How to Trail Run at Night - Overcoming the Darkness

[@runningwithsimon]

The miles I share with Nora at night is often my favorite moment of a race - and I hope with these tips it can becomes yours too! For example at Tahoe coming out of diamond peak was a bad climb. But with the full moon reflecting on the lake and the mountains in the background, I knew there's no other place and no one else I'd rather be than exactly where I was!

[@nooraein9097]

I'm not kidding, I'm afraid to run the trail at night because I'm scared of bumping into ghosts! Any tips? 😅

[@Noraeee]

Another tip! If you’re nervous about running at night for an upcoming race, you can get some practice by pacing someone else’s race. Pacers are often supporting the night portions, so it is the perfect time to practice and help someone out at the same time.

[@runningwithsimon]

You have a lot of training :)

[@heathermalloy4257]

@Noraeee I hadn't considered this, thank you for sharing this idea!

[@MaryDeaneDavis]

Thanks Simon! Love your videos. It’s nice to remember take MORE layers than you think you’ll need. Hypothermia is serious business. Also, if you’re cold stop and put a layer on-- don’t wait. It’s hard to come back after you’re too cold.

[@runningwithsimon]

Exactly. And if possible, changing shirt to a dry one for the night. Makes a solid different in trying to stay warm

[@Wigglythegreat2]

Nice video. I always use a waist light and a headlamp to cover all the bases. The waist light helps me see the toe catchers like roots and rocks and the headlamp lets me see further out and side to side. Plus if one light goes out, you have a backup.

[@runningwithsimon]

That's smart

[@danielm.119]

One thing I always wear at night is a pair of clear safety glasses. Running into branches I don’t see because I’m looking down at the ground is scary and makes me worried about putting an eye out. Maybe this is a really tall person problem but I never run at night without eye protection!

[@dan-zo4eb]

Great tip 👍

[@runningwithsimon]

Haha yeah true - it's a good tip!

[@alexandreparadis2776]

Fun story: my first Ultra at night was Harricana125 in Charlevoix. The race start in a ZEC ( a place where people can have a permit to fish and hunt), and when I did it, the start time was 2 AM. I was not doing well at all, end up the last runner, alone in the dark, wasn't sure I was on track... Then out of nowhere, 2 guys cross my path, guns on their shoulder, look at me with a smile, and just say Good morning! have a nice run! And they disappear in the wood. I was still alone in the dark, thinking: what the hell just happened! I never saw the trail they were on... As for animals, like you said, they are scared of us...

[@runningwithsimon]

Wow 2am start?!? I didn't realized Harricana 125 started at such time. People were doing a good job selling this one to me, ... I'm not so sure anymore! When I meet bear, I always imagine them meeting up with their friends and talking about 'this super scary encounter with a human!'

[@alexandreparadis2776]

@@runningwithsimon they changed the start time to the afternoon of Friday since then! C’est technique mais très beau!

[@baggy2287]

Really helpful - will probably re watch before my first overnight event next year

[@runningwithsimon]

Glad it's helpful :)

[@heathermalloy4257]

Simon, all your videos are fun and informative. This one, was one I needed the most. I've done a few 50s in "controlled" trail environments in the dark, but darkness has been the biggest thing from keeping me from going longer. I grew up in the woods, not really afraid of the wildlife...but if anyone is going to break an ankle on the terrain in the dark, it's me 😂. Your tips with the lighting were very helpful, and I'll be trying either a waist light or moving my headlamp lower. Keep 'em coming!

[@runningwithsimon]

It's a rationale fear to not want to trip! But for what it's worth, I don't think I've ever tripped at night, but did several time in broad daylight. And Nora is exactly the same. My explanation for this is that the main reason we trip on trail is being complacent and/or distracted. So it's actually on 'not so technical trails' during the day for me that my mind just wanders. And next thing you do, I'm doing my best superman impersonation!

[@davidb5260]

Excellent video! Great tips

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks! It's funny because this weekend's Angeles Crest was a perfect example for me for which the night turned out to be muuuuuch more pleasant !

[@emmarunyeard6832]

I read a book recently about a guy who spent a year being out in the dark... Fantastic observations about how it is another world but also an awesome world once you understand the darkness 🎉

[@runningwithsimon]

Wait, what?! Like, 24/7 in the dark...and voluntarily? That's crazy to me! Wow...

[@emmarunyeard6832]

@@runningwithsimon I should clarify, he still had daytime but instead of traditionally sleeping through the night he would spend as much time adventuring... He explored areas such as dartmoor which is one of our areas of zilch light pollution (England being small has few of those) he went from being wary of the dark to almost craving it, I believe he managed to find pich black in Scotland one night which he found incredibly hard ( he was doing this without using torches)... I know we also have an ultra run through tunnels which have no lighting at all, apparently it becomes very trippy after 2 days with the weirdness of being in a rail tunnel with only torch light... Its hard to get into I believe.

[@emmarunyeard6832]

Just looked at the ultra.. Its 200 miles and it has 55 hour cut off, out and backs sp probably an hour per tunnel rep, sensory deprivation.. Sounds horrific.

[@wildfoxtrail]

I run at night alone A LOT and it's my favorite

[@runningwithsimon]

Exactly, it can be really nice if you can feel comfortable. Hands down it was the best part of the race this weekend at Angeles Crest!!! It was very hot during the day (to the point where 2 runners were airlifted from the course, and last finisher evacuated immediately at finish line, all 3 due to heat stroke). At least at night it bearable

[@wildfoxtrail]

Congratulations it was very hot this weekend in OC. Night running was great yesterday. ​@@runningwithsimon

[@codyberatlis]

During my first 100k I got nervous to run during night, but i realized that I typically start running/training at 4am(night). So this is how I typically train. Seeing how alive the night can be with all the critters is pretty cool as well, it’s like a whole new world. It’s all about the narrative you tell yourself.

[@Gator35]

This video did a great job of alleviating some common fears of running in the dark, and had some great tips - positioning the lights lower to help show the contours of the terrain and rocks better! Thank you for taking the time to create this content!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks! I just hope people get more comfortable and confident gonig into the night. Once you pass that mental barrier, everything else is easier

[@jacktesmer]

I appreciate this video, running in the dark is intimidating for me still especially after a full day of running. I saw two mountain lion looking at me 10:15pm finishing a 40 mile loop. They were relaxed but it freaked me out, I was by myself. I also got very cold from 3am to 6am my body wanted to shut down both instances I did the overnight.

[@runningwithsimon]

You saw 2 mountain lions at once! Wow!

[@monicarose8714]

This! The breaking down was so good! Forest is different than wide open.

[@runningwithsimon]

Totally! I saw someone online argue that you don't need a light to run at night because your eyes get used to it. Like...huh...dude?! True on non-technical trail (or road) in the open. But in the forest or jungle when it's rocky...good luck running and not face planting!

[@davidb5260]

I had never thought of a mid chest light until you featured that. Fantastic!

[@runningwithsimon]

It's all a balancing act. I know quite a few people that do chest plus headlamp. That's probably the most you can see - but you're also carrying an extra light and burning batteries twice as fast. I guess the bonus however is that you don't need to carry as much backup given if one light fails, you have the other.

[@davidb5260]

Keep the gear that supports your run featured in your videos. Really helps the rest of us have that perspective as we come up!

[@runningwithsimon]

@@davidb5260 Ok will do!

[@iterato1]

Good stuff! One extra tip about carrying layers: have them in a ziplock or other kind of waterproof bag or else they can become wet too and then not much help at all.

[@runningwithsimon]

@@iterato1 100%! My stuff in my drop bag is typically in a garbage back. And when running with stuff I often do too (but not always…lazy…)

[@Kelly_Ben]

Great video!! The thing I fear the most is twisting an ankle. If you find a waist belt you like, I'll absolutely take that recommendation! The most dangerous animal remains a human... cheers to that!! I switched to trails partially because I got harassed so much and had so many scary close calls with drivers. Not to play into current trends, but wild animals don't scare me nearly as much as humans. I quite literally choose the bear! 😂😂 Find out what animals are in your area, and research how to handle them. Animals typically act with a basic set of rules. Know their rules, and it will help keep you safe.

[@runningwithsimon]

Exactly! The unknown is the scariest about animals. For example, I don't know how to deal with alligators, so I'm more scared of them than bears in general. But there are contexts with bears that would scare me - it's just very specific. I've only had one bear encounter that was "oh crap!"

[@SeeChadRun]

Great tips and feedback! I'll be applying these during my UTE 100 ultra.

[@runningwithsimon]

Coming up soon!

[@emmarunyeard6832]

Superb video 🎉

[@runningwithsimon]

As always, thanks :)

[@erinnerom8880]

Here in canada once winter hits we dont have to much choice but to run in the dark since we have 15+ hours of dark a day. Its become my favorite time to run. Its so calming and peaceful

[@runningwithsimon]

It's very calm at night! It got really dark too when I was in sweden. Just a few hours of day time at the worse (and usually no actual sun time because it was so often cloudy in winter). It got a bit depressing at time. But summer made up for it!

[@literarybeard2259]

Thanks much Simon- really appreciate your video.

[@runningwithsimon]

You're welcome!

[@alexshraib]

Great video! Thanks Simon. For me personally, a pack of wild boars is the most scary thing to meet at night. You are running, trying hard not to fall asleep, they are sleeping and once you wake them up with your head lamp, they start to make crazy noises almost like lions and run in different directions and my only hope that they will not run over me.

[@runningwithsimon]

Yeah i guess I haven't had enough encounters to be too worried. The only time was in hawaii down in the Waimea canyon. We saw a bunch, and they had babies too. The bush also prevented us from seeing them so it was a bit spooky (all of this during the day however, but we camped there)

[@alexshraib]

@@runningwithsimon A pack of wild boars with babies is the worst case scenario. Approximately a year ago I was running on a trail and suddenly a pack 6 or 8 wild boards with a couple of babies jumped on me from the forest. When they started to chase me I was not brave at all. I was running away as fast as I could.

[@jeanyves4220]

Another tip for dealing with sleep deprivation/exhaustion is mastering power naps. I’ve trained my brain to take 5- and 20-minute naps, and they work so well. My trick is telling my brain: OK, shut down for the next 5/20 minutes, and I repeat it a few times, helping my systems shut down.

[@runningwithsimon]

Yeah, I do that a lot too. Although, I wish I didn't HAVE to and could just go on. But sometimes, that's needed, and it's time well invested usually. Anyone who's paced me while I sleep, I usually catch up within 1 mile.

[@vanvbussiness8297]

Thank you for this man! 😀

[@runningwithsimon]

Sure thing!

[@dan-zo4eb]

Another excellent film Simon with great advice/tips, will put some of them into practice soon. Question - Have you considered or ran the Old Dominion 100 mile race in Virginia ? You get an amazing buckle made from silver. It started in 1979 and is the 2nd oldest 100 mile race.

[@runningwithsimon]

I've done old dominion 100 twice already when I did the grand slam. Buckle is only sub24 and my first year wasn't great - so I only have the buckle once (which I've posted on this channel). There's some debate here haha. It's actually the oldest trail 100 miler in the US. Western is older but was 92 miles (or something like that) back then. At least, that's what I heard. It's interesting the contrast between the route OD100 took and other older race like Western and Leadville. OD100 is not commercial at all, very 'family' style and low key. Simpler aid station, but the breakfast the next day, and all finisher being called upfront to say a few words is a nice and personnel touch I'm not planning to race it again unless I do grand slam again. There's too many races around early June I want to do so it's a bit hard on scheduling (like San Diego 100)

[@nataliamartinkova]

Simon, do you have an affiliate link for a waist lamp? Very useful tips for the perspective issues, so I'd like to support your channel in my next kit update.

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks for asking! And no, I don't unfortunately. I've been working with Fenix for lights lately and they don't have waist light.

[@thomasostroski7113]

Your section on the animal troubles reminded me of a potential issue at a triathlon in Michigan this summer. We were told that there was a danger of a released pet alligator being in the water we had to swim in. Thankfully, no alligator showed up on our swim. But that really worried me in the days leading up to the event.

[@runningwithsimon]

haha wow. Yeah, I'd be worried....! Was it real? That'd really mess me up

[@thomasostroski7113]

@@runningwithsimon I don’t think they ever figured out if it was really in there or not. They had police and park rangers out looking for it for a couple of days, so they took the sighting seriously enough.

[@wk633]

Can't emphasize enough about the backup light. Last night I was a sweeper for a race, so I brought extra in case a runner needed one. I ended up lending my Ultraspire 400 waistbelt to a runner who's light was on all day in her drop bag and had died. My own Fenix HM65R-T which I consider super reliable stopped working. It acted like the battery had died, but when I put in a new one, the blue LED were full, but it just flashed and went out. The exact same battery worked fine in the Ultraspire so I know it wasn't the battery. Thankfully I had a backup-backup, a small Knog headlamp which isn't bright, but following other runners with brighter lights (including my own lent Ultraspire) it was enough. Another thing, make sure you can change your light's battery in the dark, and with cold tired hands. That's a good reason to have a second light. And yes, I love running at night. But I love it a whole lot less if I'm trying to navigate by starlight. (when I got home I tried charging the Fenix directly as opposed to putting the battery in a charger, and something seems to have 'clicked' and it worked again. It's like it was convinced the battery was dead even if it wasn't, and it needed to be put on the charger to reset that. Still waiting for a response from Fenix, who I contacted about it.)

[@runningwithsimon]

Scary to hear about the fenix.... I had a headlamp die on me too - same as you (aka it clearly wasn't the battery). But I was never able to revive it home so bye bye!

[@emmarunyeard6832]

Ditto lions 🎉

[@Ultra-Lawyer]

Simon, have you experimented with smelling salts? Great content, as always.

[@runningwithsimon]

Smelling salt? Like, to stay awake? I never heard of that

[@Ultra-Lawyer]

@@runningwithsimon Ammonia inhalant. Let’s try together!

[@AlanRosa-y2b]

Hi Simon, at what portions of the course will you use trekking poles at Leadville? Power line at night seems like a must at a minimum.

[@runningwithsimon]

I'll do from Twin Lake to Finish if feeling average. And Twin Lake to Twin Lake if I'm feeling very strong. They are nice to have for powerline, but not essential if you have the legs for it. It's not THAT long of a climb. But if you are tired, worth it. Also if I'm tired, sometimes I like the poles to keep me from falling, particularly in segment like around turquoise lake. I don't need them on the first morning because I've still full of energy, but if I'm struggling on the return, it can be helpful.

[@AlanRosa-y2b]

Thanks Simon, will say Hi when I see you there.

[@1111italia1111]

amazing i m new to trail, i was running in the mountain since 2 years, and this year i say ok i need to get a bib :) it was in may. i just do short ones 30km max, i dunno if i will get to ultra, but i want to try night trail, what do u think? there is a race mid september who start the night its a 15k only. I think it could be a great test, i dont even have a headlamp yet, im looking for petzl nao rl or silva 1200xs (it's pricey but in my mind i say i invest one time in good thing, so i can keep them longer) so yeah im like 6 weeks away of the race i didnt register yet, i will have to practice first at night and see if i like it. i think i will be scare obv during solo training by night i will do max 2h max, during race it,'s different there is people so not that scary i think. if u was me will u try it ? or i dont rush i will train by night this winter and see. because running officialy (races) by night is a bit rare if not an ultra.let me know! i m new and already subscribe ! thanks

[@runningwithsimon]

I say go for it! And totally agree on the 'good light' piece too. It's worth it - they last longer, are more reliable, etc. The last thing you want is to not have a light at night, and it's not uncommon for cheaper brand to die on you. Not just the battery - the light itself malfunctioning. Also 6 weeks out is plenty to prepare - so again, go for it :) Maybe a couple of training run at night (on similar type of trail if possible - doesn't need to be the same exact one, but it's different to run on a muddy trail. vs. rocky . dirt road at night). Either way, practice will help you get used to it!

[@emmarunyeard6832]

If I see a bear out running I will know I have wandered into a zoo, we don't have them 🎉

[@runningwithsimon]

lol

[@ArcaneSpells]

key darkness tip: in case of actual danger, get the hell out 🤣

[@runningwithsimon]

Reminds me of the classic "If it's black, fight back! If it's brown, lay down... " ... If it's a bear, get out of there!

[@JetForce-NathanHigginson]

What does the fox 🦊 say ? Lol

[@runningwithsimon]

He said "Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!"

[@bikerdude6119]

Ive paced both moab240 and tahoe 200 for my friends and i always get stuck doing to the night runs . Im starting to think theyre not fond of me😂😂😂

[@runningwithsimon]

@@bikerdude6119 …or…or! Hear me out! Or they trust you and know they can rely on you in the hardest time!! …or they hate you. 50/50 ! :P

[@bikerdude6119]

@@runningwithsimon lmao

[@stevenreda8823]

I’ve paced a buddy for his 100 milers twice now through the night on very technical trails. And by his own words, it made all the difference between a podium finish and maybe a DNF. Having someone fresh to stay mentally focused, maintain the morale, and navigate made a big difference

[@runningwithsimon]

Congrats to your friend! You sound like a good pacer :)