Night Running Safety

Every year it seems that as soon as Halloween is over, daylight hours are gone. If you are a runner, you especially notice the darkness of winter as it impacts our training schedules. Most runners like to run before or after work, which means for most, early morning, late afternoon, or at night, which also means running in the dark. All runners who run in the dark should take the extra precautions for night running safety.

The number one challenge for night-time runners is visibility. I’m not talking about who and what you can see, but who can see you. Being a night-time runner puts us at a huge risk for an accident if we are not able to be seen. No, you don’t have to run on the middle of the road to be at risk, think about jogging into an intersection or jogging across someone’s driveway, if they can’t see you, they will hit you. Make sure you can be seen by wearing reflective running gear.

Reflective Running Gear Tips

If you are running in the dark, then make sure that you have on some kind of reflective clothing. Most running shoes have reflective strips on them which is a good start, but it is best to wear something reflective on your upper body as well. Our choice is to wear a reflective vest as well, that way we can dress appropriately for the weather and the reflective vest fits nicely over top. But running reflective gear comes in many forms. Depending on your own style and comfort, you can also choose from:

• reflective arm bands
• reflective ankle bands
• flashing lights
• reflective running shirts
• reflective tights

Highly Reflective Running Apparel Recommendations:

Sugoi Zap Jacket ($85-$100) This wind and water resistant jacket has 360 degree reflectivity markings that stand out like a beacon.  Available at Zappos and Paragon Sports	Saucony Ulti Mitt ($30) – This Mitt will keep you dry, warm and visible as it comes with a removable flashing LED light combined with reflective accents – Available at Holabird Sports	Nathan Reflective Vest – Be seen to be safe, so the next time you run in the dark wear this reflective vest that is designed with lightweight, breathable mesh with 500 candlepower reflectivity.  Gives you 360 degree visibility for almost a quarter of a mile – Available at Roadrunner Sports

As well as reflective gear, it’s also helps to make sure that you wear light colored clothing. Another precaution is to make sure that you know your running route and run on a sidewalk and facing traffic. You may also want to wear a light colored hat to keep the blinding headlights out of your eyes.

I’m sure that we have all been out running and just barely seen some pedestrian walking with dark clothing. Don’t let that be you, know the running safety tips, take care and dress appropriately for night running.

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