Now that we are into the first week of our Couch to 5k Virtual training plan and many of you are planning to run our Virtual 5k in October, I thought it would be a good time to talk about running safety. If you haven’t joined us yet, join our *closed* Facebook group- Run the Hood C25K. Lisa or I will make sure you’re set up in the group and you’ll have the encouragement and motivation of a bunch of awesome women (and maybe even a few guys) to keep you going. *Closed* just means only people in the group will be able to see your posts. This is where we will check in each week and make sure you are on your way to that 5k. You can read the full announcement here.
Anyhoo, back to that safety talk. Here are just a few tips to keep you safe while you are out on your runs. We love you and want you to run with the Sisterhood for many years to come!
- Run with a friend when you can – there is safety in numbers.
- Vary your routes so you aren’t running the same streets, at the same times of day, all the time.
- Never EVER post a route online that starts and ends from your front door. If you take pictures on your runs, make sure you have location services turned OFF for your photos so they can’t be easily traced. I know this seems paranoid, but better paranoid than stalked.
- If you are running between dusk and dawn, make sure you are visible. This means a reflective vest, headlamp, and blinky lights. Reflective clothing is good, too, but the more visible you can make yourself the better off you will be.
- Leave the music at home. If you must run with music, only wear one earbud so you can hear the sounds around you.
- When crossing streets, don’t assume the drivers have seen you. Make eye contact and wave.
- Carry a phone with you. I think a lot of you are already doing this if you’re using the C25K app.
- Bring or wear ID. RoadID is one type but there are many others as well.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you are planning to return.
- Carry pepper spray or a whistle.
- If you are worried about dogs or run in areas where other wild animals roam, maybe carry a dog whistle or bear spray.
- I think most importantly, be aware of your surroundings. I know how easy it can be to get lost in your run – heck, that’s why many of us run in the first place – but you really need to pay attention.
While nothing can guarantee your safety 100% of the time, these tips will help increase your chances whether you are a runner, walker, or cyclist. Have I missed anything? What’s one thing you are going to do differently on your next run to make sure you are as safe as possible?
(Visited 1,145 times, 1 visits today)