Meep Meep! Getting The Most Out Of Road Running
It's a fantastic journey when you start running, you get the lay of the land, and find out the best gradients to challenge you, but, while a lot of people begin with hitting the sidewalk, or running early in the morning in time, some find that running on the road provides that balance of challenge with the long-distance requirements that you can't get when you are running up a hill or a mountain. Getting the most out of running on the road isn’t too difficult, but there are some things you can do to make it work better for you, but also give you the challenge you need.
Tell Someone Where You're Going
Very simply, tell someone where you are going and how long you are going to be out for. That way, if you've been out for longer than necessary, a search party can be sent out for you.
Have The Essentials On You
It can be easy to forget, especially if you want some time to yourself, but it's always worth taking your phone, as well as proper identification. If you end up in an accident, at least you can be identified, and the appropriate people can be notified.
Keep Yourself Visible
They say it's best for you to pretend when you're running on the road, that you are invisible. When you're running on the road, you can't make the assumptions that drivers can see you, because they will be speeding around blind corners. You also need to think about the driver’s vision in other ways, such as if glare from the sun could impact their vision. This is especially important to consider if you are running up hills and steep surfaces. And keeping yourself visible in the right ways is essentials, such as wearing brightly colored clothing. Always remember to wear reflective materials, and have a handheld light, especially when you are out in the dark, so you can see where you're going, and the other drivers can see you too. If, in the worst case scenario, that an accident happens, and there are legal proceedings with an injury lawyer, that you need to show that you've done everything in your power to protect yourself.
Stay Focused
It's very easy for you to switch off from the world, and focus right ahead of you, but this is a recipe for disaster when you're out on the road. There are different schools of thought when it comes to which direction you should run, with or against traffic. But it's easier for you to face traffic because you could react quicker, and the drivers will be able to see you. On top of this, earbuds are not recommended, because music in any form, loud or soft, can very easily divert your attention from what is in front of you. You need to react quickly, especially when you are running around blind corners, and at the end of the day, you won’t fare as well as the car does if you get caught in an accident!
