This week I am writing about something that I never used to really think about - runner safety. Even though I've started to do an occasional run with a local running group, the majority of my runs are done alone. I used to tell an old co-worker - "well, if I don't show up tomorrow, maybe turn on the news and see if they found an unidentified female runner in South Minneapolis."
I know it's not funny to joke about something like that, but I live alone and there isn't anyone that I talk to every day. So I sometimes feel that, if I were to go missing, I could be missing for days before all the various people the corners of my lives connected and realized I was missing. That's just the reality of being a single person who lives alone.
After joking about it long enough, I finally decided to be a bit more responsible so I bought a Road ID that I now wear on my running shoes are at all times. It has my first name and my emergency contacts (my brother that lives in the Minneapolis area and my mom).
Pretty much every race bib has a tear off coupon for $1 off a road id. I believe mine cost around $19 - and it's worth the $19 spent to know that, if something were to happen to me, whoever finds me would know who to call.
Now that I am training for this marathon and exchanging daily Blackberry Messages with my training partner, Amber, I've taken it a step further. Last week, Amber and I exchanged emergency contacts and common running routes. If Amber or I don't hear back from each other in a reasonable amount of time, we'll know who to contact if something doesn't feel right. I realized it's kind of ironic that the one person who knows where I am when I am running lives 1,300 miles away, but it doesn't feel like she lives that far away since we communicate so frequently.
Hopefully these precautions I am taking never come into use, but they make me feel a bit safer and more comfortable.
I think it's important for anyone who runs, bikes, or walks alone to think about their safety!!
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Training Tally:
Miles ran last week: 26
Training-to-date mileage: 146
I love the runner ID, that's such a good idea - and that you and Amber are watching each other's back's from across north america gives me serious warm fuzzies :)
ReplyDeleteI've tried to become a bit smarter about safety too. Started carrying my cell phone with me which I never used to do but realize I probably should, just in case!
ReplyDeleteI always carry my cell phone with me when I run. I should probably invest in a road ID. With a roommate I keep her up to date on my running schedule.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing so awesome on your training!!!
That is such a good idea that you communicate with Amber on running days! And that runner ID is really cool! The more precautions, the better -I often think about you on weekends and wonder when you're doing your long run!
ReplyDeleteEven though I don't live alone, I sitll have that worry. The other day I was running and it was like 90+ degrees, and I thought "If I were to collapse out by these pecan fields, no one would find me until tonight and I'd probably die from the 107 degree-day by then."
Kind of an ikcy feeling! Ha!
Such a great idea and I love that you and Amber connect with each other like that. I'm also pretty sure I should get my grandfather one of those id tags. He goes off for the majority of the day walking (sometimes through the woods) and refuses to carry a cell phone. It would be my luck though that he would refuse to wear it. He's incredibly stubborn.
ReplyDeleteThat is very smart. I've had similar worries since I live so far away from both my family and my boyfriend. I may have to look into getting something like that!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on accomplishing 1/3 of your training!! That must feel good.
I just bbmed you to check in ;)
ReplyDeleteI definitely think being safe is SO IMPORTANT for runners. I know I'm a little passe about it a lot of the time. For example, I REALLY need to get a road ID, and I'll often run without my cell phone. We always think, "oh it won't happen to us" but you just NEVER KNOW! So being safe and telling someone where you're running is extremely important!
I think I might need one, even though I run in populated ares. I might fall out in the heat...end up in some random hospital ... no one could identify me. I also want to specify my hospital of choice on mine because there are several in the area that I don't trust!
ReplyDeleteThe road id is definitely a great idea especially since you live alone and no one is expecting you home at such and such time. Better to be safe than sorry!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and it makes me feel so much better! I have always worried about you and your sister running by yourselves! BRAVO!
ReplyDeleteYou are smart in so many ways!
ReplyDeleteI still need to get the runners ID. Since I live with my parents, they know all my routes and know how long it usually takes me. In college i used to leave notes. Plus I run with my cell phone so that helps but i always have to be careful because I can never depend on the driver seeing me.
ReplyDeleteYour marathon updates always motivate me to get myself to the gym! Keep on keeping on, and I'll see you in less than two weeks!
ReplyDeleteSmart thinking, Lisa! I've been wanting to buy myself and the manfriend one more for cycling than running, but I'd wear it for both. If one of us crashed on our bikes I just can't imagine how long we'd be waiting or worrying about the other and we both ride on our own fairly often. I've been saving a few coupons and I just got an email from active.com a week or so ago for 10% off road id. USE the code: pcTanline6 (expires July 27)
ReplyDeleteI nearly fell off my seat: 146 miles? WAY TO GO.
ReplyDeleteI always text/BBM someone when I go for a run and when I get back, just in case (usually a gal friend or my parents) because like you I run alone too. Glad you're taking safety precautions :)
This is such a good idea! I think I need to get one for my mom & I, since we go for runs around 6am and it's pretty dark. We also run around a lot of roads. In the mornings, I leave for work around the time she leaves for her run, so I usually don't know if she got back OK unless I text her. And sometimes, work gets too crazy to even do that.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely going to look into these.
I just got an email from my cousin about the runner ID! And I think that's really smart about exchanging numbers! Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteMy friends who still run here have the runner Id, they are such a clever thing, and entirely worth the money!
ReplyDeleteLisa, this may seem a really silly thing, but generally, other than on the weekend, if you hadn't blogged in a 2-3 days, I'd wonder if you were ok. You could always give a few of your regulars your route written down, and if we couldn't get in contact, we could do something?
My mom used to get on me about this all the time. I was terrible about running with identification. I always joked they could find my name on my iPod. Sigh. Thankfully, nothing ever happened. Needless to say, you're a smarter girl than I.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was living alone I used to always wonder stuff like that, actually even though I live with my boyfriend I still wonder how long it would take for other people to notice if I disappeared. I guess its kind of morbid, but if it keeps you safe and prepared the worry must be kind of worth it.
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