Running Unscared

Years ago a story appeared in Sports Illustrated about a runner attempting to run across Death Valley in the middle of summer. A gifted athlete, this fellow was flying across the dessert at an amazing pace when he inexplicably ran smack into a telephone pole knocking himself silly. When asked by support people at the scene what happened, he replied, “I could see the pole coming but I couldn’t get the message to move from my brain to my feet in time.”

It’s a funny story that illustrates an important point about running: It’s possible to get so wrapped up in the experience, that you forget all about what’s going on around you. Often you’re so pumped from the thrill of jamming along, pushing yourself to new highs, that you feel invincible. The truth is, all sorts of bad things can happen, like that telephone pole refusing to get out of the way. Here are some tips to keep your runs safe.

In Traffic
Cars are not the enemy, but you might feel that way after running the roads for a while. Here are some tips for running the streets.

• Sticking to the sidewalks when possible will limit your exposure.
  Sidewalks are usually made of cement, which is harder on the feet than pavement, but having your own space is worth the slight impact increase when roads are filled with cars. Besides, getting even a little further away from autos means less carbon monoxide.



• It’s best to run facing traffic when you’re on the road.
  This will allow you to see what drivers are doing. Whereas if cars were coming from behind, you wouldn’t have a clue. Don’t just watch the car; study the driver for clues. Often the motorist looks right past, scanning for other vehicles, not pedestrians. Always prepare for the worst and leave yourself an escape route to get clear should the car do something unexpected or dangerous.



• Watch for hazards in the sidewalk.
  Running paved roads and cement sidewalks presents other hazards as well. Watch for cracks, grates, frost heaves, and other obstacles that can trip you or cause injuries. If you run in sunglasses, consider a lens color that highlights rather than hides surface irregularities.



• If you must run at night, dress in white or light clothing, and put on reflectorized items such as shoes and vests.
  If your shoes didn’t come with built-in reflectors (many do), purchase reflective tape at a hardware store and put some on the four sides of your shoes. If you live in an area where it’s super hot during the day, you might run at night because it’s the only cool time of day. For serious nighttime running like that you should purchase a good light. There are models available that attach to your head via a wide elastic strap. This takes only a little getting used to, and you’ll love having daytime visibility. Also, with a beacon on your forehead, you’ll be so conspicuous no one will miss seeing you.



• Dealing with harassment.
  Like cyclists, walkers, skaters and pedestrians, runners, too, are apt to get harassed occasionally by motorists. Running with friends is the best way to avoid these problems. The type of person that does these things is a coward who won’t want to deal with a group. Usually, it’s just some loser hurling snide comments. Occasionally, it might be a jerk hurling an object, though, such as a bottlecap or can. One of the reasons to run facing traffic is so you can see these things before they happen and dart up a driveway or into the woods. It may be tempting to retaliate but it’s usually best to avoid confrontation—especially when running alone. If someone does something dangerous, you may get satisfaction by filing a report with the police if you can identify the driver and have the license number. But let the police handle it.

• Know the area you’re running in.
  Ideally you’ll hit the trail with friends. Use care when running in a group to watch other runners and the trail. If you get focused on the runner in front and forget about what’s going on at ground level, you may trip and hurt yourself. Leave enough room between you and others so you can see trail obstacles in time to avoid them.



• Read warnings at trail heads.
  In some areas, there may be erosion or wildlife issues to consider. For example, just recently on our trail network, there have been several mountain lion sightings. You might have poison oak or ivy or snakes. It’s best to know about these threats before tearing down the trail.

• Try to run dog-free routes.
  If you run certain loops regularly, you’ve probably scouted dog-free routes. Share these with running friends and ask about their favorite roads. It’s often better Simply to avoid nasty dogs rather than trying to deal with them.



• When you encounter a dog, try to read his signals.
  A wagging tail and happy gait are good signs. Barking is usually a bad sign. It’s best, even if the dog looks pleasant, to pass in as non-threatening a manner as possible. You might need to cross the street. If you can’t avoid a scary dog, pass with caution. Keep an eye on the dog so he can’t surprise you. If the dog acts aggressively, try saying “No!” with authority. Most dogs recognize this command and will back off.



• Contact the authorities and report the dog.
  In most areas, loose dogs shouldn’t be out harassing people, so you may want to make a report. That way, the next time you run the loop, the dog may be chained up or fenced in.



• Consider purchasing a dog repellent.
  When dogs are a constant nuisance, and you’re worried about your welfare, a dog repellent may be the answer. These sprays contain pepper. When sprayed in the eyes of an aggressive dog, the animal will usually retreat immediately.

• Keep the volume low.
  This will allow you to hear outside noise (past the earphones), plus it will prevent developing hearing problems (a real possibility if you play your tunes loud).



• Use quality headphones.
  It’s a good idea to try different earphones to find the ones that interfere with your hearing the least. I’m partial to ear buds and find those made by Sony the most compatible with a good quality stereo while allowing one to hear outside noise. But try different models to find what works best for your ears. The more sound you can hear past the ear phones the better.



• Focus on the music as background noise only.
  Make your main focus the world around you because that’s where the hazards lie.