Little anxious about tomorrow’s run. First full day back at work after Christmas and will be running in the dark, which also causes some anxiety as I’m not keen on going out in the dark on my own.
Hoping posting on here about it will help push me to break through the anxiety and get out there.
You’ll do great....no one can see you panting in the dark!
I've got to run in the dark tomorrow, too. Not looking forward to that, but am looking forward to getting it done & not letting work stop me. Oh, it was so nice being able to run whenever I liked over xmas!
I'll be sticking to well-lit main roads, what about you, is your route one you know well? Well done for making plans to go out anyway, I bet we'll both enjoy it more than we think.
Yes I know my route well, and it is reasonably well lit. Although I’m tempted to just go around the loop of the road I live on which may end up being about 7-8 time by the end of the 30 mins.
I think we will enjoy it more than we’re expecting to. I’m really hoping so anyway.
Good luck tomorrow Runnf. Look forward to hearing how you get on 
I made it out! Turned the alarm off at first, 'are you joking?!' But actually wasn't that tired, & it wasn't raining, so I thought I'd get it out of the way & if it was terrible I'd never do it again. Sadly, it was absolutely fine so I'll have to do it again 😂
How did you get on?
Pretty obvious advice, but if you have a torch, bring it along. I just don’t seem to see so well in the dark and would run into tree stumps and lamp posts without my torch!
If you haven’t got a torch, I wouldn’t delay your run. Just take it slowly and keep a very close eye out 👍
Thank you for the advice cocochannel, I Hadn’t thought about a torch believe it or not. I will be taking it slow, that’s for sure, about to repeat wk1 so I do at least know that it’s achievable if I take it slowly.
It’s definitely going to be different experience in the dark though.
I’ve been running properly a year now. Only fallen over once 😀 Plenty of near misses with tree stumps and ditches, though.
What I often do now is run or even cycle at lunchtimes (standard 9 to 5 type office job), but you’d need showers at work. Plus I seem to spend all my morning getting running or cycling gear together. Well worth it if that’s an option.
I only get a 30 minute dinner break unfortunately so not really an option for me, but I’m planning on going out as soon as I get home from work. Fortunately I finish at 4 usually, so in a few weeks the dark shouldn’t be an issue
I’m sure you can do this. Just having some last minute butterflies! Plan your route and get your reflective kit and head torch out. I saw about 4 groups of our local running club out tonight, a club or buddy is another idea.
I was out this morning after watching Dracula last night!!!! Spurred me on a bit 😂😂😂
Thank you Comfortnotspeed. Definitely last minute butterflies. Big scary fang teethed butterflies 😨. Lol I like it! I keep meaning to watch Dracula. Maybe that’s good to put on before I go out 😂
I bet it did spur you on, thinking that Dracula was chasing you, of course you could outrun Dracula any day.
A head torch, reflective gear and a route that is reasonably well lit and not too lonely and you’ll be fine. Or consider a treadmill ?
Posting here will certainly help - everyone’s right there with you!
As someone who loves their bed too much to get up and out before work, at this time of year almost all of my runs (parkruns excepted) are done in the dark.
Stick to well lit areas if you can, and maybe take things a bit slower, if only because you'll want to watch where you are treading to avoid trip hazards which will be harder to spot. If you can stick to pavements/level paths, so much the better.
I actually quite enjoy the peace and quiet of running after dark, especially if it's a clear sky and you can see the stars.
Good luck.
Thank you all for the advice.
Running in the dark...
do you run in the dark?
Is anyone else running less now it's so dark?
Tips on running in the dark?
Newbie on first day run.
