The running in the dark thread

Slogger Jogger

Lovely mild evening this evening and the moon was shining bright. Didn't need the headtorch (I've this one) for the majority of the run which made for lovely running along the silvery trail. Took it handy but this was a particularly enjoyable run.

donothoponpop

Anyone else get blinded by the afterimage of their illuminated breath? Happened to me tonight, I had to expel my air to the side to stop it.

Also... running with just the green or blue light of my Cree Ultrafire is awesome, very close to simulating moonlight. And there's no substitute for running in moonlight!

Slogger Jogger

donothoponpop wrote: »

Anyone else get blinded by the afterimage of their illuminated breath? Happened to me tonight, I had to expel my air to the side to stop it.

Also... running with just the green or blue light of my Cree Ultrafire is awesome, very close to simulating moonlight. And there's no substitute for running in moonlight!

Not tonight, but on colder nights I've had to expell air out to the side too

A lot of the run this evening didn't need the torch, but found the blue light helpful in the foggier bits. Its nice to have those other settings. Light had an eerie quality.

BeepBeep67

Running in the dark when it's raining and you have the head torch on is a strange experience. Funny I'm catching up on Marathon talk at the mo and was listening the episode 40 something, which was talking to a guy who runs night time ultras and as he was explaining the lack of shadows and peripheral vision when running using a torch I went down a divot in Shanganagh - tightened the sh1te in me!

meijin

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Not tonight, but on colder nights I've had to expell air out to the side too

Waist mounted light?

I found this site recently and it has plenty of great advices - http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Running_Lights

misty floyd

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Lovely mild evening this evening and the moon was shining bright. .........which made for lovely running along the silvery trail.

donothoponpop wrote: »

.... blinded by the afterimage of their illuminated breath? ..... And there's no substitute for running in moonlight!

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Light had an eerie quality.

Wow lads, very poetic, atmospheric writing there

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

using a torch I went down a divot in Shanganagh - tightened the sh1te in me!

donothoponpop

meijin wrote: »

Waist mounted light?

I found this site recently and it has plenty of great advices - http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Running_Lights

Interesting that a waist mount will show texture- and thus terrain- better. Worth giving this a shot, cheers.

donothoponpop

misty floyd wrote: »

Wow lads, very poetic, atmospheric writing there

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim grey sands with light,
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night,
Weaving olden dances,
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has tightened sh1te

TFBubendorfer

donothoponpop wrote: »

Interesting that a waist mount will show texture- and thus terrain- better. Worth giving this a shot, cheers.

You don't see shadows when the light is so close to your eye level, hence the lack of visual depth. I know a few American ultra runners who always run with both a headlamp and a hand-held one during night portions of the trail ultras.

BeepBeep67

There once was a runner at night
Who decided to run by torch light
When out from the dark
Came a hole in the park
And it sure did tighten one's sh1te

RayCun

winter night running
shadows move, and divots turn
the sh1te tightens

Micilin Muc

meijin wrote: »

Waist mounted light?

I found this site recently and it has plenty of great advices - http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Running_Lights

That has to be one of the best running resources online. Great find!

Slogger Jogger

Cold evening. Cloudless sky but no light from the sliver of moon. Headtorch light disappeared into the light fog of the forest but managed 3 loops before completing a series of strides in the church car park which had lights. Not a bad session. Running in about 10% visibility, mesmerised by the focused circle of light dancing on front of the eyes, is an eerie but enjoyable experience.

baza1976

Are you mikey d higgins?

tunguska

Have to agree, running in the dark is one of those great pleasures. Have often come home from work and gone for a midnight run down the park. Peaceful, quiet not a sinner in sight. Magic.

Patrick_K

Running man, black tights
Pumping legs, left right
Shadows dance, eerie light
Owl hoots, tight ****e

Patrick_K

Damnit! Didn't realise boards censored words automagically, totally ruined the effect

misty floyd

Patrick_K wrote: »

Damnit! Didn't realise boards censored words automagically, totally ruined the effect

no no, it was a thing of beauty.

BeepBeep67

Nice torch lit 10+ mile run again in Shanganagh this evening, just me, Marathon Talk and one other soul walking their dog.

Plastik

I never realised we had so many athletic poets in our midst!

donothoponpop

Back on topic, I fully understand Mikey D's circle of light description. If you run through a forest you'll best experience the wonder of navigating by a textured oval. Great sensation, makes you feel so connected to your surroundings.

JJJJNR

Where can I get a head torch in dublin/wicklow? sloggerjogger do you run trails at night..

Slogger Jogger

JJJJNR wrote: »

Where can I get a head torch in dublin/wicklow? sloggerjogger do you run trails at night..

Yep. I've a few. The one I use most is the ultrafire one, check out the headtorch thread here No streetlights to speak of where I live so a torch is a must.

TFBubendorfer

donothoponpop wrote: »

If you run through a forest you'll best experience the wonder of navigating by a textured oval. Great sensation, makes you feel so connected to your surroundings.

Make you feel like you're in a horror movie at times.

donothoponpop

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Make you feel like you're in a horror movie at times.

We have hundreds of pheasants nesting along our forest trail. Huge birds who startle easy. You run along with the light, suddenly an almighty squawking and flapping tears through the dark bushes, and that sets off a chain reaction that form a gauntlet of feathers and kamakazi poultry for you to negotiate for the next 500m. Stupid animals, they're the most genetically unlucky species ever bred.

nerraw1111

I'd say running on trails at night is great craic. But it can be a soul destroying experience in the city. Last winter it wasn't an issue but this year, its a struggle. I'm squeezing runs in at lunch time to avoid the dark.

BeepBeep67

donothoponpop wrote: »

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Make you feel like you're in a horror movie at times.

We have hundreds of pheasants nesting along our forest trail. Huge birds who startle easy. You run along with the light, suddenly an almighty squawking and flapping tears through the dark bushes, and that sets off a chain reaction that form a gauntlet of feathers and kamakazi poultry for you to negotiate for the next 500m. Stupid animals, they're the most genetically unlucky species ever bred.

Was that how fartlek was invented?

JJJJNR

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Yep. I've a few. The one I use most is the ultrafire one, check out the headtorch thread here No streetlights to speak of where I live so a torch is a must.

Same here (just outside rathdrum) and it would be so handy to have one of these as my running has really taken a back seat since the darker nights have set in.

Slogger Jogger

JJJJNR wrote: »

Same here (just outside rathdrum) and it would be so handy to have one of these as my running has really taken a back seat since the darker nights have set in.

Just 15 mins down the road from you so in Annacurra. One of the hill running contingent ordered a batch of ultrafires online last year and passed them out. They should be readily available through the magic of google.

nerraw1111

Double post

hatful

Saw an idiot running on the road/ in the cycle lane with no reflective gear yesterday evening. Cyclists don't want to cycle in cycle lanes, runners don't want to run on the pavement

Slogger Jogger

9k in the dark forest with clear skies and cold. Tried something that someone posted about before, and wore my back-up headtorch around the waist. Worked a treat. Eyesight straining through the murkiness to make out path ahead Can very easily run off the track! Much easier to relax when the path is wide and not closed in by trees. Its so dark though but always fun.

Slogger Jogger

9.2k this evening in the dark, light wind and rain. Strangely enjoyable.

Anyone else running in the dark, away from the big city lights?

donothoponpop

7k easy in the rain and dark, without the light;). I knew the route, so switched on the dimmest setting, then tried turning it off altogether. Since the tarmacadam was wet, it *just* picked up the ambient light from clouds that were faintly illuminated by far off sodium street lights. It made the run a lot more interesting. Following instinct backed up with slight shades of black to nav by. That's the closest I've come to running in the dark (at length).

Git101

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Anyone else running in the dark, away from the big city lights?

Every time I go out I count my blessings.

Quiet back roads of east Carlow, 10.3 mile loop this evening, I met 3 cars, no dogs and hardly noticed the rain.

I'm really enjoying running in the dark, I try to switch off the head torch whenever possible - makes for an interesting minute or two while the eyes adjust - the sensation, especially on a clear, calm night, is fantastic.

Git101

donothoponpop wrote: »

Following instinct backed up with slight shades of black to nav by. That's the closest I've come to running in the dark (at length).

It's amazing how it's possible to navigate in the dark, in what at first appears to be total darkness, lighter sky behind the hedges/tree line, shine from the tarmac etc.
I hate to meet on coming cars, not because I have to move out of the way, but because the night vision gets wrecked for a few minutes afterwards.
Go on donothoponpop, switch off that torch, trust your instincts

neilc

Did an off roader in the dark as well this evening. Myself, my daughter, a field and a head light, brilliant. Wouldn't chance the roads around here though even with the hi-vis and the head torch.

plodder

I used to switch off the light when it was completely black. There's not much traffic at night here so you can usually run a few feet out from the edge where there aren't any potholes. But last Tuesday, I was running with the light on and stupidly strayed too close to the edge of the road, when I stepped off it and twisted an ankle badly. Couldn't run for four days after it.

Slogger Jogger

Emerging crescent moon, starry skies for the most part, a shimmer of light on the wet road lighting the way and allowing the headtorch to be turned off. Cold starting off but a lovely evening for a trot.

Git101

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Emerging crescent moon, starry skies for the most part, a shimmer of light on the wet road lighting the way and allowing the headtorch to be turned off. Cold starting off but a lovely evening for a trot.

A day of two halves.

Tonight, clear sky, beautiful stars, crescent moon - beautiful.

This morning, gale force winds, horizontal rain, tree debris, sh1tting myself passing large trees (I know some of them are really dodgy), full head wind in parts that made me feel like I was going backwards - not so beautiful.
(Although, I kinda enjoyed it )

hardCopy

nerraw1111 wrote: »

I'd say running on trails at night is great craic. But it can be a soul destroying experience in the city. Last winter it wasn't an issue but this year, its a struggle. I'm squeezing runs in at lunch time to avoid the dark.

If you're on the Northside, try running along the coast at Clontarf. About 3.5K on reasonably lit grass, away from traffic. Can be very windy these days though.

Slogger Jogger

Half moon out and stars gleaning from the heavens this evening, I had to hit the trails. I definitely had to run when I got home and found there was a power cut so off into the forest for some loops. Very little transient light from the surrounding area with the local power gone for a while. Moon flithered behind clouds from time to time and visibility wasn't hectic in the heavily forested sections. A nice little run though and just the ticket for the freezing cold conditions. And the power was back when I got home, just in time to put the kettle on.

Git101

No need for a head torch last night. Even on the darker sections of my route there was enough light to navigate safely.

The moon was so bright, especially when the thin veil of cloud cleared, that I had a clearly defined shadow for company.

When I run I'm young, slim, lithe, fast, elegant and stylish. Even when I'm struggling (most runs) I struggle with grace and beauty but this bloody shadow that sometimes appears beside me looks to be a little, middle aged fat bloke, shuffling along slowly with absolutely no style or elegance.

Here's a question, who does that shadow belong to and why does it insist on appearing beside me ?? :eek:

Slogger Jogger

Git101 wrote: »

When I run I'm young, slim, lithe, fast, elegant and stylish. Even when I'm struggling (most runs) I struggle with grace and beauty but this bloody shadow that sometimes appears beside me looks to be a little, middle aged fat bloke, shuffling along slowly with absolutely no style or elegance.

Here's a question, who does that shadow belong to and why does it insist on appearing beside me ?? :eek:

In a parallel universe there is a young, slim you running with an older, fat bloke shadow, and he is asking the very same question!

griffin100

Git101 wrote: »

No need for a head torch last night. Even on the darker sections of my route there was enough light to navigate safely.

The moon was so bright, especially when the thin veil of cloud cleared, that I had a clearly defined shadow for company.

When I run I'm young, slim, lithe, fast, elegant and stylish. Even when I'm struggling (most runs) I struggle with grace and beauty but this bloody shadow that sometimes appears beside me looks to be a little, middle aged fat bloke, shuffling along slowly with absolutely no style or elegance.

Here's a question, who does that shadow belong to and why does it insist on appearing beside me ?? :eek:

Passed by you last night and if it makes you feel any better you looked slim in the dark

Did 8 miles tonight in the same area as Git - it was like running under floodlights. Light levels would go from bright to darker to really dark depending on the thickness of the clouds passing over the moon. It was a joy to be out made even better by the mild temperature and the slow pace of the run.

Git101

griffin100 wrote: »

Passed by you last night and if it makes you feel any better you looked slim in the dark

Thanks griffin100 that makes me feel a whole lot better

Another fantastic moonlit night, once again no head torch required. I wore a backpack on a this evenings run, that bloody shadow had a hunch back to balance the belly

Slogger Jogger

Nearly full moon, clear starry sky. Perfect. It was really bright. No need for torch at all this evening. So bright in fact that I could see a vapour trail of a sky-high jet across the stars. The pace was nice and handy and the moonlit scenery made the time go past quickly. Memorable.

Slogger Jogger

Full moon, clear skies. Great conditions for running. Ran on forest trail and up the hill. The brightness kept me running for longer than usual. No need for a torch in ideal conditions like this.

Git101

Going mad this week because I missed 3 evening runs due to a niggle.
Looking out at that big bright moon had me chomping at the bit.

On the bright side, I did get to see the dawn this morning after about 1.5 hours of running by moon light, sorry now that I didn't take a photo.

I met very few cars, 1 at 9 miles, 1 at 12 miles but the next on at 14 miles had me jumping for the ditch as the stupid wagon was driving with most of her windscreen still covered with frost, I reckon she had no idea I was there.

Slogger Jogger

With the falling temperatures I skipped waiting around to run in Bray and headed down south Wicklow way instead. It must be winter when it is 0 degrees at 6pm. Frigid cold this evening but perfect for a torchlit run. Through the forest and towards Aughrim where the paths were getting icy despite the early hours. Turned tail and back the same way. Nice running.

Slogger Jogger

Anyone else running in the dark?

Temperatures were up and a lovely mild evening it was. Trails were mucky from rain so stuck to the road for a change and did a loop that brought me towards Aughrim approaching it on a downhill from the side. All the lights of the town spread out below me like a big necklace. Easier to run quicker on tarmac in the dark as you can trust your steps more. A nice 9k.