With our days getting shorter now, it's likely that many of you are doing your walking/running in lower-light conditions than you're used to. A runner friend of mine sent me the following email last week and reminded me that I had been meaning to address running at dusk and dawn.
"Hi - just a suggestion; maybe you could do a blog about running safely during low light conditions? Once again i saw something that made my blood go cold when I was traveling west on West Gore [between lake pleasant and 505], I came across a couple running side by side. they were traveling with traffic [their back to me] and one was actually running on the pavement. Worse yet it was sunset and the sun was directly into the eyes of motorist. All runners need to be aware that they are almost invisible to traffic until the last moment. I also just saw a young girl running solo, dress completely in
black at 5:30am. not a good combination! please tell your masses that 'runners make ugly hood ornaments.'" -- Chuck O.
Here are some safety tips from a Scripps Howard article by Eugenie Jones that I recently stumbled upon while looking for an upcoming special section. I added some of my own notes.
The most basic roadside safety consideration is to walk or jog facing oncoming traffic. Never turn your back to oncoming traffic, robbing yourself of the advantage of seeing what's headed towards you and having a few seconds to get out of the way when necessary. NOTE FROM H.C.: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER step out in front of a car that is turning right until you have made eye contact with the driver. Often they are looking left for oncoming traffic and never look right -- you don't want to be in front of the car when they hit the gas to turn on right.
Wear bright, reflective clothing, and or a runner's vest when working out. You want to make sure your clothing will not blend into your surroundings, but rather make you stand out and drivers notice you more easily. NOTE FROM H.C.: I refuse to wear one of those ugly yellow and orange vests, so I shelled out big bucks for a jacket and a vest from Illuminite -- www.illuminite.com. This maker of reflective gear has mastered the art of being seen. Their items look "normal" in regular light conditions, but in the dark, the entire item "lights up" when headlights hit it. They're pricey items, but how much is your life worth anyway? I have a jacket for winter and a vest for summer. They even sell hats and gear for your dog!
Carry ID and medic alert ID whenever you walk or jog. Road ID -- www.roadid.com -- prints ID bracelets and shoe tags that make carrying your ID & medical info as quick and easy as snapping on velcro. NOTE FROM H.C.: You can also go make yourself a dog tag at PetsMart and clip it onto your shoelace or jacket pull.
It's also a good idea to carry a cell phone and self-defense spray. NOTE FROM H.C.: I discovered recently that my cell phone is actually small enough to fit in the key pocket of my running shorts -- now I never leave home without it. Self-defense spray is available at the gun shops -- get the kind with a belt clip and you can clip it onto your shorts.
Veteran runners -- if you have any safety tips for running in low light, please "comment" on this blog and add to my little list!