How to trail run at night
Photo by Getty images
I tried my very first night trail run a couple of years ago. I was excited to try something new, but also a little nervous of running the trails in the dark. Once I started, the nerves settled and sense of adrenalin and exhilaration kicked in. I don’t know how to describe it, but it is a little bit magical. You are out there, with complete solidarity with nature just following the glow from the head torches.
Here are my top tips in what I learnt from my first night run, so you too can enjoy the peacefulness and beauty:
Gather your running buddies.
Trail running at night is much less daughting on your first time when you have a buddy or two to share the good times with. If you can’t find a buddy, make sure you let someone know where you are heading out to.
Get a good head Torch
You want to invest in a comfortable, reliable torch which has bright light. You are looking for one that has a high Lumens number (the higher the number, the brighter the light) and one that has a good battery life (or burn time, as you might see on some torches). Mine is a Petzl but there are heaps of great torches out there on the market. My other suggestion is that you might find it more comfortable to wear a buff on your head under the head torch. This helps stop it from rubbing and keeps your ears warm if they are get cold. Don’t forget spare batteries if you are doing a long run!!
Bring layers
You will warm up on the trail at night, but a light layer is always handy to take as the weather can change suddenly. You can pop this in your hydropack so you don’t have to carry it.
Forget about pace
Slow your pace down. Night runs are not all about tempo as you need to pay a bit more attention to what is ahead of you.
Take out the head phones.
Take a moment before running to let your eyes adjust to the light. With your senses working a lot harder in the dark, we also recommend you turning off your music so you are aware of your surroundings.
Practice makes progress. Don’t let yourself be put off by your first attempt. Keep on getting out there and you will feel your confidence grow.
Photo by Trail Run Planet