Sometimes it feels like every time I look outside it's either dark or night is in the process of falling. Winter is well and truly here, and with it come beautiful winter sunrises, clouds of breath in the air and cosy evenings in. But after months and months of pandemic-related restrictions, for some even cosy evenings in have lost a little of their charm.
One benefit to the events of this year is that people have started enjoying the outdoors more, as during many months of lockdown outdoor exercise was one of the few available activities. I wrote before about challenging myself to do one new walk every weekend - I did, and it was absolutely wonderful. But outdoor walks have become harder and harder recently, as by the time I have done my weekend morning chores and am ready to set off, it is invariably already beginning to get dark.
Last weekend, I decided to conquer this problem, and stop spending every Saturday morning rushing around trying to get everything done in a hurry for fear of missing my walk if I am not ready in time. Last weekend, I deliberately waited until it got dark. Then off I went, taking a huge bright headtorch with me, to a local wooded area, where I marched around for an hour looking like I was about to commence building work or inspect the trees for defects.
I loved it. The woods were calm and peaceful after dark, and everyone I passed on the way shared a cheery hello or smile caught in the torch beam (careful not to look anyone straight in the face for fear of blinding them) as if we were complicit in something - the secret of night-time walking. I've been on two more nightwalks with my headtorch since, and I'm even planning a run soon.
I prefer the woodlands with my bright headtorch, but I have found an equal sense of magic walking through quiet areas under streetlamps. On an evening with a bright moon I left the headtorch at home, and still managed not to trip up over anything!
Walking or running in the dark isn't for everyone, and I would never advise it if you feel unsafe in any way. But for me the experience is liberating, it feels as though I am claiming back part of my day, hanging on to the fresh air and exercise now hard to come by during work hours. It's my little corner of defiance for this week, nothing is getting in the way of my walk!