Rules of the Road

Ahhh, the fresh air, the adrenaline pumping. You are thinking, "What a great day to be out for a run!". At that very moment you step off the curb and are nearly hit by a car. On Saturday, in Norwalk, we were reminded of this all too common occurrence. A runner was struck and killed on a busy stretch of highway.  We have had 3 pedestrian death in 2012 alone.

On my Facebook Page I have addressed self-defense safety a few times but never "Rules of the Road".  Before you go out on your next run please remember these few simple rules to keep you safe.

• If there is a sidewalk, use it. I can hear you now, "But the concrete is harder than the pavement.....". So what! This is your safety we are talking about.
• Run against traffic.
• Make eye contact with the drivers. Some people even make a big waving motion to draw attention to themselves.  It may seem like an awkward thing to do but we have all been in the situation when driving where we didn't notice a pedestrian until on top of them.
• If you run at night or early morning,  as I do, invest in a light and reflective gear. There are many options to chose from so you can find what works for you. I purchased a shirt from Saucony that was made with reflective fabric and detachable LED lights. No added weight and nothing to hold on to.
• Do not wear headphones. Headphones don't allow you to hear what is going on around you.  If you insist on wearing them, keep the volume low and use only one in the ear that is away from traffic.

Now that you are armed with some valuable rules, go out, be alert, be safe and enjoy the run!