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Thursday 15 January 2015

I Am A Night Runner

My runs are on black roads. Sometimes dry, sometimes glistening with rain or sparkling with ice. They are lit by orange sodium lights. And at times by a white circle from the headtorch I wear. The circle bobs if I am tired but it lights my way and illuminates the eyes of cats, rabbits and foxes. The eyes glow green as the animals hide in the hedges or disappear as they run from my footsteps which pat, pat, pat on the road. 

The road scrolls away under my feet, as though the black asphalt surface is moving rather than my feet. The world is my treadmill. 


I know I am a night runner. When it is dark outside, this is my time to run. I am surefooted. Night sighted. And I have a badge of my night running membership: a small blister on my right ear where the buckle on my headtorch rubs on long runs. 

I do not care about fashion. Who is there to see me? My clothes are hardwearing, comfortable, warm. When it is cold I wear a buff over my head with my face peeking out, like a balaclava, or like a turtle peeking out from its shell. I would probably look silly, if there was someone there to see me. But there is not.

13 comments:

  1. This is great! Are you a "night" runner or a "darkness" runner?

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    1. It depends on my mood :) Tonight I ran with the torch on and off at different sections. It's nice to slip unseen through the streets sometimes.

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    1. Thanks Vikki! I enjoy running at night but in the Winter you forget there is more than darkness and orange sodium lights :)

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  4. You're lucky, my night vision is terrible and I just feel so nervous! Had to cancel this early AM's run because my partner in crime pulled out and its not safe to go alone!

    Great post, full of spirit!

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    1. Boo for running buddies ducking out! Hope she brought cake next run to atone!! :)

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  5. My favourite thing about running at night is that people don't see! Legs often don't get shaven for my night runs and my clothes most definitely do not match! :P

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    1. Yes! This!! There is definitely less effort on the night runs - the 'jumble sale' look is go go go!!! :)

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  6. "The world is my treadmill" YES!!! :)

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    1. It feels like that at night doesn't it. As though the road is moving instead of you :)

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  7. YEEEAAAHHH love this. Love these words, beautifully written! x

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  8. Thanks Tess! Glad you like it!! :)

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