Running Smarter vol. 9
Gear going into running in the dark season
As the daylight hours shorten during the winter months, many of us will spend more time
running in the dark. Personally, I really enjoy running in the dark. There are fewer cars on the roads and less people on the paths and sidewalks. There’s less ambient noise. I find it peaceful (and far more enjoyable than running on a treadmill…). Here are some gear recommendations to make running in the dark safer and more enjoyable.
1) Illumination: You need to be able to SEE where you’re going, and you need to BE SEEN by others.
A. SEE: A flashlight, headlamp, or waist light will illuminate the path in front of you so you can see the cracks in the road, uneven sidewalks, or other obstacles. There are different conveniences to each light source, so use what works best for you. Personally, I love my UltrAspire waist light. It’s comfortable to wear around the waist, doesn’t interfere with my hat, better illuminates the ground, and doesn’t get obstructed by the fog we exhale when running in colder temperatures.
B. BE SEEN: This is basic Running Safety 101. Wear reflective, Hi-Viz, or illuminated clothing or accessories! The beam cast by your lighting source will help you be seen by oncoming traffic or pedestrians, but you also need to be visible from the sides and from behind. Many running shoes and apparel pieces have small reflective accents, but you will want more than that. Reflective gear or Hi-Viz colors are more visible when illuminated by a light source, but flashing lights or illuminated vests will be visible from all angles. Visit your local running store to see the various options available.
2) Personal Safety: Choose well-lit, familiar routes, and run with a buddy whenever possible. Pepper Spray can be a good personal protection option. Shining a bright light into an attacker’s eyes can temporarily blind and disorient them. (The light source needs to be at least 300 lumens, with 600+ lumens being preferred for maximum effectiveness.)
3) Traction: The winter months also bring snow, ice, and sludge, and more slippery surfaces. “Black ice” can be very difficult to see. Use good judgement and take your workouts indoors when the outdoor conditions are not safe. Trail running shoes work better than road shoes on snow and sludge because the deeper outsole lugs provide substantially more traction. There are various traction devices that can be strapped onto shoes to provide better grip on icy surfaces. You can also take an older pair of road shoes and screw hex screws into the outsole to make your own traction shoes.
4) A note on Headphones: Be aware of your surroundings. Running with earbuds or noise-cancelling headphones is strongly discouraged! Either leave the headphones at home, or use open-ear bone-conduction headphones such as Shokz so you can hear your surroundings.
Visit your local run specialty store and talk to the staff to learn more about their favorite gear for running in the dark.
Mike Flynn
General Manager & Program Director
Big River Running Company
314-656-8033
mike.flynn@bigriverrunning.com
www.bigriverrunning.com | www.bigriverracing.com | www.bigriverfootwear.com