5. A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place
Keys, phone, music and water: all good things to have on a run—but having to carry these things in your hands is a different story. In fact, running with relaxed arms and hands is a common tip you'll hear from running coaches, and you can't do that if you're holding a bunch of items. So what to do with loose accessories? Attach them to your body.
There are a number of products available to carry the must-haves on your run, including fuel belts, gear belts, armbands and backpacks. Another option is finding clothing with pockets of various sizes to fit your keys, phone and more.
6. City Shades
Tall buildings can lead to shadowy sidewalks and darkened streets. This likely means that your daily sunglasses will make your field of vision too dark for a safe run in the city. Potholes and curbs can spell imminent danger for ankles and knees, not to mention your pride.
A good option for an urban runner is shades that come with replaceable lenses. That way, you can use lenses intended for low-light conditions while running in the city, then swap out the lenses for brighter environments as needed.
More: Running Sunglasses for Every Condition
7. Let's Get Reflective
When you're in the city, there's no doubt you'll be running among people, bikes and the biggest danger to runners, cars. In the pre-dawn or nighttime hours, your silhouette can often be lost in the shadows of buildings, bridges and street signs. Wearing clothing with reflective properties lights you up to passing cars from distances as far away as 500 feet. No longer is running off into the night a bad thing.
Side note: Just because you're wearing reflective clothing doesn't make you invincible from cars. Proceed with caution!
8. I Saw the Light
For those hitting the road before the sun rises or post-sunset, wearing a flashing light (or two or three) will greatly up your chances of being seen. When worn with reflective clothing, flashing lights will make you more visible than Donald Trump during a presidential campaign.
A headlamp will also increase your ability to see and be seen. Make sure to try it on before you buy it, and take a running lap around the store to make sure that it doesn't slip down your head. Just brush off any weird looks.
9. Join the Crowd
So you say you love running in the city? Why not join a dozen of your closest strangers on a City Running Tour? With events available in 16 cities across the U.S., this group organizes guided runs through popular cities, including Austin, Chicago, New York City and Washington D.C., to name a few. Whether you're visiting for a few days or new to the area, City Running Tours are a great way to see the city sights while on the run.
More: How to Train with a Running Group
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