Rules of the Road
By James Storlie
This is what every runner "lives" for. The thrill and excitement of crossing the finish line. It means that you were able to safely and effectively complete what you started, and many times you are rewarded with a medal or ribbon or certificate for your accomplishment! I have been running for 5 years now and have safely and successfully completed every race that I have started. That requires training; regularly scheduled runs that are designed to prepare you for race day or some other goal, such as a mileage or time goal, body fat or weight goal, or overall fitness goal. There are so many reasons to run, walk, bike, swim, yoga, etc., to achieve or maintain a healthy and fit life. With that being said, there are "Rules of the Road" that everyone needs to follow in order for this to happen on a daily basis. This blog and page are dedicated to the safety of all the people involved in this process including runners, bikers, other athletes, walkers, etc., and the drivers that we must sometimes share the road with. Everyone wants to go out and enjoy their day, so let's focus on safety and it will be a great day for all!
For Runners and Bikers who used roadways to get their exercise:
1. Always be aware of your surroundings. I love to wear headphones and listen to music when I run, but it has to be low enough to hear what is going on around you. You also need to look ahead, behind, and to both sides regularly to see approaching runners, bikers, and vehicles. If you're running with a buddy or group, which is preferred for safety, you still need to be aware. Don't get so caught up in your conversations that you lose track of traffic, etc.
2. Be careful running or biking after dark. Wear bright or reflective clothing. If there are no street lights, you must ensure that you are visible and that you can see. I have a new fluorescent arm band that I wear in the dark. It glows bright green as I run. Consider wearing a headlamp or have a bike light installed on your bike. Also, watch for animals. There are a lot of animals that come out after dark. Be prepared to avoid an incident with a snake, bobcat, or other animal. Keep some distance, if possible, from wooded areas where they may jump out from. Animals are out during the day also, so give people some room that are walking their dogs, etc. I have been tackled a couple of times by dogs on leashes that were way too long to do any good at restraining the animal.
3. When cars have the right of way, make sure that you give it to them. Even if you're sure that it is safe to go, it's not worth the risk. You may very well be a "fast" runner, but the car or truck is still much faster, and there are too many distracted and impaired drivers to take chances. When I approach a light and the cross traffic has the right of way, I run in place until it is my time or it is clear to cross. I think it is better for your legs to keep moving while you wait, but you do what works for you. You may be ready for a short break. That's fine too!
4. If you are a single female runner ( I mean running alone ), you really need to be extra aware of your surroundings and your habits. I would suggest that you don't always run at a given time, or place. Mix it up. It's more fun that way anyway. If you have a dog, they would probably like to run also. I see a lot of ladies running with their dogs.
5. I have observed a lot of bicyclists that blow right through lights and don't even try to figure out who has the right of way. I would really discourage this. If you don't like stopping for lights, then try to find a place to bike where there is a bike trail or other passage that doesn't require a lot of stops at intersections.
6. Remember whenever you are around a truck that he sits up high and he's wide and has to rely on mirrors a lot. He also is subject to the wind more than smaller vehicles. Please give him some room and try to avoid his blind spots. I almost got run over by a truck backing out into the street in a 5K race. He made his delivery and didn't want to wait for the race traffic to clear and he didn't see me at all. I got mad and ran harder, but it wasn't necessarily his fault. They probably should have done a better job closing down the traffic for us.
7. I recommend wearing a Road ID or other such ID bracelet that can give medical workers and others your important information if something were to happen. Some runners dehydrate and fall during races, etc., and the faster the emergency medical people have your pertinent information the better! They will also know who to call for more information, if necessary.
8. There are so many important things to remember when you run, bike, swim, etc. that this blog would go on forever and just to remember everything that I could tell you would probably distract you from running, etc. This is not the purpose of this blog. I try to go over these types of things and possible scenarios in my head when I am dressing for the run and lacing up the shoes, strapping on the IPod and the Garmin, etc. They are always in the back of my head as I run, but I still run with a purpose.
Be Badass, But be Safe!
Please check out our Badazz Runners page on Facebook. We are a non-profit running organization that sponsors and coordinates virtual runs to benefit needy causes and families, such as Meg Menzies who was run over by a suspected intoxicated driver. If you click on the about link on the Badazz page it will take you to our events and catalog of items you can purchase to support our cause. You may have to click on "see more" to see all the entries. There is a Clear Your Mind event scheduled just to raise Driver Awareness! Also, check out the tribute page for Meg Menzies with a video of her husband Scott about the Boston Marathon. Check out our page and feel free to join us!
Important tips:
1. Remember that you are you and not Steve Prefontaine (a personal favorite), or some other "great" runner or cyclist. Set realistic and obtainable goals to avoid overtraining injuries.
2. Also, remember that food is fuel and if you want your body to perform it's best, you need to fuel it properly, just like you would any other high performance machine!
3. Hydration is a must! Even in colder climates, you lose water as you run or exercise. Carry water or other hydration if needed for longer outings. Don't RUN yourself into trouble out somewhere off the beaten path with no available water, etc.
4. Read! There are a lot of really good publications, books, and other online resources that will give you some great info on running well, running fast, running for weight loss, training plans, avoiding injuries, etc. I won't recommend any here, but I have read several, and I'm a better, smarter runner for it! I use online resources a lot. It is my goal to make Badazz Runners one such great resource for you! Check in often.
5. Be a friend. Support friends, family and coworkers to establish good habits (safety, hydration, diet, etc.). You can be someone's next best resource! You can be a running buddy. You can start a local training group. Look for opportunities to share what you know.
For the Drivers of the Cars and Trucks that we share the road with:
1. Please do not run stop signs. As runners we are probably going to assume that you are going to abide by the rules of the road also. I've had drivers look right at me in a cross walk and still almost run me over because they just didn't care. They didn't feel like stopping. I've seen too many injured and deceased runners and bikers to believe that it is ALWAYS the runner's fault for not paying attention.
2. Please do not drive impaired. As runners, we can do all that we can to be visible, but if your driving skills are impaired you still may not see us in time to avoid hurting or possibly killing us. That's a memory that you as a driver will have a difficult time living with. Make your decision to drive carefully and consciously. If you're impaired, please don't drive. Call a cab, call a friend, or just sleep it off. Everyone will be better if you do.
3. Please be aware of runners and bikers that may be on or near the roadways. Don't get distracted by eating while you drive or adjusting the stereo, or talking on the phone or texting. It only takes a matter of seconds for any kind of accident to occur do to distracted driving. Whatever you need to do, it can wait. If it takes more than 2-3 seconds away from your focus, you should pull over to do it. http://www.bikeforums.net/northern-california/554635-going-through-hecker-pass-road-need-advice.html Please check out post #6 in this blog. We lived near Gilroy, CA when this accident happened. A whole family went out bicycling along a popular scenic highway and a driver drifted into the bike lane killing the entire family. Our whole community was shocked and saddened by this loss. Please drive responsibly.
4. Never drive after dusk without your lights on. You may think you can see without them, but people need to see you and you probably can't see as well as you think.
5. Treat runners and bikers like any other vehicle, if you are approaching them after dark, dim your high beams. It is very difficult to see as a runner when a driver has their bright lights in your face. We may get injured because we couldn't see an obstacle or turn.
CIM (California International Marathon) 2012: The poorest conditions that I've ever run in. Torrential rain, wind, litter from jackets and ponchos all over the ground. Branches in the roadway, some flooding at intersections. This was definitely a day to remember. Ah, the things we do for the sport we love. This is why we must always have a clear mind for safety!
Here are a few links to other Runner safety pages, you'll see a lot of the same info here, but more is better, right? Please be safe out there.
Runner's World
Note: Some photos, links, etc., on this blog page are borrowed from other web pages. The purpose of this page is to raise awareness and not to steal or misuse anyone's else's information or copyright. Please feel free to comment or make suggestions to make this page better or more informative.
