Back in the day when it made sense, moving the clocks ahead one hour during the spring and back one hour during the fall helped conserve energy and made better use of sunlight. Modern technology has eliminated the need for a time change, and many countries (and even some U.S. states) have stopped the whole spring-ahead-fall-back ritual.
With shorter daylight hours comes the need for safer predawn and night running. Traffic, inattentive drivers and the arrival of tourists and ”snowbirds” unfamiliar with the area only adds to the visibility problem. Here are ten tips to stay safe and embrace the (lack of) light:
- Know your surroundings: A dark and moonless hour probably isn’t the best time to run in a new and unfamiliar place. You need to see the surface and any hazards, such as tree roots, potholes and uneven ground.
- Don’t get distracted: You just love those headphones and tunes. But music in your ears at night is a calling card to a would-be attacker.
- Run against traffic: if there is no sidewalk, at least run so you can see any danger approach head-on.
- Know basic self-defense: Think S-I-N-G: (Solar plexus or stomach, instep, nose, groin). It’s more than a line from the movie Miss Congeniality. These are the four most vulnerable points of disabling pain. A self-defense course can save your life.
- To carry or not to carry: It is legal to carry runner’s mace in Florida. Wear it on a strap around your hand, and remember: less can be enough. One burst of spray is usually enough to stop an attacker.
- Take time to reflect: Wear clothes and shoes with reflective tape or patches. Consider buying a reflective vest or armbands. Carry or wear a light.
- Intersection insanity: Don’t cross in front of traffic at an intersection, if possible; wait until traffic passes and then cross. If you must cross in front of vehicles, make eye contact or wave to the driver first, so you know they have seen you.
- Buddy up: Even if you consider running a solo activity, night runs are usually safer with a friend or group.
- Leave the long runs for daytime: When the sun goes down and the nights cool off, those long-mileage runs call your name. Don’t do a ten-mile out-and-back run that takes you far from home in the dark. Do two five-mile loops instead.
- Keep time on your side: After any run comes a light but necessary recovery meal with some protein. At night, make sure you leave enough time between your run and lights out so you can eat and rest peacefully.
“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t do.” – Rikki Rogers, blogger at http://rikkiwrites.com/
By Nancy Munro, 10/22/2015