Summer Safety Tips 101...

Running Safely At Night

There’s a certain joy and peace associated with running on a beautiful summer's night. To look up into the nighttime sky and see the stars twinkling back at you makes an evening run all the more enjoyable .But when you run at night you also need to take extra precautions to protect yourself against injury so you can stay injure free and health to enjoy future outings.

Here’s how to run safely at night:

Wear reflective clothing.

If there’s one precaution that can save your life when running at night, wearing protective clothing would be it. If you’re not wearing reflective gear, cars will have a difficult time seeing you and may be unable to stop quickly enough when they do. If you’re concerned about overheating when you wear reflective clothing, look for running clothing with breathable microfibers. Putting on reflective clothing is a small precaution that may save your life.

Let someone know where you’ll be running.

Because running at night is inherently more risky, let someone you know and trust know your route and approximately how long you’ll be gone. If you don’t return within a reasonable time, they can take the car and look for you.

Run facing traffic

The advantage to running at night is that it’s easier to see an oncoming car with its headlights on. By running in the direction of traffic, you’ll have better visibility and can move off the road quickly when a car approaches.

Run indoors during inclement weather

Running at night when you can’t see the pavement is tricky enough without adding additional factors such as a wet or slick surface. If the streets and sidewalks are wet, do your workout on an indoor treadmill instead.

Take a flashlight.

When you run at night, it’s difficult to see the ground. Imagine how easy it would be to trip over a branch in the road or even slide on some rocks or gravel. A small hand-held flashlight is useful for illuminating the ground as well as alerting oncoming cars of your presence.

Double tie your shoes.

It can be difficult to tell when your shoelaces are untied when you run at night. Take some extra time to double tie your shoe lashes or wear running shoes that don’t lace up to avoid tripping during your run.

Choose your route.

Choose your evening running route carefully so that you jog on well lit streets and roads. It’s far safer to jog on streets where you can look down and see your feet and easily see what’s in front of you. It’s also helpful if you pick a clear night with a full moon to illuminate your path.

Consider running with someone.

For an additional element of safety, consider running with a jogging partner after dusk. Not only will running with a partner make your run more enjoyable, it may also deter interlopers who may not have good intentions.

Enjoy your evening runs but don’t take unnecessary chances when running at night. A few simple precautions could potentially save your life.

by Kristie Leong

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