Run Safely

The other day I was talking with a friend, an experienced endurance athlete.  She was relating that on a recent solo run she suddenly realized that she was without her phone or ID, and how vulnerable she felt.  I told her I was going to blog about her.

Running safety is a big deal to me.  I worked as a paramedic for nearly a decade of my life, and I lost the luxury of believing that tragedies are rare.  In addition to that long held point of view, my sweet dog and I were attacked by a bull mastiff while running this past summer, and any illusions that running safety isn’t crucial went down the drain.  So I invite you to spend a few moments with me, considering what measures can be used to make your run safer.

• First, if you don’t already run with a phone, you should.  When my dog had a neck injury after she was attacked, I was concerned about her walking all the way home, and concerned about my ability to carry her that far.  Thankfully, I had my phone with me, and my husband was able to come retrieve us.  This could go for leg or foot injuries as well.
• Second, a Road ID, or other ID band is a great idea.  You can list emergency contact info, as well as emergency medical information on the plate, which can be replaced as needed if the information changes.
• Third, (not to give too many props to Road ID, but they just are truly committed to athlete safety) the Road ID app.  This app gives up to 5 people the ability to track your run, and get an alert if you stop for more than 5 minutes.  As a testimony to it’s effectiveness, while I was on my solo long run last week my phone battery died in my last 2 miles.  My husband had been tracking me, and when my battery died and he lost signal, he went to the place he had last tracked me.  He was able to find me, right as rain and almost home.  I’m thankful we haven’t had to test it during a real crisis, and thankful to know it works.  If this isn’t of interest to you, it’s wise to at least let a contact person know where you are running and how far/long.
• Fourth, any activity during which there is reduced visibility, it’s an excellent idea to wear headlamps, flashers and reflective clothing.  Most brands of clothing have reflective options, the higher end brands have reflective threads that don’t show in daylight, but light up when light is shone on them at night, making them an attractive option for activities in addition to running.
• Fifth, this certainly isn’t for everyone, but after the dog attack, I sometimes carry a pepper spray cannister on runs.  While I hope to never have use for it again, it’s nice to have it in case.  Just be sure to know and follow your state regulations.
• Last, you’ve likely noticed I’ve mentioned running solo.  Running with a friend is a great safety technique.

I’m sure there’s more, after all I’m still fairly new to this, so feel free to add your suggestions to the comments!

My Best Running Buddy

I am growing to truly love my Road Warrior Coaches and team.  Joann takes the lead with a fun and gentle hand, and although she’s far too young to be my mother, in many ways she functions as team mom.  Amy is all encouragement and hugs, it’s hard to have a bad run with Amy by your side.  Linnae is inspiration, so fast and accomplished.  Debbie is sweet and gentle, but with a sense of humor that can catch you off guard.  Jack is kind, gentle, and a good listener.  Chris is a teacher and also full of encouragement.  Patrick is quiet, except when he’s cheering you on, which he does a lot.  Adam is all out there and the proverbial life of the party.  Sally always has a great smile, and is strong and well rounded.  Natalie is great for conversation and so open.  Ashley is a great combination of fun and fight, she’s battled off 140 lbs.  You can find all of their blogs here, and I encourage you to read them, they’re all great!

As spectacular as the team is, they still don’t quite trump my best running buddy.

My first love is trail running, and my first running partner is my dog.  My dog is a German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP).  The GSP breed is primarily a hunting dog, but with a personality and demeanor that makes the breed an ideal family dog.  We got Abbi from Shotgun Kennels in 2011.  Because of the special needs of our children, the Kennel Owners recommended a female pup, and when it came time to bring her home, they recommended a pup they called Leah, because of her excellent temperament.  Leah came home with us, and we named her Abbi.

GSP’s are high energy dogs, and are happiest when they have a productive outlet for their energy…a lot like me!

We started training Abbi as a pup, for just 5 minutes 2-3x a day.  This little bit of training means that she is very responsive and able to run in the “heel” position.  I simply throw a leash onto a waistband and off we go.  It really isn’t hard to run with her off leash (in many ways it’s easier and preferable), but for safety’s sake we keep her attached to me.

Abbi and I have logged literally thousands of miles together.  She is the ideal running partner.  Although she’s faster than I am, and far more graceful, and her 3 year old body is far more spectacular than my 41 year old counterpart, she always accommodates me.  It’s her top priority, to make me happy, and I feel the same toward her.

Who Needs a Comfort Zone Anyway?

Like almost anyone, I have my comfort zone.  I have my habits and quirks, and of course, I like to stay where I’m already settled.

When I signed up to be considered for a Road Warrior position, I knew I would be stepping out of many comfort zones.  I am a rather solitary, introverted person, who generally prefers only one running buddy, and she has 4 legs (you will hear quite a bit about her, she’s delightful and her name is Abbi).

Alas, doing group training at the gym and public training runs is out of my comfort zone.

I went to our first outdoor training run Saturday with mixed feelings.  I’m going to be doing a heck of a lot of this, what if I hate it?  What if I’m the last place runner?  What if I put myself out there and…….(insert ridiculous scenario).  Yet, there was also a some excitement in the mix of emotions, trying to stay afloat amidst the waves of irrational worry.

I walked in and ran right into someone I knew (phew).  I made small talk with several people, saw our coaches, and sat down to listen to Greg Meyer share his running wisdom.  Thankfully, Greg brought out some laughs, which eased the tension for me just a bit more.

Next thing I knew it we were headed outside to start the run.  Not too far in, I connected with a friend.  We strode along together for awhile before breaking off.  I did run solo for a couple of miles, then saw another friend who had planned on the 2 mile distance approaching the 5 mile turnaround point.  I was halfway up the hill but ran across the street to join her, and the other friend.  We ran the last 2.5+ miles together, as a group.

And you know what?  It was pretty nice.  I liked it.  A lot.