There’s something a little more mysterious, mentally challenging, and magical about running at night, especially on trails. To figure out why and how athletes do it, we caught up with Nick Coury, who, along with his brother, puts on the Insomniac Night Trail Runs & Relays outside Phoenix. Amazingly, they get up to 400 runners for the 15K, 31K, and 62K distances. These are serious athletes, but darkness instantly turns the typical race scene on its heels. Apparently under the stars is where the real fun begins.
What made you want to start racing at night?
Phoenix is hot in the summer, and the only racing opportunities were a few 5Ks. Moving the races past sundown means cool enough temperatures to hold longer races, not to mention trail running at night is a vastly different experience. It’s stimulating, exhilarating, challenging, and a bit mystical.
What happens to the body when running at night?
The senses flip upside down. Peripheral vision is lost to the tunnel vision of a headlamp beam. With limited depth perception, the proprioception of the lower extremities becomes the authority to keep the body upright. Sounds and smells emerge in the silence of the night, especially in the nocturnal environment of the desert.
What are three must-haves when starting to night race?
A bright light is the No. 1 thing. I prefer a handheld (70+ lumen) to cast better shadows and give my eyes a sense of the topography, while others like headlamps to leave the hands free. Next is reflective clothing and LED blinkers, allowing others to see you, especially on the road. The last thing is the right clothing. Temperatures can swing quickly at night, so having a light jacket can be critical if it gets a bit chilly.
How do you fuel before and during a long night race?
The key is to have things that are convenient to handle. A gel may be hard to open while holding a flashlight, so a sports drink in a bottle could be a better choice. With all the heat at our night series, we geared the menu around refreshing items. Fruit is always a big hit, and we even have an iced coffee bar to keep runners awake and alert all night!
What are couple tips for keeping your wits about you in the middle of the night?
Running with others is a great way to keep from feeling spooked. During night races, it can be comforting to see lights behind and in front of you, knowing you’re never too far from a friend. It’s also helpful to keep tabs on what is around you. Use the center beam of your light to scope the trail ahead, while using the wide flood of the torch to navigate step by step.
What’s the scariest thing you’ve experienced while night running?
Once I ran over a rattlesnake and didn’t realize it until I was 10 feet past it. Many runners ask if snakes are dangerous at night, and there is good news: being 20 times their size, we don’t look like good eatin’. If they feel threatened, they’ll let us know well before we can see them. Or in my case, they may be taking a nap and don’t even know we’re there.
Is there a special way to train for night running?
Yes, jump right in! The old adage “practice makes perfect” applies here. Start somewhere you are comfortable and try a few miles. You’ll quickly learn what works for you in terms of lighting, hydration, and technique. You may start out slow, but the more time you spend at night, the more you’ll adapt and be able to enjoy night running.
How do you sum up the feeling of racing in the dark?
The experience is magical. Imagine reaching the top of a hill and pausing a moment to look out. In the distance is the faint glow of city lights. Above are a thousand stars glistening. Below is pure blackness, perforated by the twinkling of headlamps, outlining the entirety of the racecourse.
The lights created via headlamps and night running
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