Running in the dark

chinguetti

Just back from my run for this evening and something that has been bothering me for a while has made me set up the thread.

Why do some people wear black while running at night? I passed 4 people tonight and one fella was wearing black! Am i missing something or do people think that because they are running on pavements or under street lighting that they're visible? Hi-vi vests costs a few quid and are as important as a good pair of running shoes if you run at night. Rant over!

hunnymonster

How do I co-rant? While a lot of my kit is black, even in daylight I wear high vis gear and lots of reflective stuff. At night I have a torch or similar also.

Stark

They're not half as annoying as the ninjas...

RacoonQueen

I usually do it because I'm to lazy to detangle my high vis top after I cycle home from work and dump it on the floor.

That being said a lot of the time I wear a white or yellow footy shirt so I should be visible enough. *hides*

I rarely run across traffic mind, the only 'incidents' I have are when people don't use their indicators.

RICHIE-RICH

I also wear a hi vis during the day. You cannot be too visible. Even in daylight, some drivers cannot see you. A Hi vis can only help.

In the early mornings I wear a hi vis vest, a flashing red armband, and a head torch.
I always shine the torch at oncomeing cars to make sure they see me.

I have been nearly run over a few times, so am very wary of drivers.
DO NOT TRUST THEM!!! Be safe, be seen, as an ad campaign once said...

hawkwing

I wear 2 flashing LED armbands, one other non flashing on my leg,a head torch,luminous cap and sometimes a yellow jacket but always all the other gear.Biggest danger for me is almost running straight into people walking all in black in the park. At least you can see the deers eyes reflect and they run away!

Sosa

I agree with the sentiments here...you can never be to visible.
Most of my gear is reflective and i always wear my high vis vest in the morning and evening at this time of year.

I always go around the back of a car if a car is coming out of a junction to come towards me,unless the person gives me the nod ....
dont presume anything !

Stark

Is this for running on country roads or running on footpaths? Because if drivers are mounting footpaths and running down joggers, then I don't think a high-viz is going to help all that much?

digitalage

"Is this for running on country roads or running on footpaths? Because if drivers are mounting footpaths and running down joggers, then I don't think a high-viz is going to help all that much?"

Its not only for drivers of cars, I run at night in the phoneix park and there are loads of joggers dressed up as black ninjas which I have nearly run into, one idiot was actually running with a pram the other night, no lights or hi viz whats so ever. It would be real fun if drivers and cyclist switched off there lights and drove around!

Stark

Well the Phoenix park is a bit different as the lighting provided is crap. I always run with a headtorch there. I don't agree with the OP's sentiment though that people should stay ghettoed in their houses after dark unless dressed up like Christmas trees. Fair enough if you're pounding out your 6 min miles while racing across junctions (personally I think you should find somewhere away from traffic for this) and want to look out for your own personal safety but we shouldn't try to impose all these lighting/hi-viz standards on casual joggers/walkers out for a evening trot on their local footpaths. I think it's like the debate on whether helmets and hi-viz should be mandatory for cyclists. At the end of the day, making something offputting to the casual participant only makes the activity more dangerous for everyone else.

asimonov

i run on country roads early in the morning (pre-dawn). I think once its properly dark, its actually safe enough (you'll see cars / vans / lorries ...they'll see you). The danger time is the half light of dawn / dusk when their lights get less effective - and most people are on their bleary-eyed way to / from work. I agree with the other posters, you can't assume that people see you.

At any time of day i think a hi-viz vest is a mandatory (hilly make a good one), and there are loads of hi-viz hats / tops / tights etc you can buy. I think one light source ie a headlamp or led armband is necessary when it is dark or getting dark.

I bought a really light headlamp this week in waterford that clips onto the front of a peaked cap. Haven't used it yet though....

MarieC

Stark wrote: »

At the end of the day, making something offputting to the casual participant only makes the activity more dangerous for everyone else.

I dont understand what is off-putting about being visible and not getting mowed down by a car or concussed by a pedestrian/runner?? What is dangerous about wearing a hi-viz??

shels4ever

Stark wrote: »

Fair enough if you're pounding out your 6 min miles while racing across junctions (personally I think you should find somewhere away from traffic for this) and want to look out for your own personal safety but we shouldn't try to impose all these lighting/hi-viz standards on casual joggers/walkers out for a evening trot on their local footpaths. .

I would say yes to this, everyone should wear hi-viz in the winter if out and about on the roads.

Stark

MarieC wrote:

dont understand what is off-putting about being visible and not getting mowed down by a car or concussed by a pedestrian/runner?? What is dangerous about wearing a hi-viz??

There's nothing dangerous about wearing the hi-viz itself. But if you start to promote jogging as a dangerous activity that's going to get you mowed down then less people will do it and drivers can afford to be careless meaning things get more dangerous for the few who are left jogging. Should people out for an evening walk wear lights and hi-viz vests as well (I'm talking about urban areas here)? Because there's not much difference between a walker and a casual jogger who's looking where he/she is going.

shels4ever wrote:

I would say yes to this, everyone should wear hi-viz in the winter if out and about on the roads.

On urban footpaths though? Have we really become a nation that's so intimidated by the nasty people in the metal cages that we're afraid to leave our houses at night?

hunnymonster

stark, I agree with you, that in urban area's the high-vis-flashing-lights get up is not necessary but I'll still be wearing mine because I rarely know what route I'm going to take when I leave the house/office/gym and my mammy always taught me that it's better safe than sorry (she also told me never to marry a Cork man so I guess I owe her for one out of two!)

shels4ever

Stark wrote: »

On urban footpaths though? Have we really become a nation that's so intimidated by the nasty people in the metal cages that we're afraid to leave our houses at night?

Every footpath crosses a road at some point . It not a case of been afraid just reduces the chance of other making mistakes

Stark

Nothing that a bit of care and attention when running across those roads won't take care of imo. By all means, take extra precautions with your own personal safety but suggesting that hi-vizs should be obligatory for everyone using a lit footpath as the OP is suggesting is a bit much in my opinion.

rovers_runner

Stark wrote: »

Nothing that a bit of care and attention when running across those roads won't take care of imo. By all means, take extra precautions with your own personal safety but suggesting that hi-vizs should be obligatory for everyone using a lit footpath as the OP is suggesting is a bit much in my opinion.

Agreed, I wear black a lot of the time and the only hassle I have is drivers that won't stop at a pedestrian crossing, even when I am stopped and waiting to cross.
Hi-Vis is ghey

hawkwing

A friend's father who ran several marathons and trained on country roads at night once broke his leg when he stood in a pothole he did not see with no head light(gave up running then). I wouldn't run without a head torch even in a full moon cos even if you go over on a large stone on a footpath you could do serious damage but people differ.

digitalage

Just posted on the cycling forum free hi viz armbands no excuses now

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055466812

asimonov

hawkwing; that's a worthy cautionary tale ;-) i think i'll give the headtorch a go tomorrow morning

louthandproud

Stark wrote: »

Nothing that a bit of care and attention when running across those roads won't take care of imo. By all means, take extra precautions with your own personal safety but suggesting that hi-vizs should be obligatory for everyone using a lit footpath as the OP is suggesting is a bit much in my opinion.

I for one am quite willing to sacrifice how I look if it means reducing my chances of getting hit by a car. Mind you I thought I looked pretty smart in my Ronhill hi-vis running top.

It isn't always possible to run on footpaths well away from traffic etc.
At imes roads need to be crossed, there blind bends, broken street lights etc. etc.

Safety comes first always.

ManFromAtlantis

i have a high vis (just so as im not off topic) BUT does
anyone know if there is anywhere or group that runs in the athlone ballinasloe loughrea portumna area. too dark to run these evenings on dark country roads. ta.

shels4ever

Stark wrote: »

Nothing that a bit of care and attention when running across those roads won't take care of imo. By all means, take extra precautions with your own personal safety but suggesting that hi-vizs should be obligatory for everyone using a lit footpath as the OP is suggesting is a bit much in my opinion.

All the attention in the world can't stop the lack of attention of other people .. but guess we will differ on this

plodder

I used to run a lot on dark country roads at night (with all the gear), but I've found it's best to avoid a) evening "rush" hour, when drivers tend to be a bit more mental anyway, and b) running at night, when it's also raining. Drivers ability to see you is reduced quite a bit then, even when looking like a Christmas tree.

buck65

I'm afraid of the puca

RICHIE-RICH

I think that it cannot harm you to be seen whether you are running on the road, on a footpath, wherever. You never know what might happen and you may have to take a different route home, or jump off the footpath onto the road to avoid a dog, or roadworks.

Obviously it is a personal choice, and you can do what you want, but I would rather wear the bright gear, and be seen and avoided, instead of being hit by a car for the sake of a €20 vest.

Woddle

I don't really use any hi vis stuff as I live in a well lit area but when I venture up the mountains on my early Sunday lsr, well thats a different story and I put on 2 armbands bought from aldi with blinking leds but for just running around the area I don't bother, I can't see myself getting knocked down unless I have my head down and running in the cycling lane listening to the ipod which I don't do.

Clum

I leave a trail of flames behind me when I run so I've no doubt everybody can see me....Marty McFly style...

Jason_77

Anyone know where to get the flashing LED's with an armband?

rigal

Jason_77 wrote: »

Anyone know where to get the flashing LED's with an armband?

Got mine in JJB.

plodder

Jason_77 wrote: »

Anyone know where to get the flashing LED's with an armband?

Any cycling/running shops. I've bought that kind of stuff in TK-Maxx also.

RICHIE-RICH

ALDI a few weeks ago had them. Cheap - something like a fiver for 4 armbands.
CAnnot fault them at all.

Pi^2

I wear black when I'm running at night. No big deal, its a bit of a rush running around invisible. Haven't died yet, have been knocked up on top of peoples bonnets but never too injured. It makes my life all the more exciting. And both those times the drivers were not indicating. So rip into me all you want had they indicated I'd be here saying I've never had any trouble without wearing high vis stuff.

MCOS

Pi^2 wrote: »

I wear black when I'm running at night. No big deal, its a bit of a rush running around invisible. Haven't died yet, have been knocked up on top of peoples bonnets but never too injured. It makes my life all the more exciting. And both those times the drivers were not indicating. So rip into me all you want had they indicated I'd be here saying I've never had any trouble without wearing high vis stuff.

If you had the skill of a proper ninja you could have deftly avoided those bonnets.....

Stark

It was really cold last night so I wore my black facemask. Don't want those cheeks getting cold...

donaghs

On some of my runs, to get where I want to go I have to pass through some skanger-ish areas. Unfortunately anything out of the ordinary (like a person jogging/running) seems to attract the attention of scum. Wearing high-viz clothing and flashing lights only increases this.

It's unfortunate that you have to make concessions to people like this, but it depends what you want to get out of a run. Apart from the exercise, its great to help unwind and clear to your head after a day at work. Engaging with a crowd of shouting skangers doesn't help achieve this.