Five Things to Have With You For Running at Night

As a runner, I will sometimes go running in the dark. For this reason, there are a few things I always have on me for safety purposes. Here is a list of the gear I like to use to stay safe in the early morning or at night.

1. Reflective Running Vest

A reflective running vest makes it easy for people to see you. This is especially important if you live in the city near busy roads. The bright green with the reflectors added makes you stick out like a sore thumb so you won’t get hit by a car

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2. Headlamp

I would recommend wearing a headlamp not just so you can see in front of yourself but so others can also see you. Many of them have a blinking feature which sounds like it would be annoying to the runner but it also drivers are also more likely to see you.

3. A Bright-Colored Shirt

Sometimes I misplace my running vest and have to wear something else that will stick out. If you don’t have a reflective vest wear something with a vibrant color. I would recommend a bright green or orange shirt.

4. Pepper Spray or Gel

This isn’t just something I have with me while running in the dark. I carry pepper gel with me whenever I run for general safety purposes. A lot of people own dogs in my neighborhood that aren’t very well-trained and sometimes get out. I have been bitten in the past. So I like to have it with me in case something like that happens again.

5. Your Phone

It’s always wise to carry your phone with you while running regardless of the time of day. If something is to happen to you, such as an injury, you get disoriented, or you see something that should be reported, you will want to have a phone with you to call for help.

Conclusion

Of course, you don’t need to have all of these on you at once but you should do your best to stay as safe as possible. There are bad drivers out there. Even good drivers may hit you if they can’t see you. We don’t want that to happen. Even if an accident that isn’t car-related were to happen you still want to keep yourself visible and it’s always important to call for help where help is needed. It’s better to have these things and not need them than need them and not have them. Stay safe and happy running!