How to Be Safe While Running at Night

Running is a great way to exercise because it does not involve a lot of special equipment or a membership to a fitness club, it can be done indoors or outdoors, and it is a year-round workout. As with any exercise, it's important to stay safe while running, especially in certain conditions. Here are some tips to help you be safe while running at night.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Choose a familiar area. Running at night in an area that you are unfamiliar with distracts you from focusing on your workout, and you risk miscalculating the length of your running path or getting lost. It is especially important to be familiar with your surroundings when running at night due to limited visibility. Run on a path that you know well and that is close to your home when running at night; save the new territory for daylight hours.
2. Work out with a friend. Running with a partner after dark reduces your risk of becoming a crime victim and helps increase your visibility to passing motorists. Running with a friend also ensures that there will be someone to help if one of you falls or becomes injured.
3. Be aware of your surroundings. Running with headphones or while using a cell phone is generally a bad idea, but it is especially dangerous after dark. Since your visibility is already limited, you must be able to hear any traffic or individuals approaching you. Save the music or phone headset for when you are running at home on the treadmill.
4. Wear bright colors. You may be able to see approaching cars because of their headlights, but if you are wearing dark running clothes, motorists may not see you. Opt for brightly colored or white clothing when running after dark or buy running clothing with reflective patches so that passing cars are aware of your presence.
5. Look for a well-lit area. Run where there is an abundance of streetlights after dark to help passing motorists see you and also to avoid being a crime victim. Most runners that are attacked while running are in secluded or dark areas, so avoid side streets and back roads and opt for well-lit and populated areas.
6. Run prepared. Tell a friend or family member when you leave and make sure they know where you will be running. Take a fully charged cell phone with you and invest in a small canister of pepper spray in case of emergencies.