AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!

[birdistheword]

I'm now not going to run for a few days.

Boyfriend has stipulated he doesn't want me running in the dark whatsoever....

That doesn't leave me much running time at all....

What do I do?

[Saruma Graduate]

As long as you stick to populated areas and go early enough, I can't see a problem with running in the dark - either that or buy a treadmill. You're going to be severely restricted for probably the next 6 months otherwise!

[birdistheword Graduate]

Exactly! Thank you! I was talking to him about going at 6am tomorrow, it's either that or close to 7pm, either way fact is it's dark!

[sfb350 Graduate]

Give him a choice - he can either come with you or he can buy you a nice treadmill

Or you could try to find a local beginners running group. If you have a local parkrun and they have a FB page you might be able to find a running partner of a similar pace that way. I'm sure there are lots of new runners out there who would love to have someone to run with.

[annasee Graduate]

I can't see a problem running in the dark as long as it's somewhere you would feel safe walking at night. So not on an unlit country road, but ok on a suburban street. I've always walked around alone at night, in all sorts of towns and cities, finishing work at 10 or 10 30, sometimes later, catching buses or trains. If there's adequate street lighting and people about, then you're as safe as you're going to be anywhere. Alternative is, get him to run with you!

[susan22 Graduate]

I run in the dark but have mapped out a route that has people around. I do need to get better clothes that can be seen in the dark though.

[Tati Graduate]

Ignore him

[birdistheword Graduate]

Thanks guys!

He's loosening the rules I think, I gave him the option of coming with me but he said I was too far ahead of him in ability now!

I'm going to go out after work later and beat out those Friday annoyances!

[xeompho]

Maybe he can come with you on a bike if he's not up to your speed?

Though I have to say my first reaction was: get new boyfriend!

[birdistheword Graduate]

He is annoying me at the moment but not that much!

Until he feels like it I'm going to go running with my mates at the weekends or join a group!

[deekay64 Graduate]

This all depends on where you live of course... I'm in a small town with little violent crime and lots of well lit streets. I wouldn't, and won't let my adult daughter, run round or through either of our parks at dusk or in the dark - youths hang out and your earphones are attached to a gadget work stealing - or worse! My mum lives in a city centre with some very poor communities and a lot of crime and racial tension and if I'm honest I'm on high alert running there in daylight so I drive out to the country park. By and large I see a lot less people at 6am in the winter than 7pm and people i see up at that time are going about their business - getting to work etc... My partner hates me alone at night too and tries to dissuade me it's lovely to have someone who cares and he just needed reassurance I was being sensible, had the music turned down and stuck to well lit areas etc. I'm sure you'll work it out

[Oryxx Graduate]

This worries me too! I live in a small village where we have no street lights and cars just bomb through the country lanes at whatever speed they like.

I'm still managing to run if I go straight after work but I'm thinking I may have to start running in my lunch break (we have showers at the office). Is this something you could also do?

[Jaynew01]

I've run in the dark for years. Wear reflective clothing, take your mobile, stick to well lit and residential areas, don't run the same routes, let someone know the route you are running and you will be ok. Just think, you could probably out run any opportunist mugger etc. Run earlier in the evening too when there are still lots of people around. In my old city, Coventry, there were always a number of public houses on some routes, use those for a place of safety if needed. You will be ok....

[earl-grey-sian Graduate]

I stop in a small town to run after work on my way home to my village. We have no streetlights or pavements here, so I stop of somewhere where there are both. Problem solved. Whose life is it anyway, yours or his?? Good luck

[Hidden]

Join a running club & run in a group

[birdistheword Graduate]

Yeah I'm going to talk to him later about it, I know he's saying it coz he cares but he's not helping me find a solution he's just putting obstacles there!

It's kind of hard to explain but I live in a town a few minutes from the city centre (Derby) so I do have access to well lit and well used roads, it's like anywhere I guess, there's places you go and places you know you don't go! The last run I did was lit and quite residential...

Hopedully one day I'll be too fast for anyone to do anything to me anyway!

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to birdistheword]

Hi birdistheword, I'm in Ashbourne so I know a bit about the Derby suburbs. I would have thought that if you stick to the residential areas you should be okay - well lit and fairly busy? And get him to buy you some jazzy reflective gear too

[Sarah-A Graduate]

Why don't you get some super reflective running gear - maybe a flashing arm-band too.

He will see that you easily spotted by traffic and it may ease him mind. Also like others have said - keep to busy areas.

[Eebahgum Graduate]

It's up to you, not him! Stuff his rules. There is lots of good advice in the previous comments about running safely in the dark.

[Saruma Graduate]

Also buy a rape alarm, I had an uncomfortable experience a couple of weeks ago (in broad daylight, I might add). It hasn't deterred me in the slightest, but, as a precaution, I bought an alarm which I now wear on the opposite wrist to my Garmin.

[Hidden]

My partner had similar concerns of me running in the dark, all about being seen, but knew better than to tell me not to do something, I can be stubborn in those scenarios

I agree with most comments here, firstly it depends if the instruction, never a good start, was it controlling or just concerned worry.

If it the first one then a good long thinking session coming up, if it's the later then "thanks hunny for caring, I'd been thinking how I'd handle the dark nights, but I'm sure I can come up with the solution to running safely in the dark, I'm getting some bright running clothes and I'm gonna run in populated lit areas"

Take care, enjoy them runs.

[Hidden]

I have a Ron Hill jacket with flashing lights built in, and also use a head torch.

Btw, how many people do you think have been attacked while running in the dark, compared to how many get injured and killed in car accidents?

[lycranotlikely Graduate]

We run in the park in the mornings. I'm by myself for most of the time as husband is much faster than I am. I think it's safer to run in the dark in the early morniing than at night. Only joggers and dog walkers are up then...all the bad ones are still in bed! We're getting head torches to light our way. (We drive to the park...not very environmentally friendly I knnow...but safe.)

[birdistheword Graduate]

I'm not that worried, I've been in worse places, I grew up in SE London, it's him being over caring and me listening to him!!

If I get time over the weekend I'll invest in some gear and shut him up!! Am also hoping to shut him up this evening when I go out!!

[birdistheword Graduate]

Thanks guys by the way!

[imswan Graduate]

Me and my running partner are switching from our unlit park run to running along the river front which is fully lit just switch locations

[Clawmum Graduate]

I also run in the dark, in a park but my husband knows the route and how long it takes and if i am even 5 mins late my phone goes off, drives me mad but its nice to know they care, i did do a road route but swapped because thought it was more dangerous being on the side of the road in the dark even with my hi viz jacket and flashing lights from proviz.

As long as we are all sensible, let people know where were going to be we should be able to stay safe.

Good Luck