Running at Night

It's that time of the year when our runs are at night and in the dark.  As much as routesd try to stick to wide and lighted streets, please also use some common sense guidelines. Consider:

• Run against traffic. It's easier to avoid traffic if you can see it.


• Don't wear dark colors at night. White running attire is the easiest to see at night, but orange and yellow are also appropriate. Along with anything reflective, flashing, or lights.


• Run behind vehicles at intersections. Even if a car or truck has stopped at a stop sign, there's no guarantee the driver has seen you.


• Don't wear headphones. Wearing headphones diminishes a runner's ability to hear a car horn, a voice or a potential attacker.


• Wear a billed cap and clear glasses. The bill of a cap will hit an unseen tree branch or another obstacle before the obstacle hits your head. Clear glasses will protect your eyes from bugs and other unseen obstacles.


• Vary your routes. A potential attacker can watch for runners' patterns and loom in a particularly dark or isolated area.


• Run with a partner. There's strength in numbers.


• Try to make eye contact and acknowledge a driver. The interaction, however brief, could save your life.

Guidelines were taken from an article by James Raia for Active.com, "Tips for Safely Running in the Dark."