How much light do you need to run by?

[Langley-Loper]

I'm trying to plan ahead as the nights draw in...

I do all my week day running after work and live semi rural. I have a lovely route along a lane through the woods. Not a lot of traffic but a bit rough under foot in places.

As the light starts to fail, I'm not sure what to do. I run with my 14 year old son and he said we should just wear head torches and we'll be fine. I'm not convinced. My 48 years of experience tell me I'll be tripping over pretty quick.

Realistically, do I need to head in the other direction along a B-road (with pavement) and infrequent street lights but frequent car lights?

The other option is get up early and run before work on my own, but eventually I won't have enough morning light either. I'm also on medication which makes me drowsy in the mornings.

Are there running torches bright enough to run by?

Help!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Yep, they are.. high viz vests and head torches...and you will be surprised how much peripheral light there is out in the countryside

I graduated in the Winter of 2015..all early morning, dark runs... it was fine.. apart from a couple of scares, one with an badger and one with a ghostly presence

[Langley-Loper Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Judging by the appearance of my road, I need to avoid hedgehogs (do they have NO road sense) and horse poo piles as no. 1 priority. Potholes and sticking out brambles joint second.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Langley-Loper]

All makes for an interesting run

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I'm wondering the same thing. My key issue is safety but I usually run with my husband. We have run round the nearby football pitch and there are enough street lights to see where we're going and the path is smooth. This sounds less likely to be a possibility in your location but I reckon your son is right - I've seen other runners with head torches.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Head torches do a pretty good job and come in a range of powers. I run across fields with one and have never tripped. Make sure you get one that fits tight to the head, not projecting too far or they can wobble, which is annoying.

[misswobble Graduate]

You buy by lumens according to purpose my run torch is ok or running on lit roads, to be seen, but it would he no good in a dark wood

I think on the a lenser website they have all this stuff explained. I have a Lenser. PETZL ones look good too

You run slower in these circs but that's OK

[jo4t15 Graduate]

I have a body- worn torch from decathlon which you wear on your chest and it has a back flashing light too. It's very bright and I run on country roads with no pavements and no lights and it did me fine last winter. Sometimes I use a head torch as well. In mist and cold days I found just a head torch lit up the air in front of my eyes and I could t see past it. The body torch was better for that, though I had to get used to it wobbling around when my chest moved, which is I think unavoidable. I'd recommend it.

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to jo4t15]

Agreed, these are great!

This is the one I use

decathlon.co.uk/run-light-r...

[Langley-Loper Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Looks like a beast of a light! Thanks for sharing the link.

[Langley-Loper Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Ordered two (for me and son or daughter) and they arrived yesterday. On charge ready for their first outing. No more needing to rush home from work to get the run done before the light fails!

[Langley-Loper Graduate]

Thanks for all the replies. Seems a head or body torch will be sufficient as long as I get one powerful enough to see as opposed to be seen by.

Plus one for my son. Double lights should scare wildlife away too I hope.

[Whatsapp Graduate]

Also, are you able to run in your lunch break at work?

[Langley-Loper Graduate in reply to Whatsapp]

Sometimes but I don't often get the full hour I would need to get changed, strap on phone, run, shower, get dressed, recover! I am trying to find some like minded individuals to make it become a recognised lunchtime activity with management support - health benefits and all that...

[Theziggy Graduate]

I have terrible night vision, (my Mum was the same), so some people have a bit of a disadvantage when running in the dark.

There are some 5K routes in our town under streetlights which are Ok for me.

I have reflective over vest and snap on lights and reflectors but no head torch.