Does Running Have an Off-Season? Who Turned Out the Lights?!

In July, our 6:30 run starts with daylight to spare, but in November, we’re lighting ourselves up like an airport runway. In Part 2 of our November Second Wind series, The Off-Season Doesn’t Exist, we look at how earlier sunsets change everything from our favorite routes to who we run with. Kyle shares the rule he teaches new motorcyclists and follows as a runner after dark: never assume a driver sees you. We get into the difference between lighting the road ahead and making ourselves visible, plus why a familiar route can feel like a whole different run when wet leaves hide the curb. We also head to Chasing Rabbits Run Club, where Kyle brings up the rear so nobody gets left out there alone. Running with friends can make dark miles more inviting, but nobody has to run at night to prove they belong. Sometimes the best move is to change the time, change the route, hop on a treadmill, or take the night off. There’s no Garmin badge for running through the dark, and there’s no shame in changing the plan.