Every few months, one running publication or another conducts a poll asking runners when they like to hit the pavement. The majority prefer running in the morning, usually before work or the kid's day at school.
I, on the other hand, would rather run at night. I need a shower, breakfast and coffee to wake up, and all but the latter (and only in small quantities) don't really make sense before a workout. I finally decided last week, once and for all, that I'm not going to bother trying to psych myself up at night for a run the next morning, since it won't happen. (I can get up early for work, but, well, I'm getting paid.)
Running at night means doing a few things differently. For starters, you're not running on an empty stomach; watch what you eat for lunch, making sure it's not too spicy, heavy or fatty (lest you fall asleep at your desk). You also need to hydrate throughout the day, especially if it's still going to be hot and humid when you hit the road.
You should invest in some safety gear, too. I have a reflective vest, which admittedly makes me look like the construction worker from the Village People, and a head lamp. Neither are terribly expensive (and if you get the head lamp from a hardware store instead of a running store, it's a lot cheaper). Though I don't have any, the little blinking lights that smart bicyclists have are a good idea if you're in an area with few streetlights or terrible drivers. If you don't have any, wear a white shirt, run against traffic and stay on the sidewalk.
Finally, don't run too late. Your body needs a couple hours to recover after any workout. If nothing else, you need a little bit of time to eat, rehydrate and stretch before you go to bed.
There's nothing wrong with running at night when the majority of runners, not to mention the most devout, are out at the crack of dawn. Just make sure you don't put yourself in harm's way, intentionally or otherwise.
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