Running Safety Tips

Ok, I'm a runner, I understand that running in the street is better for some than running on the sidewalk and that's fine. But if there is a perfectly good sidewalk there, use it! If you're going to run when it's dark outside either at the crack of dawn or in the evening when the sun goes down, you better be wearing high-visibility clothing. What exactly is high-visibility clothing you ask? Well, on the market today high-visibility clothing comes in just about every type of apparel you can think of; shirts, sweats, jackets, hats, gloves, shoes and vests are just a few of the pieces you can buy to make yourself more visible to passing cars when you're out running. Today with everyone having an eye on fashion, there's even reflection transfer images that you can apply to your own running apparel so that you don't have to put on that lovely, always in style, vest.

Have you ever watched a marathon on television? The runners always have on reflective clothing and bright colored clothes. There's a reason for this people, it's called safety! Even if you are the occasional runner during the day, you should still have on some type of high- visibility clothing. Most running shoes already have a reflective strip on them, so add a nice bright shirt and you're ready to run.

This is also true for cyclists. Some busy streets have a so-called "bike only path" that is designated to cyclists. However, I've seen the way people drive on these roads and I would be a nervous wreck riding right along with them, high-visibility clothing or not! Everybody is in a hurry today and add to that people driving while on their cell phones, putting on makeup and trying to stuff in that drive-thru lunch on their way back to work it's no wonder I wouldn't be in a big hurry to grab my bike and hit the bike path with these drivers.

If you're out for a run or walk and there's a sidewalk, use it. However, if there isn't a sidewalk and you have to run in the street then remember:

- Always face the traffic - always walk/run in the direction of oncoming traffic.
- Always wear some type of high-visibility clothing so that drivers can easily see you.

With everything on the market today in the form of high-visibility apparel there's no reason for runners to be out there running in dark clothing. Even something as simple and lightweight as a yellow ball cap with reflective tape can be extremely effective. So put on your bright colored clothes and go for a run! Safety first!