Started Running , Routes in phoenix park at night?

kevomcenzy

Hey

I have recently moved to and Island bridge and decided get fit again so have started running in the park and using endemondo to keep me motivated! Im loving it I used to cycle alot but fell of the wagon and have done nothing while travelling for the last year! I have a few nice loops in the park but they are all cross country but now that the evenings are closing in I was wondering what the situation is like when its dark. I dont fancy getting close lined by a deer or a dogger! Where do runners generally stick too? Presume a head lamp or something would probably be needed too?

Filibuster

kevomcenzy wrote: »

Hey

I have recently moved to and Island bridge and decided get fit again so have started running in the park and using endemondo to keep me motivated! Im loving it I used to cycle alot but fell of the wagon and have done nothing while travelling for the last year! I have a few nice loops in the park but they are all cross country but now that the evenings are closing in I was wondering what the situation is like when its dark. I dont fancy getting close lined by a deer or a dogger! Where do runners generally stick too? Presume a head lamp or something would probably be needed too?

I don't run in the park at night, much too afraid of weirdos, creepers and being hit by a bike (seen it happen a few times).

I run around the outside walls of the park, c. 13km in total. Lit by streetlights the whole way.

rainbow kirby

I spent 2 years living out that way, used to mostly stick to Chesterfield Avenue or the road out to Chapelizod. Bit boring, but what can ya do!

Oops69

1 . Never safe for women alone at night
2. Slighty scary at times off the beaten track for a man on his own but I still do it, always with a hi- vis gillet and a head lamp is mandatory , it's Also kinda fun picking out the deers eyes in the dark with the headlamp .

ThisRegard

Oddly enough, last time I ran through the park was around 10.30pm last winter and the majority of people, not that there were many, were women in their twos and threes out walking.

I just ran from one end to the other along Chesterfield Avenue and wore a head torch, is fairly dim anyway.

28064212

Only tried running in the Park when it was dark twice, wouldn't try it again. You're far better off running on the streets, much better lighting, and far more people around

Sacksian

My only problem with running in the park at night is that there is so little lighting around the footpaths. Even with a head torch, I find it a little precarious underfoot.

FrClintPower

Sacksian wrote: »

My only problem with running in the park at night is that there is so little lighting around the footpaths. Even with a head torch, I find it a little precarious underfoot.

I'd agree with this, I live right beside the Park but last winter I mainly ran outside it in the evenings because it's so badly lit. The footpaths along Chesterfield Ave are pitch black and the bike paths beside the road aren't very well lit at all (even apart from the danger of getting hit by a bike). If you want to run in the Park in the dark the minimum required is a good quality head-lamp.

RacoonQueen

Run there on Thursdays during winter with the club. All doing the same route like but no issues for me, have never felt unsafe even though I'd often not be able to see anyone behind or ahead of me, or I'd be doing a longer session than the other girls and end up on my own in there with the boys either ahead or finished.

Plenty of runners in there Tuesdays and Thursdays, not sure about other evenings. Always see others when we're in there.

cjt156

Always wonder about head torches. I run regularly after dark in Shanganagh, never use a torch, there's no street lighting and the eyes naturally adjust to the low level of natural light. You rely on your ears alot too. I know the paths well and apart from the occasional branch never have a problem with the surface.
I often see runners in the distance with hi-vis and torches; they can be seen from miles away, yet they can only see a pool of light at their own feet. I inadvertantly scared the bejeebus out of a couple as I passed in the opposite direction (he screamed, she laughed) even though i could see them coming from the opposite side of a GAA pitch.
Fair enough if you are on an uneven trail, or an unlit road, but if its human danger you have an issue with, surely a torch only makes you more vulnerable?
Sorry, back on topic!

drquirky

In college, we used to do mad runs at midnight/ 1am strange hours etc...I know this sounds counterintuitive but I've always found that the easiest way to avoid messing and hassle is to wear all black i.e. the knackers never see you coming and by the time they get a chance to draw their proverbial syringes, you're gone :eek:. Of course I would't really recommend this in heavy traffic etc but I would employ that kind of strategy in the PP.

Running Fool

I find a headtorch always bounces and moves and annoys the hell outa me - maybe more expensive ones are better?

cianc

drquirky wrote: »

In college, we used to do mad runs at midnight/ 1am strange hours etc...I know this sounds counterintuitive but I've always found that the easiest way to avoid messing and hassle is to wear all black i.e. the knackers never see you coming and by the time they get a chance to draw their proverbial syringes, you're gone :eek:. Of course I would't really recommend this in heavy traffic etc but I would employ that kind of strategy in the PP.

Another data point: I've run after dark in the park quite a bit over the years and never had any problems, apart from lack of visibility before I discovered head torches. I do tend to stick to the north side more though since the lighting there is better (better, not good). I remember being nervous the first couple of times, and then being pleasantly surprised by the number of people out exercising and walking dogs at all hours.

sconhome

Running Fool wrote: »

I find a headtorch always bounces and moves and annoys the hell outa me - maybe more expensive ones are better?

Not necessarily more expensive but the headlamps that sit close to your forehead don't bounce around anywhere near as much as the ones that stick out. Also having a broader strap gives better stability to the lamp unit too.

Look out for running specific lamps.

tHE vAGGABOND

Ran home from work last night via the park, with no head lamp or anything and its fine..

Ran around the outside path, there are plenty of folks about etc - really enjoyable tbh

I did some longer evening runs in there, during the winter, on my own - and did them with head torch, and the only thing I would not do is go down some of the unlit/pitch black areas, as I very seriously almost had a heart attack one time, when these Deer eyes jumped out and started looking at me, and I thought for a second I was in some kind of a Stephen King book where the animals attack

Oops69

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Ran home from work last night via the park, with no head lamp or anything and its fine..

Ran around the outside path, there are plenty of folks about etc - really enjoyable tbh

I did some longer evening runs in there, during the winter, on my own - and did them with head torch, and the only thing I would not do is go down some of the unlit/pitch black areas, as I very seriously almost had a heart attack one time, when these Deer eyes jumped out and started looking at me, and I thought for a second I was in some kind of a Stephen King book where the animals attack

The stag deer can make a rush at you if you get too close during the rut , which is usually around late October / early November when the tesosterone spikes , just in time for last training run for Dcm , wouldn't like to miss the marathon because of a deer antler in the backside !:D

kevomcenzy

Sure ill give it a go and see how I get on ! Might try do some morning ones when the hour goes back to try catch the last of the light and see how that works, might struggle to get up mind!

hawkwing

I've been running there for the last 7 yrs,3-4 nights per week from 5-7 ish all through Oct-feb with no issue at all. I always use a headlight-shows ice,holes,stones and others you are there and seems to get the deer out of your way.

kkcatlou

You see loads of people running through the park at night with head torches. Cycled around the park Monday evening in the dark and I'd say we saw 20-30 people running (and we didn't even go down Chesterfield Ave).

In the summer I do most of my running there, but when it's dark, as a female running alone, I don't feel very safe! I also don't see the point on making things harder for yourself when there are lots of decent road routes around without having to stop lots for lights, etc. It's just putting extra hardship and risk of injury on yourself!