NIGHT RUNNING
Now I have that REM song in my head "Nightswimming." Anyhow, I have been thinking about this since yesterday and am reminded today by another blog that I really need to get a night run in -- to test my lights and stuff. Please sign up! Leanne? Deb? Iris? I'm told it would be better to start before it's totally dark so I can experience the transition time. Unfortunately, that means I need to start around 10:00 p.m. -- it doesn't have to be long. Maybe the weekend after this one? I am too scared to go alone. The mountain lions will surely eat me.
So below, check out my lighting plan! Overkill???
P.S. All those boxes are the pint glasses for the Herron Hustle (www.herronhustle.com). I have a lot to do still to get ready for the race. Ack. Stressing me out.
13 comments:
I'm in, I'm in!!! A night run sounds so fun!!! We may be out of town the weekend after next (camping on the Lochsa), but we can chat about details later. Not many weekends left...eeek!!! It just hit me how quickly this big adventure of yours is coing up. The lighting plan...I love it. Especially the waist light. I think that will help a TON! And regarding the Heron Husstle...I'm here for ya, baby! Let me know what I can do to help.
Overkill. The henad-held light can go, and it'll also free you hand for a bottle, or for food consumption. To me hand-held light bounces up on trail as I run too much and distructs me. But head-waist stuff is working!
Ooh, a light controversy!
My preferences are different than Olga's. I prefer a handheld, particularly on technical stuff where a headlamp's location (along your line of sight) flattens out the shadows of roots and rocks, making them hard to resolve and avoid. (That stretch of fire road down into Rucky Chucky is a bad one for this effect.)
The light will be used at night, obviously, so you won't be needing two bottles between aid stations. If you're comfortable running with a handheld, it probably shouldn't affect the water bottle situation. Aren't you running with a CamelBak though?
I have been wanting to try the waistband light, as that addresses the line of sight issue and frees up your hands.
While three lights might be a bit much, I like the idea of having two and switching on or off the second as needed. Also, should one fail, you've got a backup.
-Chris
P.S. Did I tell you the story of Craig and his Klieg light behind me?
P.P.S. You'll be running under an almost full moon, which means some stretches of the Cal St. section can be run without any extra light at all.
P.P.P.S. I love that REM song. A lot.
go with two for sure. i like the waist/head combo. but my training partner, (has done many 100's), likes the head/handheld combo. racing i use two. pacing on the otherhand i use three, trying to light up as much as possible for the runner.
it might still be warm at night. so you might still want two bottles at night, one for electrolytes, one with ice water for drinking/dousing. (greg will buy 20,000 lbs of ice for states! ice at all but 3 aid stations i think. fords bar will have limited supplies including ice)
go with what works for you.
now let's just run as fast as we can to get as much of cal street under our belt in the light of the day!
Great Leanne! I can always count on you!!!
Olga/Chris -- It sounds like perhaps the thing to do is the head and waist and carry the handheld (it's a small Fenix) as an extra -- I can whip it out for bad sections or if one dies between aid stations I can use it. Or as you suggest Chris I can turn off the ones that aren't needed at that moment and mix things up. Hopefully after my practice run, which will involve two handhelds (I think I could do both really, just tuck the handheld into my handheld -- oooooh that's so dirty!) I will have a better idea of what helps.
Olga -- the handheld is bouncy for sure -- I haven't practiced with it enough but it might make me nauseous. Good to think about it.
Tom, running as fast as I can to do Cal Street in the light is a funny idea. But a smart one if only I was capable of running fast! Thanks for the input. Even cooler night temps might feel warm for me since I live in the great white north. Sort of anyhow.
Oh and Chris, you did tell me that story. How about you borrow that and use it to light my path for me? ;)
Oh and I was planning to do handhelds NOT the bladder pack.
There's folks who do some fancy tape-y thing with the small phenix lights and their water bottles. Nifty, because those lights aren't heavy.
Are you using any kind of waist-pack? Tom's point about it being warm at night is a good one. I usually carry an empty water bottle in my waist-pack at night. I keep it empty though unless I'm headed into a longer section where I might need it. Depends a lot on your pace, I think.
I'd borrow that light, but you'll have to carry the car battery it requires.
None of this will be an issue when they've finished paving the WS Trail and put in the little streetlights and water fountains next year, though I'm holding out for a Starbucks at Cal 1 and at Green Gate.
-Chris
I am on the fence about how to carry extra stuff. I have a light Nathan 10k waist pack or could order the Nathan race vest. I'm leaning towards the waist thing I already own -- I could use it for GU wrappers, my little ER foot kit and whatever else. Gels will fit in the pockets of my water bottles. Up to 8 of them. My drugs/salt will go in my skirt pocket.
I don't need S-Bucks -- aren't you going to be making me cappucinos out there? What the heck good are you?
I did well with one good Petzl headlamp. I have tried two and got annoyed, but i think ultimately practice makes perfect. Yes, bring friends along when you do your night run so there are more choices for the mountain lions...lol
I'm with Tom - head/waist combo. I put a big one on top (Myo XP), and a smaller one around my waist (Tikka XP). I'll definitely have a backup in my pocket (either Tikka Plus or E-lite). Good for practicing before WS - you will be glad you did.
Sascha isn't always great off-leash, but is definitely solid, and her getting a bit older has helped this (she's 10). She was naughty, though, when I got her at 4!
Yay - a night run. I always wanted to do that! Count me in whenever you decide to go. As for Heron Hustle, what can I do to help?
Delegate please!
One headlamp for me. I like the night time running trance that happens when head lamp beam meets the trail. This really is a time when you can meditate away the pain and really withdraw deep. But, if the conditions are very dusty or misty then the headlamp kind of sucks.
JR
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