5 safety tips for running in the dark

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I'll start this commodity by maxim this isn't virtually not wearing shorts, or running lonely on fall evenings. As a female runner, I don't demand reminding that running alone in the dark can experience scary, or that women confront a disproportionately loftier gamble of gender-based violence. While no head lamp or reflective leggings can change the stats, little tweaks to your wintertime routine can help y'all feel safer when running in the dark now that the clocks are changing.

Information technology'south also of import to note that staying safe in the dark isn't solely an event for female person runners. When running in depression light, information technology's imperative that cars and traffic can see you lot on the sidewalk, then investing in reflective running gear, or a head lamp, is a expert idea. We've hand-picked some of our favorite items below to help you stay prophylactic and be seen this winter.

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one. Apply the safety features on your running sentinel or app

In recent years, engineering has improved to help runners feel safer on the movement. Far more technical than just telling someone when to wait y'all dwelling house, nowadays, the running watch on your wrist can be a way of helping you stay safe.

If you have one of the best Garmin watches, and run with your smartphone, you can turn on Live Runway via the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone. This allows you to share your alive location with friends and family members via electronic mail, Facebook, or Twitter. The downside with this is that you need to run with your phone (although this isn't a bad thing when running in the dark as it allows you to call for aid, should you need information technology). The Garmin Forerunner 245 LTE has a live tracking style that tin relay your position without needing a telephone, and lets you transport text messages to emergency services.

If you're running with an Apple Watch vii, Apple Watch SE or an Apple Sentry Serial 3 or later on, you can share your live location with someone earlier you caput out the door. To do this, add your friend or family member to the Discover People app on the Apple tree Sentinel and tap share my location. You'll exist able to share your location for ane hour, until the end of the solar day, or indefinitely. Once again, with this option, you'll need to carry your smartphone with you, unless you have a cellular version of Apple's Lookout.

Another app that works with most modern Garmin running watches and Apple Watches newer than the Apple Lookout man Series 3 is Strava Beacon. Strava Beacon allows runners to transport a live tracking link to three dissimilar contacts. It's completely gratis if you're using the Strava app on your telephone, however you'll take to be a Strava subscriber to use it on your watch. Detect out why, as a female runner, it'southward the one Strava feature I've happily paid for in the by, and read my total Strava review here.

2. If you can, run with a friend or a dog

Since I've moved from London to the countryside, I've started running with my 35-pound cocker spaniel, Toby. He'southward not much of a threat to anyone, but on evenings where I'm heading out on my own, he helps me experience safer on routes that are far quieter than my city runs ever were.

iii. Invest in reflective running gear

I manner to be sure cars and traffic tin see you as you run in the dark is to swap your all-black running wardrobe for something more than cogitating. It'south also well worth buying a head lamp, or chest lamp, to help you run into the path if you're non running in a well-lit area. We've hand-picked some of our favorite reflective running items here:

4. Ditch 1, or both, of your headphones

You've probably heard this one before, just it'south important to be able to hear what'due south happening around you, especially when you lot're running in the dark. If you need that podcast or peppy running playlist to get you lot through a cold, winter run, attempt running with 1 earbud in. Some earbuds also have a pass-through mode that lets you hear what's going on around you, too. Need to upgrade your tech? We've hand-picked the best running headphones here.

5. Never ignore your instincts

Trust your gut. If something doesn't feel right equally you run through the park, information technology might not be, so turn effectually and stick to the sidewalk, or stop some other runner and ask if they mind you running alongside them. Ideally, we'd live in a globe where it was safe for everyone to run alone in the dark and feel safe, but until that solar day, no thing how confident you might feel, be sure you're aware of your surroundings.

Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fettle editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past four years, so knows what to await for when finding a good running lookout or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone. When she'south not pounding the pavements, you'll observe Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far as well many photos of her puppy.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/5-safety-tips-for-running-in-the-dark

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5 safety tips for running in the dark