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April 2012 Moms
Runners: Do you run in the dark?
It's going to be my only choice and I hate it and don't feel safe at all.
Ugh.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Runners: Do you run in the dark?
Yeah, i never had an issue with it. But since moving to the US the only places I've lived are Cambridge MA and Beverly MA neither of which is a real "scary" place. But I would say, in the city if I went at 6am I would go run around the river where there were always plenty of others out running at that time too.
If I am visiting my uncle in NYC however, no i don't run in the dark on my own.
So I think maybe it depends on where you live? Do you have a dog? If I was paranoid I might take along my doggie. I was never into "running buddies" really because I liked to just run whenever I felt like it and not have to turn the whole thing into a scheduling nightmare (and my hubby hates running).
I'll have to do it once Daylight Savings comes around. But I don't like to do it, and I'll only do it with a buddy or with my dog and always with a light and lots of reflective clothing.
I live in a safe neighborhood, but that doesn't mean anything. People get attacked, mugged, robbed, aped, murdered in really nice places because that's where the money is.
mm 2/17/11 * dd born 4/20/12 * bo 1/3/14 * edd 1/21/ 1/15
My first thought was "I've been running in the dark my whole life" and then I realized the thread was ACTUALLY about running.
Eta: remembered not realized...
Where I grew up is NOT the nicest area (i.e. last week they arrested 31 heroin dealers from my hometown my parents still live in; the town is like 2 square miles, that's it). I did run a lot in the dark there, however, it's my suggestion that early morning dark tends to be a little safer than late night dark. Does that make sense? There was less going on at 5 to 6am for a run than later at night, and it made more sense to do it then. Not sure if that is an option for you. I would most definitely run with a cell phone, and I'd keep a route that runs close to your house at all times. It's better to keep a tighter loop and run it a few times than to run a larger one that takes you farther out, KWIM?
I hope that helps. I know it's a risk, and I'm totally not advocating you to be unsafe, but I felt these were safer measures than skipping out entirely.
Smudgee, this is funny!
But, Dixee, no don't do it. It's not worth it. Instead, get some really awesome workout DVDs and workout at home. I recommend 30 day shred.
This is actually a huge help. I have been contemplating morning runs. The 'hood is much quieter in the mornings. Though, this morning a young guy went blasting past me. I assumed he was running from the cops. So I took a long way to see if I could find anyone looking for him. I didn't.
But it'd also mean more time with my kiddos in the evenings.
I HATE MORNINGS.
I'm training for a 5K
What's funny is I belong to one! But I never go because it's about 20-30 minutes away. So if I leave home when Edie goes to bed, then I would get to the gym around 8:30. Then workout for 45 minutes (9:15), then go home (9:45). Then shower and prep for the next day.
Too late.
Ugh, I really thought this running thing would work out for me.
We have a YMCA, but there's no track.
What about at the local high school? I wonder if I can/should contact them to see how late their track is open and if they keep the lights on. That's doable for me.
This was actually my next suggestion too! Especially with fall sports going on like football, high school tracks usually are open longer with lights on and more people around. And cops usually patrol these areas at night too. I hope that works out for you too. I seriously, SERIOUSLY hate mornings too, so I'm sure that's a last resort, haha
I did. I would meet up with my marathon training group at 4 am during the summer when he had to do our 22 mile runs. Otherwise it was too hot.
Wear reflective gear, get a light that clips on to you and flashes, and don't wear headphones. You should be fine.
But, isn't your neighborhood kind of scary? I would be hesitant to run if I was scared of the neighborhood.
Yup, super scary!!!!!
Community colleges have tracks, too.
I used to run with pepper spray.
It really depends on your route. If you stay in well lit areas on populated roads, people won't bug you.
Plus, you will fly by them so fast. They will be like was that a bird, a plane? No! It was Dixee Deluxe!
This made me for real LOL because my jog is SLOWER than my walk. LOLzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I could, but I am one of those people that turns BEET RED. I have pink skin normally and people are constantly asking me if I'm sunburned. Then I tell them no and that is just what my skin look slike and then they INSIST that I have sunburn! So when I exercise, it's really awful!
I used go running in a not super wonderful area. I would run past these sketchy guys who were outside all the time.
Then one day they called out to me and I was like 'uh oh'.
Then they told me they were impressed with my running and that I looked good (and in a totally cool un-creepy way).
Yay!
The school emailed me back. They said the track was open as long as there were no practices/games and that there are no lights.
Um, I assume she meant the lights are off when there's no event.
DD1 9.24.06
DS 7.1.08
twins due 9.7.11 lost twin A at
DD2 4.7.12
I feel even less safe taking my kids!
I run so slow. And in intervals.
My kids are sleeping by the time I'm running. Otherwise, I'd get no reall quality time with them. And, they'd never get bathed!
Could you alternate with DH? My husband plays rugby twice a week, so I run on the evenings he's home with DD. That way he gets to spend some extra time with her and I get to run when it's still light out.
mm 2/17/11 * dd born 4/20/12 * bo 1/3/14 * edd 1/21/ 1/15
This is my exact schedule right now. I get to the gym at 8:30pm (after LO goes to bed), and usually home by almost 10pm. Then shower, pump, and finally sleep. I already wake up at 6am to pump and leave the house at 7:15am, so getting up any earlier is out of the question since I'm not a morning person. If it were me, I'd rather suck it up at the gym and get home late, rather than putting myself at risk running alone in the dark (especially in your neighborhood). Then maybe have a long run outside on the weekends.
Oh yeah, that isn't the issue. He'd stay with the girls whenever I needed him to. Even if it was 7 days a week!
But I miss them.
I dunno. I don't think it'd be very professional. It's not just the redness, but the sweating. I wouldn't be able to change back into work clothes for a while.