Runner Safety Month: Tips on Staying Safe Out There
November is Runner Safety Month, so there’s no better time to discuss the technology we can use to keep us safe and keep us on track with changing our bodies for good. There are over 40 million runners across the country, and regardless of if they’re training for competition or just simply trying to stay healthy, various types of running tech can truly make a difference.
Inspired by the home security company SimpliSafe and their efforts to raise awareness this month, here are a bunch of tips to remember. There’s also a convenient guide that features various tech items that promote health and safety for you to check out.
Safe Running Habits
Most incidents happen with runners because they’re either running alone or they’re not running in a well-populated area. The best way to stay safe is to find a running partner and stick to areas you’re familiar with, where there are other people around. You should also consider mixing up your training schedule.
It’s very easy to stick to what’s comfortable and routine, but this can make you vulnerable in terms of safety. If you’re able to, try avoiding taking the same route, at the same time, on the same day each week. You could also leave at different times, switch your AM run for a PM run, or even go in a different direction. Not only will this keep you safe, but it’ll keep you from plateauing or getting bored with your runs.
As a final precaution, always run against traffic so that you’re aware of moving vehicles along your route, and be sure to tell someone when you’re leaving, where you’re going, and when you’ll be back.
What to Bring
Having the right items with you can definitely make all the difference in terms of safety and preparedness. If you’re opting for running at night, be sure to wear protective clothing, or even consider buying a strobe light clip like this one here. Making yourself visible is the most important thing.
Carrying some form of identification with you is also a great idea as well. In the event of an emergency, you want first responders to be able to identify you and gather necessary information like age, allergies, blood type, etc.
If you’re able to, you should also consider bringing a phone along and leaving the GPS feature enabled during your run. This way, you can call for help and your route is being tracked in case anything happens to you.
Safety Tech
Applications and devices that monitor your safety and do the work for you are great. They allow you to stay focused by keeping your mind clear of any distractions and give you peace of mind regarding potential dangers, either on your run or at home.
The last thing you want to be worrying about, whether you’re out on a run or taking a quick trip to the grocery store, is the safety of your home. Luckily for us, there are several security systems now, like this wireless one from SimpliSafe, that have free apps with them. You can arm/disarm with the click of a button and even receive immediate alerts if anything is going on at home.
In addition to sharing your whereabouts with someone, free apps like Glypse allow you to share your location with friends and family in real-time. The app even lets you set a time duration for how long you’d like to share your location. You can assign specific contacts for emergencies too.
Lastly, get a pair of headphones that allow you to enjoy your favorite running playlists, but also allow you to stay aware of your surroundings. These ones here use bone conduction technology where the headphones actually rest over your cheekbones near your ear, as opposed to covering your ear. This way you can enjoy your music, and still be aware of your surroundings like approaching vehicles, runners/cyclists behind you, or emergency sirens.
Guest Blog Post: Cameron S.
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