I recently had a conversation with a friend while I prepared to go for a nighttime run. I mentioned how I get nervous running in the dark, to which he replied, “As a man, I could walk out my door, go for a run, never have a second thought. For women running at night, you have to keep your head on a swivel.”
His words echoed through my head as I pounded the pavement for the next four miles in the dark. Usually, when I run, each step is a meditation. I joke that running “calms my crazy,” by which I mean it helps me sort through my shit. Being a first-year teacher last year, training for my first marathon was a huge undertaking but it also helped me think through a lot of tough situations on how to handle my students, my studies, and my time.
Running in the dark, though, my focus shifts from myself to my safety and surroundings. I become hyperaware of who and what is nearby — so much so that recently I got distracted by something, tripped and totally wiped out on the sidewalk.
Head on a swivel is no exaggeration.
The conversation with my friend got me thinking about the scary stories I hear about women runners on the news: like last February when a woman was nearly kidnapped at gunpoint on Coffee Pot Boulevard (my usual running route). We should not kid ourselves into thinking we are any safer taking the scenic route through affluent neighborhoods. Running in the dark poses a threat no matter which course we choose.
While the best option is to run during the daylight hours, that is not always a possibility — especially after Daylight Savings time ends. Here are some tips and tricks to help up the ante on running safety:
- Opt to run indoors Ok, I know this one kind of sucks. When given the option to run in the fresh air surrounded by beautiful scenery (Have you ever seen dolphins swim along North Shore Park at night? Because it’s magical) versus feeling like a hamster on a treadmill mile after mile, it’s difficult to choose the latter. A week ago I went for a five-mile run on a treadmill staring at a blank wall and it nearly drove me insane. But still, I was happy to have a safe place to run after 9 pm and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
- Run with a partner or group (furry friends make great running buddies, too) The old saying about safety in numbers is true, and if you don’t have a running buddy then at least try to pick a route you know is well-populated. Various apps and websites like MapMyRun, USATF and Runkeeper — just to name a few — are valuable resources to help you plan your trek.
- Carry protection and wear bright clothing I will never forget one of my high school teachers telling us she carried a whistle on her whenever she ran in a nearby park, and that she had to use it to deter someone once (luckily it worked). Some people never go running without mace spray; others carry their keys in their hand to point outwards if feeling in danger. It also helps to be seen: wearing bright, reflective clothing is important to remain safe from cars and other traffic; likewise, it helps you stand out and be less of a target.
- Always bring your I.D. This one is important for all runs (and bikes and swims), regardless of time of day. Having identification on you is an absolute must in case of any type of urgent situation, whether it be an attack, an accident or a health emergency.
- Use a running app to create a safety network and check-ins Apps like Garmin LiveTrack, Road iD, Strava Beacon, and Kitestring allow runners to create a “safety network” of close contacts who can either track your runs live (Garmin, Strava and Road iD) or who can be notified if a runner doesn’t respond to the app’s scheduled check-ins (Kitestring).
When it comes to safety with your fitness, it is always better to err on the side of caution. Practice smart strategies and you will be able to enjoy those runs just a little bit more freely. Even if you still need to keep your head on a swivel.
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