Comments on: What's the point of running with sunglasses, even at night?

Question: What's the point of running with sunglasses, even at night?

adrianhon — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 11:38:16 -0800

Why do runners and other athletes in the Olympics wear sunglasses? Orange-tinted glasses seem to be most popular, even when events are taking place at night. Is it because, in some cases, they're running under the glare of stadium floodlights?; do they somehow make them focus better?; or is it all a style thing?

By: Frank Grimes

Frank Grimes — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 12:49:29 -0800

A lot of them are paid to wear the sunglasses. I was a volunteer at the Atlanta Olympics and passed sunglasses to some of the athletes who did not wear them during their race, but put them on for interviews after the race.

By: wackybrit

wackybrit — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:03:29 -0800

I often wear sunglasses, even when it's gloomy or reasonably dark (although not generally at night!), simply to reduce everyday glare and haloing. I imagine being under the lights they're under makes the glare even worse, so sunglasses wouldn't be a bad idea. Also means no-one can see when you're crying at just missing out on the bronze ;-)

By: swordfishtrombones

swordfishtrombones — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:20:10 -0800

Some may wear them to protect their eyes against bugs, dust, or whatever may cross your way, especially if they're wearing contact lenses.

By: wackybrit

wackybrit — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:26:11 -0800

Bugs are a great point. Highs of 98F and lows of 75F in Athens today :-) Even up here in chilly England, this year has been particularly bad for millions of bugs, wasps, and icky flying things. That's the last thing you need in your eyes on a 26 mile run.

By: BlueTrain

BlueTrain — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:35:59 -0800

Take swordfishtrombones' comment one step further. Some, if not most, of the sunglasses use prescription lenses.

By: kenko

kenko — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 16:58:14 -0800

orange-tinted sunglasses will let you see better when it's dark.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 17:02:03 -0800

Also, pale yellow or orange lenses at night help you see. They cut down glare from the lights and help everything look a bit sharper and more defined. All my ski googles have always had orange lenses so I could see bumps in low light.

On the prescription tip, I recently learned most of Oakley's line can be had with custom factory lenses in your prescription. They're not cheap (a pair exactly like this were around $350), but you can get some pretty hip, curved frames in your prescription, with mirrored, polarized lenses. I would love to have a second pair for low-light conditions like night driving and cloudy days.

By: bonehead

bonehead — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 20:34:13 -0800

I have a pair of those Oakleys in prescription. They're fine glasses, but the extreme outer edges are a little out of focus. It took me awhile to get used to them.

The coatings are a bit fragile. Finding a hardshell case is a good idea, Oakley just gives you a cloth bag. Replacement lenses are half to two-thirds of the cost of the glasses.