It's beginning to get dark earlier and stay dark well into the early morning workout time. A few years ago was reminded during my early morning run that, although an amazing cardiovascular exercise and stress reliever, exercising on the street or even sidewalks can be a super dangerous sport. TWO cars almost flattened me at TWO different crosswalks-yikes! Soooo…I thought I would review some safety tips for runners/walkers who are finding themselves running in the dark now that the sun rising later and setting earlier.
Although I was practicing most of these safety tips, the drivers of these cars were not paying attention And, although I had the right of way in both of these situations, it is really really important to pay extra attention and assume that I am not seen unless acknowledged and take the proper precautions even thought they were in the wrong. Okay…that’s my little soap box. Here are the tips.
· Wear the right stuff. Wear reflective and light-colored clothing. Don’t be one of those maniacs wearing all black and running in the street pre-dawn.· Pay attention and take precautions. Don’t assume that drivers see you…make sure to make eye contact with them. It doesn't matter if it’s your right of way if you get hit.
· Run or walk on the LEFT side of the street. You should be going against traffic when walking and running anyway so that you can leap out of the way if a car comes at you. If you’re on a bike, you go on the right side of the street-with traffic.
· Try to stay in populated areas with plenty of lighting. That’s just a no-brainer.
· Make it social. It’s easier to see two people than one person, plus you have a bit of defense if you happen to run into a sticky situation like an injury or creepy person.
I’m sure you all have other suggestions as well…feel free to leave a comment and share it with us!
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