I'm reading a lot about how people like to run very early in the morning. Like running at 4am or 5am.
I might do this one day, but I'd be very wary of the dark and I would feel very vulnerable being a female and I live in West London.
I know you can use hi-vis and head lamps to combat the dark, which might be useful when running in the winter when there are fewer daylight hours.
This might be a stupid question, but what is it like getting up to run at that time of the morning.
Well it is broad daylight at this time of year for starters.
and tbh, most of the axe-murdering rapists are more likely to be tucked up in bed at 5AM than they are during the day.
It is fantastic out at that time of day. My favourite time of day of all. No one about. The world your lobster. Feel set up for the day after an early run.
At this time of year, yes. But in winter and autumn - not.
I don't know what rapists and serial killers are doing at 5am, but you do hear of muggings, perverts and all sorts. These type of things probably occur more often after day, but I can't say for sure. I also think it depends on where you live.
It might be safer to run that early in the country side, suburbs or outskirts than the city.
I'd be interested in seeing the statistics for street crime between the hours of 4 and 5AM. How many pervert muggers are abroad committing fell deeds at 0430 in January... in all my experience of city streets at those times I would have thought they would have frozen their bits off waiting for victims, but whatever.
At the end of the day (or the beginning) though, how secure one feels is an entirely personal thing, and if you don't feel safe being out early in the morning that is entirely your prerogative. I don't want to sound like I am rubbishing your fears. Run when and where you feel safe and happy.
Could you find a running buddy? (or a dog to run with) I much prefer running in the morning- the earlier the better, although its not always possible. At this time of year it is such a good start to the day (cant speak for winter time yet 
) and I run better in the morning; don't know why.
Ironically, my tendency to wake up too early, at 4 or 5am has diminished recently- I'm sleeping so much better since I started to run!
I love my bed but since the temperature rose I've been getting up at 5.30 to run at 6am. I normally don't get up till 7am but I've found it really sets me up for the day and doesn't then interrupt "family time "
I think I could handle a morning run in the summer, but I like to run in the park and I don't think the nearest park is open until 7. By that time, I'm ready for work.
It depends where you live, the time of year (daylight hours?), how confident you are, if you run alone.
Assess any area you intend to run carefully . I usually wait until 6.30 am if possible when there are a few folk around.....but not many. I tend to street run if its early.,..better not to choose more remote areas when no one about.
Its a personal taste thing!
I live in a medium sized town and my favourite time to run is early morning, not that early though. I love early morning winter running in the dark with my high biz and head torch. Even at this time of year, it is just so cool and quiet. I haven't met anyone dodgy yet but being careful is wise. If I run in the countryside, I take a personal alarm and I let my husband know when I go out and get back. There is a tracker on my phone too so they know where to recover my dead body. I don't stop and chat to anyone when I run and I don't wear headphones so I feel pretty alert and safe. If I am running, I am pretty happy
Spookily I had this conversation with my other half this morning - he was utterly gobsmacked that I felt vulnerable running on my own - we live in a very rural area and from his perspective, it's totally safe. It was a really good insight into how differently he and I perceive the risks. My fear of being vulnerable comes from me being female rather than from any statistical evidence so I guess the issue is not how likely it is to happen, but how you feel about it.
As Rignold says, if you don't feel comfortable doing it then don't, or find a running mate that you can run with so that you can relax and have a good run.
My biggest scare, early one morning, was a badger coming out of the undergrowth at a real lick.. I don't know who jumped highest!!
Badgers can be scary. They would eat their way through you if they felt trapped! I'm always amazed that people portray them as cuddly...
Me too.. I like them.... in their own place
I run early at all times of year and don't feel vulnerable. But I live in a quiet residential area on the edge of Munich. In a year and a half of running (and a decade of early walks) I have only ever seen dog-walkers and the occasional other runner. I try to be aware of my surroundings and don't run across the local fields in the pitch dark in winter. If I'm in a different city I will ask the hotel staff if it's safe to run in the local park/area I've checked out on Google maps. Munich is a very safe city and I've never felt threatened here. But then I was at a Yorkshire university when the Yorkshire Ripper was on the rampage, so anything feels "safe" after that!
I had a yob out with his scally mate chuck the remnants of his McDonald's drink at me when running midday once . (Totally random event. he'd just thrown most of it at a group of school kids just seconds before so I was lucky not to get the lot). As such I've developed a preference for running early morning or when it's raining, which seems to be when most of life's troubled and delinquent are indoors. It turned out to be my pbs due to the additional adrenaline though ...
I have limited experience of muggers and perverts. 1 mugger, 6pm broad daylight. 1pervert, 6.30pm broad daylight. Neither incident would have happened if I had been running at the time.
I feel like I'm being made fun of, maybe it was the way I put the question. I feel like I shouldn't have.
You don't want to get mugged here too of course. We are running with you!
Sorry, we don't mean to make fun of you. Everyone is different and we're all sharing our own experiences. Most of us have just found coping mechanisms to enable us to run early. Certainly if I didn't run first thing I wouldn't get much running in. And it's a balance between the health benefits of running and the fear in the dark. Running in West London is very different from running where I live. Good luck!
No. No one is making fun. It's a friendly site and has a lot of humour that's all. Apologies on behalf of myself and anyone if you feel your question hasn't been taken seriously. I think all that people are saying is that they've experienced more traumatic events at other times of the day - not when running early morning so it's meant to be reassuring, but you know where you live and must make your own risk assessment really.
I'm a female too I like running at 6am I feel like it sets me up for the day makes me feel good. I live in a town and run around the streets and I'm lucky if I see more than a handful of people the whole time I'm out most of them just going about their own business.
Do what's right for you just keep doing it your confidence could build with the running and you won't feel so worried.
Good luck!
I prefer to run in the mornings - I just get up, chuck on my running gear and out the door. When I get back I have a shower, get dressed and I'm ready for my day feeling good that I have already done my run. I have 3 primary school aged children so it is my little bit of head space in the mornings before they get up. I know if I run first thing then I'm more likely to get it done - I might find an excuse later in the day to skip it. I also get up and walk at the same time on my rest days because I find if I get up at the same time everyday it is easier for me to stick to it.
I'm in the southern hemisphere so it is currently the middle of our winter so pitch black at 6am when I set out but I'm sticking to the morning runs. It was raining this morning but once I got moving it was OK. During our summer the morning is definitley the nicest time of day to run.
Same here - I get up at the same time on work days and either walk or run. Stops any discussions with gremlins about having a lie-in and running tomorrow.
I run in the mornings, but I only started in April so it was light by then. I work during the day in the week so my options are limited to before or after work. There is too many other things to get in the way during the evenings so I wouldn't be able to keep up a schedule if I chose to run then.
I'm not sure what I will do in the winter. I don't fancy the idea of running in the dark, not for fear - it just doesn't appeal.
However, may I suggest look at joining a running club. You won't need to be on your own then.
Don't feel silly for your fears. It was a good post subject, and I'm sure a concern of many who want to run.
I am a morning person so it is easy.
When I started, I used to run with my dog, a German Shepherd. I felt safe. We would go just before sunrise, so he could run loose without having to worry about the ranger and we would reach the dog beach when the sky was orange. Now I often go when it is already sunrise or just a bit after. I like the solitude, fresh air and the birds chatting away. However London is a city...... and busy... so you probably would not get those three. If it was me I would get a running buddy.
It would be hard to get a running buddy who would be willing to get up at 5 in the morning, lol!
Actually a bucket of icy cold water may do wonder to your partner 😂
I like walking early in the morning and at the moment it's light when I go out at 5.30. It's safe here by the sea and I'm more used to walking at that time as I used to set work at 5on the weekends. Where I live is a world away from London. ..however I used to live in Croydon and preferences to be out early in the morning (for work not exercise) rather than in the evening. It was quieter and felt safer to me.
Maybe try it once and see how you feel.
I get up quite early, like 10 - 11am, sometimes even 9 on a Sunday to run and that's OK. But 5-6am. Maybe I might try that sometime during the summer.
I was out by 4.45 yesturday and it was bliss. The sunrise is a treat in itself. In Winter I wear my head torch and stick to the main roads rather than the woods. I have encountered a wierdo once, but I think he was just having a pi$$ rather than flashing at me, I scared him too. I also trust my gut instinct. There are certain places I never run because it doesn't feel safe. I suggest have a go whilst its light to see how you get on and you may find you adore it as we all do....
I might, you know.
GFI
Hiya, I live in south east London and during this hot spell I've been getting up 5.30 ish to run and I have to say it's been rather lovely. There are other people around but generally exercising, dog walking or getting themselves off to work early. Interestingly the people I've come across have been friendly and happy souls, noticeably so...who knew? So with many a cheery good morning and encouraging salute I'm being reborn as an early morning person. Happy running!😀
Early morning run
Sleepless nights and early morning runs!
Early morning run
Early morning runs 
Morning runners I salute you
