Les Croupiers Running Club Forum

Hi Karen

I've always worn glasses for running so I've learned to deal with the inconveniences that come with them. I don't have any probs with them slipping down my nose, but misting up and rain can be challenging. I find if I'm running in poorly lit areas at night and it's raining I have to be very cautious to avoid tripping (Wedal Road in the winter is a particularly difficult section if raining). I certainly wouldn't feel happy doing a tempo run or a speed session on the streets if it was raining. If the rain is particularly heavy I quite often pop my glasses up on to the top of my head to see better. Personally, I don't like the idea of wearing contact lenses so I just put up with the glasses.

Karen,

its down to choice on this. I generally wear glasses for training runs then wear contacts for races as i feel (purely in my head) i get a benefit from running without my glasses. plus i look less bad in a race wearing contacts and dark glasses..

i've had times when i've done a longer run and found it difficult to see due to the volume of rain on my glasses.. but equally not sure how my contacts would have faired either..

some good advice about

James

I never got on with contacts but varifocals are fantastic albeit expensive. A real pain in the rain though, for both running and cycling. I wear a cap which helps, but doesn't work with my new head torch!

No need to worry about feeling old just because your sight's not great!
Just watching Stuart Ball puts everything into perspective! Fantastic attitude, and that's really what matters.
I could never read the board from the back of the class in school - but it wasn't till I was 26 that I did something about it (mainly because I kept on walking past people and not recognising them). Mind you, I still do that today!
I wear varifocals for everything. I do get very tired from continual reading and computer work, but that's just old age.
I always use my glasses for running except certain weather conditions:
1. Likelihood of condensation or very heavy rain.
2. High winds (I left my glasses in the car today).
NB Varifocals are expensive but I always see healthcare as an investment rather than an expense.

Hi Karen - guess what? Yes you've guessed it I too ware varifocal glasses. I've had them about a year now and they are fantastic for every day wear - I'd had normal distance glasses such as yourself for many years, but got used to the varifocals within a few minutes of first wearing them. The point people make about expense is well made, but to echo Mick's post I went for the anti reflective coating with maximum field of vision and think that it's well worth it.
For running / cycling / martial arts I always wear daily disposable contact lenses which work very well for me esp as both my eyes have the same prescription. I initially made the choice because I wanted to be able to wear sunglasses when cycling, but haven't looked back finding them very convenient and easy to wear. Obviously there are compromises with everything, because when wearing the lenses I cannot read small print / newspapers etc, but they are generally terrific for the great out doors. I did try a few trial pairs of varifcal contact lenses which were not good - they tend to be too much of a compromise and mean that your peripheral vision becomes badly blurred, which is not good for safety when cycling or running. Hope that helps, David.

Awww, you lovely lot are fab, so much good, practical advice (in contrast to the blank look the optometrist gave me when I asked about running). Thankyou

Ps you can also get bifocal contacts but I tried them & they don't work for me.

Contact lenses were a great improvement on glasses, but laser surgery was the best thing I've ever done!

Baseball cap works in the rain. It's cheap too!

I'm another who has worn glasses from a young age and had to switch to varifocals about 3 years ago. I got used to them straight away and are not an issue when running, but driving rain can be an issue even with a hat. They only steam up when you stop, or occasionally if it is very humid. For my everyday glasses I went for a very light and flexible frame and high index lenses, which do not bounce around when running.
I also bought a pair of prescription sunglasses online (much cheaper!) but didn't bother with the varifocals in them as they are generally for distance use and only used occasionally.