Running

Never used to run in the wintertime, now I realize this also means I never really ran in the dark.

What lights do people use?

Not going to run technical trails all night but mostly city parks / a few woodsy patches, so won't be tricky terrain really but it actually is super dark there (no artificial light at all).

I looked around and it seems Petzl is quite popular, also there's these "BioLite" ones which have a red backlight as well and apparently they're less annoying as there's not this heavy thing on your forehead with the batteries in it that wobbles around (is this really an issue)?
https://www.trailandkale.com/gear/biolite-headlamp-425-review/

Any input is appreciated.
Ta!

Not going to run technical trails all night but mostly city parks / a few woodsy patches, so won't be tricky terrain really but it actually is super dark there (no artificial light at all).

Petzl Bindi, weighs nearly nowt & is usb rechargeable plus plenty bright enough for what you describe.

I don't run far enough for them to smell like that.

Petzl Iko Core is a great bit of kit -Super bright,weighs next to nothing and rechargeable but is a little more expensive than a lot of head torches.
https://wildbounds.com/products/iko-core-head-torch-black

Id say that if a) the vomeros work for you, b) you’re not looking for anything different (a fast interval shoe, or an extra long run shoe or whatever), and c) you don’t spend hours obsessing over running shoes (mmm… 5mm drop or 4mm, etc). then just get the same.

So if you want a pair at home and at work for example.

don’t spend hours obsessing over running shoes

Not really in the spirit of the internet, but ok :)

Calne Clock Change Challenge 10k earlier for me. Was secretly hoping to go sub 40 but that's the realm of fast runners so I'm pretty happy with 40:11 official time and 19th place. Headwind for most of the first 5k but still hit the halfway mark at 20mins. Tailwind on the return leg definitely helped but the slight uphill last mile didn't!

PB but that was pretty much guaranteed as my only other 10k was when I'd just started running. Didn't really feel hard in the same way as longer races, just got up to threshold effort and chugged along. Tried to stick with a group going just a bit faster but didn't have the speed so was on my own for most of the race.

Quick update on my quest to shave 5 mins off my Ealing Half time in the space of three weeks:

Ealing Half (1:40:52)
Royal Parks (1:37:39)
Bath Half (1:38:10) the one that mattered

Was unable to reach the promised lands of 1:35 but on the day I did BEAT MY YOUNGER BROTHER BY 2 MINUTES! Which I'm considering a result. Definitely took on board in varying degrees all the advice on here. Cheers all.

Also made the decision to enjoy what's left of 2022 and not partake in the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon (December 18th), if anyone wants my place, it's yours for a forum donation. Race number needs to be collected from Pompey before the event.

BEAT MY YOUNGER BROTHER BY 2 MINUTES!

fist bump

That's a great improvement/performance. I assume there's a fair bit more elevation gain in the bath half over royal parks?

Cheers, yes Royal Parks definitely a fast course. Bath did follow a river so not mega hilly but undulating enough to make the final miles a struggle.

you don’t spend hours obsessing over running shoes

The plan is to let you guys do it for me ;-)

If I don't want a headtorch but do need something hi-vis for organised club running sessions at night - what should I get?

Chest strap lighthttps://www.sportsshoes.com/product/gat8/gato-ultra-adjustable-usb-chest-light-~-aw22/?_cur=1&utm_campaign=uk-unpaid-shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=Ultra+Adjustable+USB+Chest+Light&utm_term=URLrefresh&gclid=CjwKCAjw5P2aBhAlEiwAAdY7dL3_AyseO8x-DUftpnh2VVCMj46j5Zy1GrYlSRXr_QoBrd3GnBmFYhoCwGAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#sku-gat8

Thank you @rhb and @SideshowBob for your feedback! 👍

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/30/women-safe-exercise-in-the-dark

Sharing because it's dark now and for any men out running we need to do everything we can to make others feel safe.

Anyone with experience of the Hoka carbon x2 or the endorphin 2 ?- fancy trying something new.

Reposting just in case...

I’ve had the x2 hoka, like them as a mile muncher that could turn to tempo although they’re nowhere near as fast or comfy as alphaflys or as fast as metaspeeds, not tried the saucony but have heard the 2s aren’t great and the 3s are a massive improvement…

Apologies for the boast post. 
Broke my 10k pb by 4mins over the weekend. 38:59. Well pleased with this and wasn't expecting to go that fast. Pretty much all my running is at easy pace, try and get a couple of tempo runs in per week and strides. But apart from the strides, i've never touched this kind of pace in training.
Went into the race hoping for between 40 and 43 mins. Difficult to manage expectations when you don't train for a particular time. Conditions were pretty much perfect and the course was round Battersea Park, so pancake flat.
Next target is to (officially) better my 5k pb (20:01) before xmas. Once i've recovered, try and get 4-5 weeks solid volume and then parkrun it (probably Dulwich). Sub 19 would be nice.

Woof! nice going. At that pace you should be able to comfortably get sub 19 I'd have thought!

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre­e/2022/oct/30/women-safe-exercise-in-the­-dark

Sharing because it's dark now and for any men out running we need to do everything we can to make others feel safe.

I think it's good to share an article like that, yet at the same time this strikes me as the kind of thing that is pretty much understood by anybody who's halfway-decent - and the others kinda don't give a shit (and won't bother reading an article like that / it's not that they "didn't get it yet" and needed somebody explain it to them, they just don't care).

I don’t agree with that. Someone shared something similar with my work running group last year and it totally made me change certain aspects of how I run at night. I now cross the road rather than run past someone on the pavement - never event thought of it before.

I think the onus is on us to not only educate ourselves but those around us.

^agree. I'd typically have gone for a cheery hello and wave or something but will try and just give space going forward

Nice work. What were your 5k splits in the 10k? Aiming for those, less 5%, seems doable.