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How To Start Running Safely In The Dark
Have you ever tried to start running in the dark? If not, you have no idea what you’re missing. It’s much cooler, quieter and you feel less embarrassed when running after dark. Sometimes it can be very hard to fit in your training during the day time when you have to juggle work, family and social life, you often have no option but to run when it’s dark.
However once you start running at night, there are other factors that you need to consider. On the one hand you should try to run where there are other people around, a well lit area, with other people around to ensure your safety from others, but aside from this, the extra traffic in these areas means that you may be at a greater risk from cars and other sorts of traffic.
Here are some safety tips to follow to ensure that you make it through your night time runs without incident or accident.
Run In The Direction Of Oncoming Traffic
When you first start running after dark, always run on the side of the road that faces oncoming motorists. Doing this helps you to see vehicles coming towards you, making it much easier and safer to keep away from them.
Running in the dark is always much harder because of poor visIbility levels due to the glare of headlamps and overhead street lighting. Because of this you should only select routes that have sidewalks or purpose built walkways. Try not to use very busy roads to run on after dark.
It’s also very important to be aware of other potential road users such as cyclists and fellow runners, so don’t just use the noise of a car as your only warning of advancing vehicles.
To Stay Safe, Be Seen
Ideally the sorts of running clothing you wear when you start running at night should be of a lighter material. White, yellow or orange materials tend to be easier to see in the dark and better still, luminous or reflective materials attached or worn over clothes like arm bands, reflective hat badges and sashes all help to get you noticed. Ideally you should ensure that you make yourself as noticeable as possible. Only wearing running shoes with reflective parts on them,might not be enough to get you fully noticed by motorists.
Means of Contact
All runners should carry a mobile phone with them regardless of the time of day they run at. You might pick up an injury and be unable to finish your run, you may get lost or too exhausted to carry on or witness an accident or crime etc. These are all very good reasons for carrying a phone with you when running at night. Another suggestion is to carry some identification at all times. A driver’s license is perfect. You can keep this easily in your pocket or in a hip bag.
For your safety, vary the times and days you run at because this can make you a target to would be assailants. Whilst this is extremly uncommon, however, it is best to be aware of these precautions.
Run With Company
You can run on your own at anytime, but often it can be very motivating and safer to run with others, either a running club or a friend. Or why not start running with a dog, your own or one borrowed from a friend. The dog will love it and you may be saving your friend or neighbour having to go out themselves to walk it.
If you do need to start running at night, you’ll find it can be a fantastic experience, a great chance to unwind at the end of a hard days work, or get away from the family for a couple of hours. Whatever reason you do it for, take reasonable precautions for your own safety.
About the Author
To find out how you can avoid the most common running pitfalls so your fitness improves, you lose weight quickly and go on to satisfy your running goals in the quickest amount of time, go and have a look here now - http://www.howtostartrunning.com/
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