Wear Hi-Viz Clothing
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Photo/George Dement, Flickr
Avoid wearing dark colors—black, brown, purple, blue, green. Instead, opt for colors such as white, yellow or orange, which are naturally more reflective than deeper shades on the color spectrum. Wear apparel that has reflective piping at the wrists and ankles as they move the most while you're running.
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Your Next TriathlonBe Situationally Aware
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Photo/Goran Svensson
No matter the time of day or the amount of light, leave the headphones at home when you're running—but especially at night.
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Your Next TriathlonReflective Tape
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Photo/Gill King, Flickr
Add reflective tape to the heels of your running shoes. If you carry a hydration bottle when you run, you can put reflective tape on the holster and the bottle itself to increase visibility as well.
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Your Next TriathlonHandheld Lights
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Photo/Edward Stojakovic, Flickr
Carry handheld or wrist lights to help see and be seen. As you swing your arms, the movement will likely draw attention of others and help increase your visibility.
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Your Next TriathlonHeads up With a Headlamp
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Photo/Rich Kennington, Flickr
Using a running headlamp will not only help you light your way but also help you be seen. Plus, the hands-free light allows you to easily carry a hand-held light for additional illumination or a hydration bottle.
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Your Next TriathlonGo With a Group
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Even if your running group is you and a friend out for a run, there is safety in numbers.
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Your Next TriathlonRun Against Traffic
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Photo/Night Coffee Book
This is unquestionable unless you're running on a dedicated, multi-use path. Running against traffic allows you to react to oncoming traffic.
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Your Next TriathlonChose a Well-Lit Route
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Photo/Heather Redman, Flickr
Always choose a well-lit route when running in the dark. Save the unlit trails for daylight runs.
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Your Next TriathlonRun a Familiar Route...
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Photo/Heather Redman, Flickr
If you want to explore different running routes, it's best do so during the day.
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Your Next Triathlon...But Alter Your Routes
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Don't repeat the same running route on the same days at the same time. Be unpredictable to anyone you don't know.
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Your Next TriathlonBe Social—But Just a Little
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Photo/Greg Kaplan
If you use a social app—like Strava or Garmin Connect—make sure the privacy settings are tuned so you can't be tracked by anyone unfamiliar to you.
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Your Next TriathlonBe Social--But Just a Little
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If you use a social app--like Strava or Garmin Connect--make sure the privacy settings are tuned so you can't be tracked by anyone unfamiliar to you.
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Your Next TriathlonGive Notice to Friends or Family
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Photo/Geoffrey Gibbs, Flickr
Even when you're running with a group, it's always a good idea to let someone else know that you're out for a running session. This holds true for running at any time of day.
Pro Tip: Many social apps—like Garmin Connect, or Strava—have features that allow your linked and permitted followers to track your location.
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Your Next Triathlon
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