Run for It Safely

by Cheng-Ling Chen — December 12, 2007

I was dropping my sister off after our pasta night when I saw a runner almost get run over. It was after 9 PM, and the runner was by herself. She probably assumed that since we were at a four-way stop intersection, each driver would stop to give her right of way. Problem was that she was practically invisible in her black tights and black top. Fortunately, the driver going against her had quick reflexes and managed to screech to a halt millimeters before impact.

Running is one of my favorite ways to exercise. It is worth reminding myself and fellow runners that while running gives us a wonderful boost, it can also make us vulnerable. Take the following precautions and be a safe runner:

• Wear light colored clothing with reflective material, especially if you are running early mornings and evenings.
• Run against traffic so that you can see what's coming your way.
• If you run with music, set it on a volume low enough so that you are still fully aware of your surroundings.
• Run on a safe, low-traffic, well-lit route.
• Wear an ID tag that includes emergency contact information. Hopefully it will never become useful, but just in case.

If your schedule is such that you must run after dark, take along a running buddy. Better yet, do another workout or run on the treadmill. Save your outdoor run for a weekend morning. Part of the fun of running is being able to enjoy the views anyway.