When darkness falls

Is there a perfect time of day to run? Some people prefer the mornings when they are well rested. If anyone these days actually gets well rested. Some prefer to run in the evenings… although I don’t know why. Some are even crazy enough to run on their lunch breaks! I know, crazy right. This post is not for those crazy mid-day runners. It's for the morning and evening folks. We are getting on to the end of the year, when the days get shorter and the nights longer. So of course it stays dark longer into the morning, and starts getting dark earlier in the evening. The darkness is a funny thing. It stirs a primal reaction of fear, the unknown. It's hardwired into the human psyche. Nowadays that may not be as prominent as it once was. Not everyone is afraid of the dark. Some have even come to prefer it. But that does not mean that there aren't still dangers in the dark. Many people run in the streets and roads because there are no sidewalks or trails available. These are the ones who should still fear the dark. These days most people don't drive, they multitask. And that is never a good thing. But it's even worse when there are fewer cars on the road people feel they can zone out a bit more. And that is just a disaster waiting to happen. While we can not control what other people do. We can only take care of ourselves. That is why it is so very very important that if you choose to run when the sun is down, that you make sure you can at least be seen. At least reflective clothing or vest. Lights come in all sizes, styles, and price points. You can get small ones that clip onto your waistband or hat. They have ones that wrap around your arm or ankle. My favorite is a vest. I use one made by a company called Noxgear. There are other manufacturers of course, and each will have different features and price points. So find one that works for you. They come in all kinds, and any of them is better than nothing. Flashing or strobing is best. Drivers are more likely to see a flashing light. Flashing or not, vest or clip on, just please use something.