavy-going. I could hear owls and every now and again, my head torch lit up a pair of eyes. I met a few fellow reflective people out for walks with their dogs. Some excellent small talk about “how has of got to this point in the year already…it’s be Christmas soon…” which is the official small talk for this time of year. Before I knew it, it was done. 5 minutes walk home and a cool down quick strength and stretch on the mat.

I ran three functional miles on a treadmill on Saturday. This was three more functional miles back and forth on a lane. Neither run particularly exciting on paper, but both very satisfying to tick off and both very much helped by two good podcasts!

How are you managing the dark nights? Anyone else caught out by the clocks?!!

[nowster Graduate10]

Similarly yesterday afternoon I thought, "When I'm done with this I'll kit up and go out for a run." Then I finished what I was doing, looked outside and it was already dark and raining. Bother! Bother! Bother!

I do have head torch etc. I don't mind running in the rain. I just don't like starting a run in the rain.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I’m with you there!! Starting in the rain is really tough! If it rains when you’re out, there’s not usually much option. Luckily. today here it was just a bit of that pathetic drizzle that gets you wet without noticing. I’m counting that as a win.

[Tessie66 Graduate10]

Love running in the dark but booked today off work and did a 15k. Well done on a lovely run

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Tessie66]

Well done! I remember that point in the HM programme-suddenly you’re running really chunky distances. It’s such an amazing achievement. Over on Fun Beyond , your 10 mile badge will be yours soon!

[StringTheory]

Nice selfie- thought it was the northern lights! 😂. Got to the bit today when I can’t wait for my post work de-stress run only to find I’d missed my slot as it was very dark. I don’t mind so much running back through the village when it’s dark and I’ve got my chest torch on, but struggle to get out in the dark. I’ve got the high vis, I’ve got a torch, I need to find the sweet spot. I could try a morning run- do you need to eat first? Argh the clocks have thrown me off.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to StringTheory]

🤣🤣🤣 I love that-maybe passers by thought the same. I like the idea of being a mobile phenomenon of nature. I don’t think my running has ever been anything like that before!

I wish I was a morning person. When I run first thing, I usually have coffee and toast before I go. Through disorganisation, I’ve trained myself to be ok with eating about half an hour before heading out as long as it isn’t too big.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to StringTheory]

For first-thing-in-the-morning runs, I tend not to bother to eat if it's going to be an hour or less. Then I have breakfast when I get back.

[Tracytrace Graduate10]

hello , I went out at 4.30 yesterday and now have to run on the pavements that are lit and have to really concentrate on the parts covered in leaves as you can’t see the cracks and lumps and bumps 🙈🤣 also something really puzzles me ; I’ve been looking for reflective or bright leggings etc and everything is black!!?? I know it might have reflective parts but surely it’s better to wear brighter items? And should I get a head or chest torch ? Sorry for all the questions I think last year I probably wasn’t running much in the dark 🙈

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to Tracytrace]

I use a head torch and find that's enough for me. Chest torches often have a rear red light so that will help you be seen where street lighting is poor or missing.

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Tracytrace]

When I’ve been running, the main thing I notice is other head/cheat torches coming towards me and glowing reflective strips on tops. That’s enough to see others well. I don’t think having bright bottoms is such a big advantage-your too half is more likely to be seen by cars etc. In the pitch dark where I run, you can’t see what colour anything is!

It is more of a workout for the concentration when it’s dark! Hope you had fun!

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Tracytrace]

 Tracytrace , I find provizsports.com/ excellent for reflective clothing. It's not all black, and they have generous sale discounts too. I blame MissUnderstanding for the amount of money I've spent there!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Guilty as charged! My “defy the darkness” t-shirt is one of my favourites!

[Week7 Graduate10]

I am prepared this year. Aldi have woolly hats with rechargeable LED lights in store last week . Really comfortable to wear , 3 light settings and make it really easy to see and be seen.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Week7]

Ooh great tip! I’ll pop in and check the middle aisle while I’m doing the weekly shop!

[Week7 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Top tip-it was with the Workwear!

[StringTheory]

update: I tried my best efforts to be a morning person this morning. I ate a banana very early and had a glass of water. But the run was hectic- traversing round the recycling bins, trying not to slip in leaf mulch, but then getting to the track it was full of dogs and I was tripping round Labradors aplenty! I achieved my personal worst just trying to fall over, but hey I got out there!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to StringTheory]

Oh well done! It’s a personal record even if it’s a worst one!! Sometimes those runs are really fun to look back on-congratulations on getting out there!

[misswobble Graduate10]

I always get caught out by the clocks but being as I’m not working I don’t really mind 😀

I dug out my headtorch a few weeks back to run about 10k to my sister’s. The batteries had died so it was a bit of a careful run home as I could barely see my feet 🙂

I usually relish the thought of the year’s headtorch run 😁

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

I’m glad it’s not just me that’s been caught out like that! Round here there are no street lights and it’s all country lanes so I’ve always got my phone as a back up….not so easy to run with! My head torch is clever enough to have a rechargeable battery and also take AAA ones but I’ve never got those with me!

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Yes, mine has those ones. I’ve got a biggish pack of them but they’re all dead 😤. Typical innit 😁

I had a pull-on torch hat for Christmas and the light seems really bright so I’ve got that option til I get more batteries 🙂

[MutleyShuffle Graduate10]

I remembered my head torch on yesterday's run as I knew it would be getting dark, but didn't check the battery - it provided a very dim light, just enough to see by! 🥴

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MutleyShuffle]

I can totally relate to this! Mine died completely recently and I had to use my phone as a torch! Run got quickly switched for a walk!

[MutleyShuffle Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Yikes!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Sorry it is a late reply... I am out of breath trying to keep up!

What a lovely run... and full of special things...the last rays of the day, eyes glowing on the dark, the hoot of the owl and the unexpected warmth...Best of all that lovely, lovely, I can run for ever feeling!

Huge well done to you... and maybe, just maybe... ( and I have been musing on this one... ), I may try to pop in the odd later run around this time.

You have made it sound very tempting! xxx

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you! I would definitely recommend a late run! On a clear night where the moon’a out, it’s one of my favourite times to run! Sunsets can be wonderful too, but I need to remember how quickly it gets dark and take the head torch in anticipation of needing it later. Hope you have fun if you venture out after dark!