It’s dark in Toronto, early in the morning, this time of year. Over the years, I have considered whether I should go out for my morning jog when it’s dark out. Is it safe? Since I have become more comfortable walking to the gym at 6 am, in the dark, I have decided it’s also “safe enough” to run at that time or at 7 am when it’s still dark in January.
There’s a “mission” across the street from me and, often, when I leave early in the morning, there’s a group of people getting breakfast on the steps of the church. As I move along, it’s typically very quiet, except for the few people waiting for the streetcar, or the odd car that drives past. Sometimes, there’s a woman who sits outside her apartment building and the only way you can tell she’s there is the lit end of her cigarette.
One of the reasons I love running in the morning is that I love the quiet streets. It’s such a treat in an urban centre. Especially, for someone like me, who loves PEOPLE, but tolerates people in a crowd, who is an introvert, but can’t imagine living anywhere other than a busy metropolis. The early morning, is the one time, that the city as a small town feel.
This morning, shortly after I left my home, I saw a jogger on the other side of the street. They had the LED belt that seems to have become more common.
Then a couple blocks later, there was another jogger, also wearing one of these belts.
It occurred to me, how lovely it was, to see the other joggers at that time. It feels safer. It feels like others have deemed it a good idea and have resisted avoiding the dark mornings also.
I would add that seeing a lone jogger at this time is not the same as if it had been a running group. Running groups are a whole other thing. They have their place and I started running long distance in a running group 20 years ago. But, a lone running coming across a group of runners, is not the same thing as coming across other lone runners. It’s not the same sense of camaraderie. Of claiming the beauty of the quiet morning run, without fear.
This is my post about encouraging other lone runners to get out there in the early mornings (as long as you feel safe in your area) and to let you know I will be grateful to see you when we pass each other in the dark.
Readers, do you run in the quiet, dark, mornings? Do you feel safe? Do you feel better seeing other lone runners?
I have always liked running in the dark. Well, as much as I ever like running, which is really only cross-training for me. But not morning – I like my higher effort exercise later in the day. Still, I like the feeling of being out in the dark, quiet times when not that many others are doing it. My only problems have been 1) realizing how important visibility is (easy to fix), and 2) the time I heard a pack of coyotes not too far off. Didn’t do that route in the dark again!
For years, I loved running in the early dark around 10 pm. It was like running through velvet, and if there was a soft mist falling, even better. I shy away from running in the dark now as I’m a few years older and depth perception can be an issue in the dark. But the beauty of seeing other runners at night is still precious.