Running in the dark - here we go again (85)

Ran in the dark this morning - for the first time this season - no glimmer of dawn on the horizon, no full moon, nothing - just deep dark complete nothing.

I have a love hate thing with the dark. I have a long list of fears - its so long i can even categorize them:

Easy fears: like possible roots and stumps on the trail

Frustrating fears: like surprising another dog walker

Irrational fears: like possible muggers and wolves

I call the first ones easy, cause the solution is just that - put on headlamp and those problems vanish - er they appear - you know what i mean...

The frustrating fears are harder - wearing a light will let people know im coming, but it will actually make it harder for me to see them - the light spoils your night vision so everything outside the glow of the headlamp becomes even harder to see. But there arent that many dog walkers in the woods at 5:30 - i know the likely spots and walk when i get there - thats the frustrating part - having to walk

The irrational fears are the hardest and the easiest - they never go away - i just decide to run with them - it isnt exactly fun - im not one of those people who like being scared - but i just tell myself to get the run over with and then i can go home and lock the door

but sometimes a really strange thing happens - i actually start to feel safe and protected in the dark - like the darkness is a big blanket wrapped around me

if i know the trail well and the running is going good and i feel strong, then the darkness starts to feel cozy

i felt that way this morning for a while - like i had melted into the darkness - i was actually reluctant to come back out of the woods into the glow of the streetlight

i do love getting out there and moving across the countryside - in the dark its another game - perhaps the darkness brings home the fact that i have worked hard to get this run in, i have earned this run, that i deserve this run

the dark running season is only beginning - but no doubt, i have lots of dark runs ahead of me - lots of time to figure out this love hate thing we have going on

Running in the dark (85)