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Tricks for Running at Pace in the Dark

jwpicciottojwpicciotto
in General Training Discussions

I find myself having to do my long runs on Thursday morning before the sun comes up.  Usually not an issue when I am home, but I now find myself on the road again.  On the good side I am staying right by the Schuylkill River Trail outside of Philly.  On the bad side, this thing is pitch black.  I have my extra bright headlamp to light up the trail (problem is the trail is blacktop and blends witht he surrounding ground) and my little firefly on the back to keep friom getting run over by the occassional cyclist.  The real issue that I have is staying at pace. 

Anyone have any good tricks for staying at speed in the dark?

Comments

  • mgraffeomgraffeo
    John, do you use a garmin? A quick tap of the power button will light it up for a few seconds. There's also a way to just light it up for the workout.

    Of course, for me, the answer to the question is 'treadmill'...
  • Julia HerrmannJulia Herrmann

    John,

    I have totally been in the same boat before on the bike and the run in training.  Even when I can get my garmin to light up I don't like to check it all the time, yet the dark somehow messes me up - probably the cues of how fast you are passing things.  I just try to hone in on how my breathing, heart, & muscles feel for a certain known output (this is when I check my garmin) and do my best to keep up that feeling.  It really draws me inward, which is may ultimately be a good thing.  I also know that I just struggle with the idea of barrelling forward in the dark though, so that keeps me a bit slower.   Even with the headlamps it's hard to know what's just past them.  And my fears were confirmed the morning I hit a rabbit...

  • chuckgchuckg
    John, I am in the same boat. Most of my work week training is before work in the dark. I feel like I am running from street light to street light and looking at my watch at every light. During those times when there are no lights, I am hitting the Garmin to see where I am at. You could probably fiddle with the pace and/ or HR limits to help you prompt you if you aren't working hard enough.
  • ginagina

    You can keep the backlight on continuously. I have done MANY dark runs like this. Once you have powered up the Garmin, a quick push of the power button turns backlight on.

  • Julia HerrmannJulia Herrmann

    I can't believe I forgot about that - as was earlier suggested -  you can totally set the garmin to alert you when either your HR or pace is not within your desired range.  I do it all the time for the bike and run.  (daylight or no!)

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