Don't watch me run!

[larry ben kenobi]

An odd little observation --

My Syrian, Benni, will not run on her wheel when watched. I've started to turn down the lights when I'm working late (as I am right now) and let her believe she is exercising in private so that she'll get her little run in, as I've noticed she likes to run between 1:00-3:00am.

If my screen changes colour/I move too much, I think she sees the shadow and stops running entirely. Typing alone does not seem to bother her much (nor does my partner's excessive snoring in the other room lol).

Does anyone else's ham only run when not being watched? Or do any of the experts know why she's doing this? It isn't a serious thing and I am happy to accommodate her secret workouts, but she is so cute on her wheel that I'd like to see her enjoy it (as well as enjoy the sounds of her little pitter-pattering -- we have a very quiet Carolina Storm wheel and all you can hear are the ham feet and it is the cutest omg).