Runner's Notes: Safety reminders

By all accounts, the six members of the Oklahoma High School track team who were tragically hit by a truck last week did all the right things. They were running in a group, against traffic, on the sidewalk. And, yet, an (allegedly) drunk driver still careened up on the sidewalk and hit them, apparently killing two of the students and leaving four more in critical condition.

While it may be true that some tragedies cannot be foreseen or prevented, others maybe if you follow a few running safety rules:

Be seen. This may be the most important thing you can do to protect yourself. Wear bright clothes and know that a few reflective strips or piping on your jacket / running clothes always go to cut it when running in low-light (dusk/dawn / rain/fog) or in the dark. Invest in a reflective vest or, better yet, an entire reflective jacket with reflective fabric and/or a blinky light and/or anything else that will help drivers notice you. You often overdo it, especially when drivers today are often distracted by cell phones and such. Along those lines...

Run defensively. "Zone out" when you run. You need to pay attention, keep an eye on traffic, look both ways before crossing, and always assume that drivers A.) see you, B.) are going to stop for you / obey pedestrian laws.

If stopped at an intersection with a stopped car, never cross without making eye contact with the driver. A driver settles for a wave from the passenger or a glance from the driver. Wait for full eye contact so you are sure they see you and talk about who is going to go first.

Drones out environmental noise. When I run solo, love to listen to music, but learned to keep it low and, lately, started just putting it on the speaker on my phone (provided you also going to disturb others). A few other options: Switch to podcasts, which let you hear more of what's going on around you, or use just one earbud.

Run in a group / with a partner. This is always practical and I know that some people prefer to run alone. But there is safety in numbers. Even a dog will provide an extra layer of protection.

Carry ID. If something should happen to you (accidental or medical emergency), those who help you will need to know who you are. Make it a habit to carry ID (tuck it in your phone, etc.) and when you enter a race, ALWAYS put your personal information (name address, who to contact in case of emergency, etc.) on the back of your bib.

Trust your instincts. If someone is making you feel weird or you get a bad vibe about a certain part of your route at any moment, heed that warning and adjust accordingly. I believe wholeheartedly in gut instinct helping to avoid tragedy.

Run against traffic. Always run facing traffic, with one important exception - when you are on a blind curve or hill where motorists might come upon you suddenly and be surprised to find you there. You know where these places are, use your common sense to keep yourself out of trouble. There are times considered OK to cross, just be sure to cross back when the road flattens or straightens back out.

Avoid rush hour. I know as runners we feel our God-given right to run anywhere we want at any time, but not wise to minimize the danger by avoiding heavily trafficked areas at certain times of the day. Case in point: I love to run in Knowledge Park, a business park, near Penn State Behrend. I do, however, try to avoid running there during rush hours in the morning and after work. Can I run there? Sure. Is it my right to run there? Sure. Do I technically have the right of way? Yep. Is it worth angering / surprisingly a whole lot of motorists to check my point? Nope. And, again, along those lines...

Fight with a car. Resist the urge to yell, gesture, or otherwise fight with a person driving a 2,000-pound lethal weapon. I have been there. Believe me. Done it. And, regretted it every single time. It just isn't worth it.