November is National Running Safety Month

Almost overnight the temperatures have dropped and the leaves started changing color from their summer green to their fall reds, oranges, and yellows.  As summer fades and fall begins, tank tops and shorts are packed away and the long sleeve shirts, pants, gloves, and hats come out.  If you are like me, you don’t adjust the time that you run just because it is now dark at that time. You have races scheduled, and you still need to fit in the mileage every week.  Instead, you purchase reflective gear and lights to make you more visible during your runs.  Some of the gear I own, I purchased when I first started running before dawn when I lived in Washington, DC.  The streets were always well-lit and most drivers were used to runners and pedestrians.  

Where I live now in St. Louis County, the streets aren’t as brightly lit and seeing runners out before dawn or after dusk isn’t as frequent of an occurrence, so I needed different gear to adjust to my new surroundings.  November is National Running Safety Month and as our days grow shorter, I wanted to share my nighttime running gear recommendations with you.

My first purchase back in 2009 was this Nathan reflective vest, which once contained an LED light strip in the front pocket.  It was worth the money since I still use it today.

I picked up these flashing LED light clips for FREE at race expos.

At some point I purchased these Nathan LED light clips.  They have multiple flashing speeds to choose from. Like the clips above, you can clip these to your shirt, pants, or shoes.

These reflective slap bracelets can go on your wrists or ankles.

My new Amphipod fuel belt and my new Fitletic arm band both have reflective strips near the zipper.

Through the years, I have purchased several headlamps but just couldn't find one that I liked to run with.  Through a fellow runner, I found an amazing product to light my running path and they are called the Night Runner 270 LED shoe lights.  They are basically headlights for your shoes, have multiple settings, are rechargeable, and I LOVE them!

I accumulated all of my nighttime running gear over the course of many years but these days, runners can purchase an entire running safety kit with a few clicks.  This running safety kit includes many of the items I listed above, but for far less than what I paid!

In addition to gear I wear or add, I also ALWAYS carry my driver's license and medical insurance card.  I know many other runners who love Road ID.  I carry my phone in my arm band and only use it for music when running with a group.  I also always let my husband know where I am running, especially when I change my mind at the last minute.

The websites below also have great information and tips about winter and night running safety:

http://www.laceuplocal.com/nrsm.html

http://www.laceuplocal.com/nrsm-running-night.html

http://talk.brooksrunning.com/blog/2012/10/02/get-ready-november-is-national-running-safety-month/

http://pptc.org/safety/

Speaking of nighttime running, the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas races are November 11 - 12! Distances include a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K with all races starting  in the late afternoon or early evening.  This race has been on my bucket list ever since I ran the Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half Marathon, which used to be run at night.  Now night races, especially races this scenic, are difficult to come by.  They actually shut down the strip for runners.  I can only imagine how amazing of an experience that must be and one day, we are going to pack our bags and I am going to run that half marathon!  The runner perks are pretty spectacular and make me want to sign up even more, but you can also check out this website for information on great package deals and this website for information about shows and other things to do once you get there. 

I have a few runner friends who have either run the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll races or are running it this year and I am truly jealous!  You won't need the nighttime running gear I listed above to run the races in Las Vegas, but you should consider investing in reflective gear or LED lights if you plan to run pre-dawn or after dusk this fall and winter.  Your safety is so important if you want to keep running for years to come!  Be safe, and good luck to everyone running the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll races next month.  #VegasStrong