There’s something magical about catching golden hour on a run.
The luminous colour palette. The connection to nature. Fleeting moments. Each one different. Golden hour runs are therapeutic fuel for the soul.
We’ve all been stopped in our tracks and succumbed to watching a deliciously spellbinding sunrise or sunset. Watching the sun slowly slip behind the horizon while running outdoors works wonders if you’re trying to unwind, chase wanderlust, and bask in the beauty of the natural world.
As the philosopher Bernard Williams said: “It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.”
In this Joy Run, we’ll explore the many benefits of running in golden hour and its comforting glow.
How to Run this Theme: Running at Golden Hour
“Golden hour” refers to the period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when the light is soft, warm, and diffused, creating a golden glow. There’s technically two golden hours per day, roughly an hour each. They occur when the sun is between 6 degrees below and 6 degrees above the horizon,
Existing only briefly, there’s an almost childlike joy of watching golden hour unfold.
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Their unpredictable, ephemeral nature can turn otherwise routine runs into treasure hunts.
The unique visual palette of each golden hour not only represents a physical change but also floods your brain with visual stimulation and one-off moments of awe.
Cherished by photographers too, we’re excited to see your golden hour selfies. Don’t forget to tag Joy Runs in your run pics on Instagram.
An aside: in ultramarathons, “golden hour” refers to the final hour before the race’s cut-off time, where runners push their limits to beat the clock and finish the race.
5 Benefits of Golden Hour Runs – From Mood to Photo Opps
Tip 1: Golden Hour Runs Boost Artistic Flow
The dreamlike qualities of a good sunset have long provided inspiration to poets, romantics and artists. As the sun lights up a colourful tapestry across landscapes, it provides a powerful burst of inspiration that lasts long after your run has finished.
"Watching the sun rise, one ray at a time. Watching the sun set, one ribbon at a time."
Research confirms that sunsets are the most beautiful fleeting weather phenomenon we are likely to find in any day. People prefer them to storms, rainbows, clear blue skies or running under a carpet of stars at nightfall. Plus, they care to put a monetary value on the good sunset, as participants claimed to be willing to pay up to £100 to see inspiring natural landscapes at dawn or dusk.
The one-of-a-kind colourful palettes are clearly transferable to artistic output. Inspiring and dramatic blends of bold reds, oranges and yellows against soft pastel hues of pink and purple illuminate the sky and leave a lasting image to draw down on.
The ephemeral nature of sunsets means that they delight as an artist’s work does during creation. The landscape demanding gulp or weep as it reveals its masterpiece.
It’s little wonder then that research claims a 60% boost to creative output linked to running. Everything is illuminated when you run with your eyes open.
Joy 2: The Perfect Backdrop to Mindful Running
We spend 90% of our time indoors. That blows my mind.
Mindful running is the ideal tonic. Exercise for both body and mind, it’s about being fully present and aware of your body and surroundings when out on a run, bringing more active energy to your meditation practice.
Sunsets and sunrises are a wonderful backdrop. Immersive dramas in time, they can open up a portal to another dimension in our minds shielded from the chaos of everyday life. They also offer a glimpse of a meaning greater than ourselves.
The benefits of mindful running include:
- lower stress levels
- a strong mind-body connection
- pushing through mental and physical barriers
- more gratitude in your life
- improved immunity from illness
- being more centred and grounded
- being able to push through in endurance sports
- a more sustained connection to running
Joy 3: Golden Hour Runs are an Instant Mood Booster
Magic hour light casts a warm hue over landscapes and our hearts.
Research shows watching the sun cross the horizon stimulates the pineal gland as the direct sunlight hits the eye, moves through retinal-hypothalamic tract and hits the brain. This boosts the secretion of melatonin and serotonin, our “feel-good” hormones. Our brain interprets the golden hour colour pallete as a signal to enter a state of calmness and happiness.
“When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands.”
For me, running at golden hour also offers hope and the possibility of new beginnings. Both for the new day ahead (at sunrise) and for closer (sunset). Take the latter: no matter how challenging a work day has been, I can still end on a high note with the optimism and beauty provided by the sun’s restorative rays.
Bookending the day with a run or walk is one of my go-to wellbeing hacks.
Joy 4: “Chasing Sunsets” Means Living Life to the Fullest
Sunrises and sunsets, with their fleeting beauty, can serve as a reminder to savour the present.
Their transitional nature representing a desire to live life to the fullest, for you don’t know what the next day will bring. Live for today.
The term “Chasing Sunsets” also speaks to what Joy Runs is about, appreciating the simple joys each day brings.
Bookending the day with a run or walk is one of my go-to wellbeing hacks.
Joy 5: Better Photo Opportunities, No Filter Needed
Professional photographers cherish the luminal ‘golden hours’ of sunrise and sunset.
Also a magical hour for runners, this extraordinary natural phenomena occurs because the sun’s light is diffused as it has further to travel, creating a soft glow with a warm hue. Perfect for otherworldly snaps.
The ‘favorites’ photo album on my phone is a busy collection of intense sunsets and sunrises.
Snapping away while I run also sharpens my capacity for awe and my desire to go further. Moments of awe multiply and pierce through otherwise routine runs, making it a really easy decision to get out every day and hit runner’s high.
I also find running in golden hour to be character building. Running towards the light, the optimist in you heads in hope more than expectation. You might not always catch a glorious sunrise or sunset, but when you do it makes it all that sweeter.
What is it you love about running at golden hour? Let me know in the comments below…
