This post was originally published on November 7, 2014, and updated on November 19, 2021, and contains affiliate links.
November is National Running Safety Month. While I’ve previously shared some running safety tips in the past, with the recent end of Daylight Saving Time, I thought some of these tips were worth re-visiting.
Fit Five Friday – Five Tips for Runner Safety
Light It Up — It may seem so obvious and yet I continue to see runners pre-dawn (and well after dusk) running with absolutely no lights or reflective gear on. The little reflective strip on your running shoes is not enough – lighted or reflective vests, armbands, and the like are a must. I’m a big fan of my Noxgear vest. Carrying lights or wearing a headlamp also makes you visible, with the added bonus of lighting your path as you run.
Find a Buddy — There’s always safety in numbers. Find a running buddy or try running with your dog.
Tune In — As much as I enjoy running with music, I think it’s so much more important to be completely tuned in to your surroundings, especially when it’s dark. If “running naked” is not an option for you, then run with just one earbud in and keep the volume low, or wear try open-ear headphones, like AfterShokz.
Carry your Phone & ID — If you run alone, bring your phone. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but it’s always better to have it. Also, be sure to have identification on hand. I never head out without my Road ID! In the event of an emergency, an ID could be your most important piece of gear.
Share Your Route — Always make sure someone knows your route, when you’re leaving and when you expect to be back. I have a handful of favorite routes and my husband knows them as well as I do. Also, consider using a tracking app like Garmin’s LiveTrack or Life 360.
**Bonus tip: Try to vary your route and time — I know this one can be hard, especially if you’ve got to get your run in before work or the kids get up, but be careful not to follow such a pattern of behavior that someone can pick up on your schedule.
How do you stay safe on a run? What’s your best safety tip?
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Great tips! I am happy to run pre-dawn in summer but now it’s deer hunting season and I can hear gunshots like crazy pre-dawn around here. Scares the crap out of me so no. No dark runs for me right now.
Marcia recently posted…Apres NYCM Randoms and a Winner
Hunting season!? Oh my gosh Marcia I don’t blame you!
great tips! thankfully I don’t have to run in the early mornings too often.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…5 Fab Fall Fitness & Beauty Finds
Thanks! It’s a schedule I’m still getting use to and definitely prefer to wait for daybreak when I can!
Great tips! It think that varying your time and route is a good idea, regardless of when you run…
MCM Mama recently posted…Tips for staying active during the holidays
I agree – varying your time and route is always smart.
Important tips! I am hoping to join the O Dark Thirty Club this winter! Bring RoadID or some sort of identification.
Jennifer recently posted…Friday Five – What’s New II (Weekend Edition)
Great point – I always run with my Road ID!
Member? I’m the president! haha
I never run in the dark by myself. Fortunately I have a very supportive husband that will run with me a few times week before the sun comes up.
jill conyers recently posted…7 Ideas To Get Moving During the Workday
I think that’s great that your husband will run with you!
I definitely try to vary my route and schedule. Also, wearing reflective gear is my new thing with all the incidents of running being hit by cars these days.
Coco recently posted…My Top Five Healthy Holiday Tips
Yep way too many close calls around here lately – I’ve learn to embrace reflective gear.
Check out Noxgear. No one can not see you 😉
I will run after work but it will soon be dark then. And I will take one if the dogs. And I will stay on lighted roads in my neighbourhood.
I’m definitely a member of the zero dark thirty club, lights lights and more lights! Great tips!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Say goodbye to pinning bibs forever: Racedots Review and Discount
Great tips, Michelle. i’m still shocked at how many runners run without a phone! Now that I have a new phone that actually holds a sync, I can let my husband track me on the run again.
I also think that tuning in is very important, although I can get awfully lost in my own thoughts sometimes, LOL!
It surprises me too that some would run without carrying their phones. I’ve glad you’ve got a new phone and your husband can track you.
All of the above! I’ve had my Noxgear vest for a couple years, and it sees a lot of action, as do my Knuckle Lights.
Both are key pieces of gear in my opinion.
All great tips. I always run with my phone. In lighted areas and if not I use my knuckle lights. And in possible I don’t run alone.
At night wear bright clothing.
I do my best to stick to lighted areas too, but the streets leading out of my neighborhood are not very well lit so the knuckle lights are a must-have.
for me the best safety is running with a buddy or 2. I get really annoyed to see runners w headphones so loud they cannot hear us coming (on our bikes for ex). Also if you run in the street it is important to run against traffic
It’s crazy that people have their music turned up that loud! Great point about running against the traffic.
These are all great tips, and it’s a good reminder to hear them again. Luckily I rarely have to run in the dark (right now, at least) but if I do, I don’t use headphones and run a well-lit route. And I never run in the street- we have some incredible sidewalks that are perfect for running.
I’m lucky too that most of my run routes have sidewalks.
My most popular post ever is my post on self-defense weapons for runners. This is such an important topic!
Interesting. And gets me thinking again about whether I should carry one.
I didn’t even know it was Running Safety Month! Whoops!
These are all great tips! Thanks for sharing!