As runners.  Correction.  As female runners, there are more things to worry about than the typical wildlife on a run.

So please take a few minutes to review some basic running safety tips.   Of course, your running sitch may be different so take what works for you.  Like religion or a buffet.

• If you run in the pre-dawn or post-sunset hours, run in rural areas, run trails, run in locations that are not well-populated or very isolated try and run with a friend.
• Wear headlamps, lighted vests and carry a flashlight for those dark o’clock runs.
• For runners who do the same loops every Tuesday and Thursday like clockwork, maybe think about mixing it up every now and then.  Especially if your loop is in the early morning or late evening hours.
• Bring your phone. Wear it on an armband, tuck it into your leggings pocket or just hold on to it.
• Pop out one earbud so you can hear what’s going on around you.
• Tell someone where you are going.  Tell them when you leave and when you’ll plan to be home.   Send a text, private message a friend on FB or leave a note near the coffee pot for a roommate or your spouse.
• If you can’t run with anyone, at least pick a place that is well-populated.
• Run with a dog.  Better yet, have your friends pay you to run with their dog.  Win-win!
• Sometimes you get a creepy feeling about someone.  Quickly move to the other side of the street or dip into a store or gas station.
• If you are threatened or think that you’re being followed call 911 immediately then start yelling; bang on trash cans, yell FIRE!, run to a house and start pounding on the front door.  Get loud.
• Some people run with pepper spray, bear spray, a taser or even something more heavy-duty.  Run with what makes you feel more secure but please always be alert.

Since I’m an early morning runner I try to run with a friend most mornings, wear my reflective vest and blinking lights so I’m able to be seen by cars.

If I have to run alone in the morning I change my route to bypass any areas that are not well lit or off the beaten path.

Now go run!

Keli 🙂