Sunday, January 7, 2018

Here Comes The Sun (do do do do)


There are two things that bug the bejesus out of me while trail running. The first is seeing trash on the trail (or anywhere for that matter). Ask my kids what their new punishment is. The other is as follows:

While finishing the last 20 miles of my race, I had to bring out my light so I could see since the sun decided to go down before I could finish. My current location on the course contained two-way traffic. Over and over, as a fellow runner came toward me, this was my view (unless they had a pacer, then double the lights). Now, as fun as looking into the sun and then attempting to keep running while blind for a few seconds may sound, I really hate it. This caused me to reflect back to my early days of running ultras and the lights I used. My first headlamp was about $10, used one AA battery, had two itty bitty LED lights, and (now that I look at the output) I swear was only good for reading a book while not moving at all. I don't know how I could see the trail as I ran through rooty forests or up and down crazy rocky hills with that tiny little candle on my forehead. Fast-forward a couple years and I bought a brighter one which worked much better until it got too temperamental to be trusted anymore.

Zephyr Fire 300 (link to product)
What I currently use isn't a headlamp. It's a hand torch (flashlight) from Nathan (click for link to product). I have never liked having anything in my hands while I run. My hands are happiest when they're empty. So I was a little hesitant to get the hand torch. However, as you can see, it has a little wristlet doohickey that allows you to hold it without needing to really grasp it. (It's also great for when you trip over roots so you don't lose your light.) The light is already angled downwards. This allows you to see all that you need and allows oncoming traffic to not be blinded. I've used it through most of the night before, even though the webpage claims only 6 hours on low.

Now, I'm not saying you need this particular light. But please remember that when your mini sun on your forehead is fooling the squirrels into thinking it's morning, every oncoming runner you encounter is getting blinded because your light isn't angled properly. Please be courteous to your fellow trail nerds.