Fell running at night

[Pilgrim]

I'm quite new to fell running at night, but I've done a lot of road running at night. I find that it's much better to wear your head torch around your waist. That way a lot more light makes it to the ground. I also have a small red led on the back of the strap for road running. I'm definately slower on the fell at night.

That may be fine on flattish ground but what about steep descents? When it's on your head you will at least get light wherever you are looking.

[IainR]

That may be fine on flattish ground but what about steep descents? When it's on your head you will at least get light wherever you are looking.

has anyone tried the head torch on the chest strap thing, wasn't it advertised in the last fell runner?

[Boy Wonder]

Just read the article (literally about 15mins ago with breakfast!) - seems like a good idea, look forward to hearing if anyone else has used one..

[ukhursty]

Anyone any idea as to how much your normal running pace is affected when fellrunning at night???

A route I often do which takes about 30mins in daylight took me over an hour last night!

C'mon you regular night owls - what's your experience on this subject???

I've ran only once in the night so far, and it was a 'timed run'.

The results were interesting. On the ascent I was as fast as during the day, give or take a few seconds due to line choosing, but on the descent I was monumentally slow with my own light, but with the help of someone else Hope vision by my side, I could pick up the pace to theirs.

I would say my overall time suffered by 5-10 minutes from a day time.

I'm not bothering going back out at night until I have enough money for a Hope Vision, its just not worth the risk for myself.

[Derby Tup]

hursty, I think depending on the terrain and your familiarity with it, you're fine running at night with an Alpkit Gamma or any one of a number of Petzls (sp!). The problems start when you want to run quickly. Running in your own shadow is a major problem too in Hope-powered company

[IainR]

I've ran only once in the night so far, and it was a 'timed run'.

The results were interesting. On the ascent I was as fast as during the day, give or take a few seconds due to line choosing, but on the descent I was monumentally slow with my own light, but with the help of someone else Hope vision by my side, I could pick up the pace to theirs.

I would say my overall time suffered by 5-10 minutes from a day time.

I'm not bothering going back out at night until I have enough money for a Hope Vision, its just not worth the risk for myself.

the way I see it most of your fitness gains are made running up hills (it's where you work the hardest for the longest amount of your time out) so you can still get a good work out at night. The descents are slower, you just have to accept that.

[ukhursty]

hursty, I think depending on the terrain and your familiarity with it, you're fine running at night with an Alpkit Gamma or any one of a number of Petzls (sp!). The problems start when you want to run quickly. Running in your own shadow is a major problem too in Hope-powered company

Yeah for just a gentle run at night, there probably wouldn't be a problem.

I still think I'll stick to days at the minute, because luckily I can at the minute, and my work is more than likely to be in the evenings

Yeah the shadows make it interesting, running along nicely, then it all goes pitch dark infront of you