How to Trail Run at Night - Overcoming the Darkness

Trail running at night is intimidating and can even be scary. You are surrounded by the unknown, it's cold, and it's dark. Your world is reduced to a small cone of light. But if you want to run 100km or 100 miles ultra marathon, you HAVE to keep going. Today, we explore the various challenges of night runs - particularly on trails - and I provide you tips to overcome this challenging undertaking.

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These tips will help you run on trail at night. And one day soon, the night may even be your favorite moment in any ultra marathon - particularly those hot summer races. With the sun gone, and the miles behind you, the night is that last barrier to your success. The night is peaceful, quiet, with milder temperatures. And those last miles might be shared with someone close to you! Honestly...it ain't that bad. 

Still, night running might be the scariest thing for new ultra runners, yet something we all need to do someday. It sounds bad, but you can do it! Source? ... Trust me bro! But seriously, the challenges of the night are mostly mental, and with enough practice and confidence, you will fly through the night. There are things to know, and things to do, to maximize your chances of facing the dark and the cold and the night successfully. Here's a list:

Darkness Tips
Invest in a GOOD Light
Carry 2+ Light Sources
Head Lamp vs. Waist Light
Set Light to Lowest You Can Still See
DON'T Blind Others
Practice and train at night on technical trails
Know What's in The Darkness
Don't Worry Too Much About Animals
In Case of REAL Danger, Get the Hell Out!
The Most Dangerous Animal Remains Humans and Cars

Cold Tips
You Get Colder After 16+ hours of Running
Change Out of Wet Clothes for The Night

Sleepiness Tips
Exhaustion Aggravates Sleepiness
2 Black Coffees #Brian
Keep Good Calories Intake
Keep Moving - Raise That Heart Rate

Navigation Tips
Have GPX on Watch and Phone
Be Aware of Upcoming Junctions
Make Sure You Can See Markers

Photo credit: jose miguel muñoz IG at josemiguelmunoze

Curious about the gear I use and recommend? Check out this link https://linktr.ee/runningwithsimon