Enter the dark Side: As we draw close to the... - Couch to 5K

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Enter the dark Side

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate
30 Replies

As we draw close to the darker months I have seen a few posts on motivation to run in the dark, so I thought I would share mine in the hope it might get you going!

1. No one can see you so you can look as daft as you feel obliged ( I like a bit of random dancing)

2. wearing a head torch makes you feel like a professional ( or a minor!!) ;)

3. you can startle cyclists and drivers alike with your beam of light

4. The rain looks like glitter and you can pretend you are on a spaceship going through space ( or is that just me?!!!)

5. You can get all smug about it

6. watching the sun rise is therapy for the soul

7. If you run in the dark it burns more calories*

8. You can pretend you are a panther hunting its pray ( or is that also just me?!!!)

9. You can take interesting pictures of unknown objects for this montht beyond C25k Facebook challenge

So- go on, get your head torch on and go for it

Happy Panthering

Juicyju

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ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-
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30 Replies

My husband runs early in the mornings when it is still dark, through the local woods. He says the worst thing is when his head torch catches the foxes eyes and all he can see is these bright lights moving towards him through the trees :-O !!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply to

Wow that sounds scary! When ive run to work before the rabbits eyes look pretty scary too!!!

simonwilliamstutor profile image
simonwilliamstutorGraduate

I startled a few dogs this morning with my headtorch.

I like to pretend I'm one of the Minions when I have my headtorch on!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply tosimonwilliamstutor

Well done! And I love it... Minions are the best :)

Ugifer profile image
Ugifer

After the number of puddles I ran through last night, I'm seriously considering this!

That and the panther thing! ;-)

Ugi

PS judging from the picture, you are a miner rather than a minor!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply toUgifer

Hee hee I can't spell either 😜 Excellent, get panthering and enjoy yourself....

runswithdogs profile image
runswithdogsGraduate

#5. Fully agree. Applies to very cold weather as well.

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply torunswithdogs

Exactly 👌🏽

ajwyld profile image
ajwyldGraduate

Yup - I'm now doing 2 runs a week in the dark and really like it. (But am looking forward to tomorro morning's daylight run as well...) I run where there are streetlights so don't bother with a headlamp.

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply toajwyld

Well done, and yes I'm looking forward to running in daylight today although it's pouring and blowing a hoolie!!!

davelinks profile image
davelinksGraduate

Thought you were digging down the coal mine there jj😁

Great post!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply todavelinks

Thanks... 😜

roseabi profile image
roseabi

Yayyyyyy! Awesome post. Happy Friday! :)

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply toroseabi

Happy Saturday 😎

Vixchile profile image
VixchileGraduate

Great tips!!!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply toVixchile

Thankyou!!

sarah469 profile image
sarah469Graduate

I need some more motivation so this post was very welcome! :)

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply tosarah469

I'm so pleased, hope you got out there??

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

Ha ha! Love some of those juicyju! Especially the one about the rain looking like glitter! I am going to have to dig out my camping head torch and throw caution to the wind! (You honestly look a lot better in a head torch than I do!!😧)The last couple of runs I've had have been just before it get dark, but it was pretty gloomy running down the old railway line and I was really aware that I was struggling to see what was on the track in front of me at times. Not a good plan! Anyway, it really is going to unavoidable if I want to increase my distance...so here's to the (runnning) creatures of the night!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply toSandraj39

Yes get your head torch out, it's so easy to get an injury running if you can't see anything! And I bet you look just fabulous X

Sharonb9999 profile image
Sharonb9999Graduate

I've never used a head torch but I need to increase my distance this winter so I'll be out longer & trying different routes. On Thursday my route took me by the local grave yard. It's on a main road that is has lights and they were all on except the couple by the grave yard main gates. Queue Thriller sound track playing in my head!! It boosted my pace for a while ☺☺ I'll be consulting Amazon later today for a suitably bright head torch - we're talking Wembley Stadium /Las Vegas here!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply toSharonb9999

Very sensible I don't like the idea of running around graves in the dark!! 👻👻👻

sneezingpanda profile image
sneezingpandaGraduate

I went for my first run in the dark and dense fog this week, had been nervous about it all day and nearly didnt go but SO glad I did - sonething liberating about knowing no one could see how red my face might be :)

felt less self conscious than running in daylight...

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply tosneezingpanda

Well done, and it has its plus points doesnt it?!!

Theziggy profile image
TheziggyGraduate

So a head-torch takes years off - that's what I've been looking for JJ

Purple_faced_woman profile image
Purple_faced_womanGraduate

I just bought myself one of those hats from Aldi with the really bright lights on the front.

I ran in the dark by mistake recently on an unfamiliar ex-railway line on the Trans-Pennine Trail. It was lovely when I set off running along under the trees, setting myself goals of reaching the next bit of light where there's a clearing.

And then it became night. There are no streetlights. There are no buildings nearby. Nothing but me and the track with my newfound inability to see the puddles and avoid them. Worse than that was the occasional pile of horse poo - I stumbled several times but fortunately didn't fall. And then I began to notice noises in the music - the sound effect of pieces of pipe being banged together by wasteland mutants as the drive the heroine into a trap... do you know, I ran for longer and probably faster than I've ever done before on the way back to civilization!

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply toPurple_faced_woman

That must have been terrifying!!! I am not surprised you ran so fast back!!!

1968u profile image
1968uGraduate

I ran last winter in the dark with a head lamp without a second thought. This year I'm a complete scaredy cat and completely spooked. Last year I ran mainly 5ks and its the longer distance in the dark that terrifies me. I live in a rural area with very little street lights. Any tips guys?

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply to1968u

I have to admit I stick to shorter runs in the dark but I did occasionally run to work where daylight appeared which was lovely!! Were you scared even with the head torch? Have you a dog??

Tattoojunkie30 profile image
Tattoojunkie30Graduate

Also when the dawn is just right you look like your running through a tim burton film so in my head i hear "whats this?" And "halloweentown"

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