Running at Night

Trail Running

I LOVE running at night.
This is a time when the trails truly belong to only you. It is a special moment when the most mundane trail becomes a completely new adventure and challenge.

The early evening darkness after the end of daylight savings could mean you are still out on a run as the light fades. If this may be the case or if you are planning to run at night a good torch is essential because fumbling your way along a trail in the dark is no fun.

Choosing the torch for you

A head torch is the go as it will free your hands but there are lots to consider before making your purchase. The brightness, essential when running at night in areas of with no light pollution (the higher lumens the better). The battery life, how often will you be using it - on the odd occasion or regularly? For a short run or on the trails for hours? (consider rechargeable lithium batteries for regular and/or long use). The charging system, do you need USB or car charging options? The weight, how it secures to your head. And of course the cost which can be considerable. Don’t just think about your head torch use in the ‘here and now’, plan ahead so you don’t end up making multiple purchases. As I said before `buy once, cry once`.

AYUP`s: the gear I use for trail running at night

I swear by my AYUPs. They light up the whole trail. They have taken me right through the night and have never let me down. I have used them during many trail run events including Surf Coast Century and DU135. And in my previous life as a competitive Mountain Biker whilst racing 24hr enduro events.

Sharing the love: your challenge To share the love of running at night I challenge you to pick your ‘easiest’ trail and go out and hit it at night. In the dark with a decent head torch on. You’ll be stoked!