Running in the Dark

Paddy1234

Hi,

I'm training for the DCM and i'm trying to keep off the road as much as possible and stick to grass/track running.

Now that the evenings are getting considerably shorter, i'm finding it hard to find somewhere suitable to run.

Does anyone have any recommendations of somewhere that would be lit up? I work in city centre and live in South Dublin.


Thanks

spanx

I was literally just about to ask this.

RoyMcC

Maybe you gotta accept that the DCM is run on tarmac and get your body used to it. Maybe think about using your commute to run - either to or from work?

I was back in Dublin recently and I was amazed at the number of runners training out along Merrion Road pretty late in the evening.

PaulieC

maybe try somewhere like irishtown stadium, if you're really determined to not run on tarmac and don't mind the monotony of doing laps

inmyday

Running in the dark.
Please wear bright clothes, and dont wear earphones, too dangerous.
Please make sure you are visible for the cars.

Clearlier

For a grass option find out when a rugby (probably soccer and GAA too) team trains near you and run around the pitches while they're training - UCD might be a good place to try if that's handy for you as you could run around several pitches and possibly between pitches too to where other teams train to reduce monotony.

Stark

inmyday wrote: »

Running in the dark.
Please wear bright clothes, and dont wear earphones, too dangerous.
Please make sure you are visible for the cars.

And do please wash behind your ears too. And eat plenty of vegetables. For your health's sake!

OP, where specifically in South Dublin? It's a pity Marlay Park closes at 6pm these days but somewhere like Bushy park might be suitable if a little small. There's also the Dodder valley linear park which stretches for a good bit. I think there's lighting. If you don't mind a bit of hills, Ticknock could be good for a change of pace. You'd need a headtorch though as it's not lit (worth getting one, there are very good ones available and it does open up a lot of options). The Phoenix Park has poor lighting but it's open so I find it's okay for running when there's a moon out.

CorkonianRebel

As inmyday says, definitely wear bright clothes and be visible to everyone.

This just happened and my heart goes out to the mans family and the driver also. It happened during the day never mind during the night

rom

I wear a Ronhill Vizion Bib Hi Viz Running Cycling Vest but still got hit by a car from someone not looking right at a junction. +1 for not wearing earphones also. There is also the flashing armbands that you can wear too.

BeepBeep67

Get a head torch and run where you want

mikemac

Phoenix Park is a difficult one, you will need a head torch in there or it's just not possible

Chesterfield Avenue is badly lit too
They might adjust the lights while they are doing the roadworks over the next few months

I'd use a GAA pitch beside the road so you get the street lighting.
Have you anything similar OP?

scaryfairy

Paddy1234 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm training for the DCM and i'm trying to keep off the road as much as possible and stick to grass/track running.

Now that the evenings are getting considerably shorter, i'm finding it hard to find somewhere suitable to run.

Does anyone have any recommendations of somewhere that would be lit up? I work in city centre and live in South Dublin.


Thanks

hi, where in South Dublin do you live? if close to the coast, you could run along the beach - I am pretty sure that the footpaths in Sandymount are lit at night. You could then head out to Blackrock - would have to do about 2.5km on tarmac/sidewalks, but from Booterstown to Blackrock you have about 2.2 km where you can run on the grass. I know it's not very long. But the main footpath is well lit and pretty... You can also do a bit of hills there, or do some loops around the grassy areas.
+1 for UCD grass pitches - they are a good option, there are so many of them, your are likely to find one where you can do your loops without being run over by a GAA player...

rainbow kirby

Stark wrote: »

There's also the Dodder valley linear park which stretches for a good bit. I think there's lighting.

It's definitely not lit from Firhouse to Templeogue anyway.

huskerdu

I run at night in the suburbs of South Dublin all winter.

There are plenty of places with wide pavements and good street lights.
I like housing estates , as the traffic is very light.

Once you are well lit and are VERY careful at junctions, its fine.

RacoonQueen

inmyday wrote: »

Running in the dark.
Please wear bright clothes, and dont wear earphones, too dangerous.
Please make sure you are visible for the cars.

Why do you need to be visible to cars if you're on the footpath? Earphones are only dangerous if you're an idiot and don't look before you cross roads and the like.

I was running yesterday, just as darkness was falling, Lights had gone red for the cars before one car was going through - next car was a good 25 metres away and I ran across as the first car went through, second car came flying behind me as I crossed and beeped at me. WTF?

mikemac

Unfortunately red doesn't mean stop

To some, seeing amber then red means speed up and get through the junction

Used to run around Drumcondra and use the pedestrian bridge by the canal bridge in Ballybough.
You'd hit the pedestrian lights button and as the lights changed cars didn't slow down, they sped up

nerraw1111

Sandymount is very well lit. There's also sean moore park beside it which is lit up by GAA flood lights. Makes for a decent 5kmish loop with half on grass, half on path.

Plenty of other runners there too.

Paddy1234

Thanks for the posts folks.

I am based in Dundrum. Think the head torch may be the way to go.

Or else maybe i'll just start doing some running on the road - i've been doing 90% on grass. Is this too much?

Cheers

huskerdu

Hi Paddy,

If you live in Dundrum, I would recommend running along the Grange Rd from the motorway roundabout past Marley Park and towards Rathfarnham. Lots of new wide tarmac pavements, good street lights and a nice wee hill to test you.

I am no expert, to answer your question, but I think that if you want to be prepared to run 26 miles on tarmac in 5 weeks time, you should be doing some running on tarmac for the next 5 weeks.

G-Money

Deer Park isn't too far from you either and it's a 1 mile loop if you take the long way around it. I've only ever ran it during daylight hours so I don't know what it's like after dark, or how well it's lit.

RayCun

Maybe UCD? Lots of well lit pitches and paths

Ruu_Old

Any recommendations on a head torch?

BeepBeep67

Ruu wrote: »

Any recommendations on a head torch?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056101394
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056367820

inmyday

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Why do you need to be visible to cars if you're on the footpath? Earphones are only dangerous if you're an idiot and don't look before you cross roads and the like.

I was running yesterday, just as darkness was falling, Lights had gone red for the cars before one car was going through - next car was a good 25 metres away and I ran across as the first car went through, second car came flying behind me as I crossed and beeped at me. WTF?

Well I think you might have answered the question yourself, drivers can make stupid decisions, like going through a red light.

Bright clothes, I think is very obvious, why would you not want to wear bright clothes in the dark? so noone sees you???
And wearing earphones anywhere near roads is dangerous. You can not hear your surroundings, and I know we would be on the footpath but in a rare occasion, cars can leave the road, but the main reason is when crossing the road. Perfect listening to music in a park with no traffic.

And the reason I say this is I had a very very close call but I was lucky, call me an idiot if you wish, but as corkonianrebel mentioned the man who died last week. It only takes one mistake from the driver or the jogger. It can happen no matter how smart you think you are, and it only takes a second for an accident to happen.