Safety Rules Every Runner Should Follow

There may be some obvious safety precautions that people follow, but there are some safety rules that most people don’t follow and wouldn’t think of as an issue. I know some I read about in articles that I’ve never thought about and am glad I haven’t had problems, yet. So here are some rules that you may not have heard of that you should take into account before going on a run.

• Don’t run alone at a tree-covered trail at night- I have done this once in my life and I did not have a fun time. I was very paranoid, and I could’ve been kidnapped. It was very stupid on my part, and I am very lucky I finished unscathed.
• Be aware of your surroundings- I know it’s hard to be aware of your surroundings sometimes because you can get in the zone or zone out. I am guilty of this, but it’s good to be aware of your surroundings in case someone is following you.
• Listen to your gut- If you sense something is not right, listen to your gut. It’s always right in these circumstances and helps you avoid dangerous situations.
• Let someone know where you are running and how long you should be gone- I usually let my mom know how far and where I am going when I’m home. When I’m at school, I let my roommate know that I’m going on a run. This lets them know that if you have been gone for too long that something wrong has possibly happened.
• Carry a phone with you- This is obvious but if you get lost or hurt yourself far from home, you have your phone to call 911.
• Don’t listen with both headphones- When you have both ear buds in when listening to music, you’re less likely to be aware of a car that’s approaching or if someone is following you. Generally it’s suggested that you don’t run with them at all, but I like to listen to music with one ear bud in or on speaker.
• Wear bright clothes or reflective gear at night or early in the morning- This is so cars can see you more easily and you’re less likely to get hit by a car.
• Try and run with someone in secluded trails- If you want to run in a very isolated trail, run it with someone so you’re not by yourself. It’s safer to run with someone in case of harassers or if you hurt yourself, you can hopefully get help immediately.
• If you are by yourself, run in public trails- this is so you’re not totally by yourself and won’t be stuck somewhere for endless hours.
• Run where you know it’s safe- I avoid certain neighborhoods near my school when I am by myself because I am not sure how safe they are. If you are not sure how safe an area is and it looks sketchy, just avoid it altogether.
• On roads, run against traffic (and run in a line with a group)- This is so the car sees you immediately and you can see the cars too if they are driving recklessly. Running with traffic is not ideal because you can’t see the cars if they’re coming and can’t accommodate to them and move over if necessary.
• Take a self-defense class, or follow Sandra Bullock’s acronym SING- There are self-defense classes that help runners specifically if they are caught in certain situations. Sandra Bullock in “Miss Congeniality” used the acronym SING when confronted with an attacker: solar plexus, instep, nose, groin.
• Carry mace- This immediately dismantles the attacker and gives you a chance to get away.
• Have some type of ID on you in case you need help- If you were to pass out on a trail and be found, the ambulance can identify you and call your emergency contact immediately.
• Don’t run in hazardous weather conditions- If it is thunder storming outside, do not run! Accommodate to the weather and run when it’s not hazardous.
• Follow road laws- when crossing streets, look for cars.
• Before running in front of a car, make sure they can see you first- When you’re running along on a sidewalk that’s in front of stores, cars will pull out to turn. If they are not looking in your direction, do not go in front of the car. Go behind the car. Do not risk going in front of the car and get hit.
• Do not address verbal harassers- I’m sure you have been honked at, whistled at, or catcalled at. Avoid addressing them like you would in New York. You don’t know if they’re dangerous or have a weapon.
• If a red flag goes off with someone’s presence, remember what he/she is wearing- also remember his facial features and characteristics. It’s likely that there’s a warrant out for his arrest or he just committed a crime that the police want to follow up on.
• Change your routine so it can’t be followed- If you follow the same routine, it is easy for you to be tracked down and followed.
• Watch for hills or sharp turns and move accordingly so cars don’t have a chance to hit you- If you can’t see beyond a hill or turn, the cars won’t either. It’s better safe than sorry to avoid traffic and stay on the side of the road.
• Avoid parking lots, bars, and restaurants where there is heavy traffic- It’s more likely you will get hit in these areas even if you are careful.

These are tips that I have found and follow when I go on a run. Some rules can’t be written down, but just think before going out about safety. Follow your gut.