Just Be Careful Out There

[dragitoff]

It's time for that thread that pops up every few months by someone warning everyone to be careful out there while running on high traffic roads. We live in rural South Georgia on a relatively busy 2 lane road. It's a HWY and 55 MPH speed limit so we have to be careful when doing our shorter weekday runs. We both do our longer runs elsewhere, but our short runs are at home. We run each morning at 5am so it's always dark when we run. We take all the necessary precautions.

We run facing traffic so we see their headlights long before they'll see ours. Speaking of headlights, we both wear headlamps (front) and flashing red strobes (back) along with reflective vests and reflective running clothes.

Since we run the same time each day most of the traffic knows us and slows down when hitting our "normal running route" to be extra cautious; however you encounter an idiot every now and then. There is one particularly dangerous area that is a very sharp blind curve. There is a hill just before it so you often don't have as much warning from oncoming headlights as well.

Just as we approached that curve this morning a dog came out of nowhere and startled us. It's not the aggressive dog we've seen there in the past, but haven't in some time, rather it was a friendly dog we hadn't seen since the summer. Despite him being our friendly dog, it still startled us so we had taken our focus off the road for a few moments and were focused on the dog.

I could see a car coming up on us maybe 1/2 a mile away so I told my wife we needed to get over. Our routine when a car approaches is for me to fall in behind her to direct her when it was clear to get back over. Since I'm a faster runner, it's also easier for me to catch up to her than the other way around, but either way, we always go single file when a car comes up from either direction.

This time was no different and as we got over, I could see another car was attempting to pass the car we moved over for on a blind curve with double lines. I instinctively ran off the road on the side of the road, but realized my wife hadn't done the same. I yelled for her to get off the road and she did just in time as the passing truck narrowly missed her.

Being the animal lover my wife is she had looked back to make sure the friendly dog had gotten out of the road before the oncoming traffic got to us and she failed to see the truck that was illegally passing on a curve (double lines started 1/4 mile before the curve!) and nearly paid with her life.

The moral of this long story is please be careful out there. Most motorists, especially early in the morning and late at night, are not looking for runners. We may wear all the lights and reflective gear, but it will never guarantee us safety on the roads.

My prayer is for a safe and Merry Christmas for you all this season.

 

[jmasgat]

Glad you are both okay. That is scary and just goes to show that even if you run against the traffic, no music, appropriate clothing that you can't always count on what the other people will do.

 

[magicLAL12]

Glad to hear that you are both okay (and the dog as well!). I'm sure your hearts were especially pumping after that run.

We don't live or run on a highway, but rather in a small, college-town with narrow roads that are made even more precarious in the New England winter weather. We've found that this time of year, it is especially important to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings while running. Between speeding college kids rushing to finals, drivers preoccupied with the holidays, and ice/snow obstacles.. the roads are dangerous! Add to that a shortened number of daylight hours, and it makes for some really challenging running conditions. In other words, I think you picked the perfect time of year to post this thread, as we could all use a little reminder to stay "awake" during both short and longer runs alike.

 

[cindy0519]

Sounds terribly frightening. Glad all is well! Thanks for the reminder to be alert at all times.

 

[goofeygirl]

I don't go outside for those reasons...too dangerous and I would be nervous.

Short days and living in a place with no street lights...its dark so no way would I be out in darkness. The sun doesn't bother to get up until after 7am which is too late for me to go out and do anything and then the sun goes to bed at around 4pm and I am still working.

So its the treadmill for me...boring...this Sunday I want to go OUTSIDE though...hopefully no ice...cause that's another thing I am not going to do...go out on ice.

 

[John VN]

Glad to read that things are OK.

When out on the roads we are also facing traffic; however, I always take the lead with an approaching vehicle and put distance between DW and myself. This way the driver moves over first for me thereby assuring more room for DW. This might sound ridiculous, but I always take the approaching traffic side when crossing a road. This maneuver again places me between the vehicle and DW, although it does require some fancy footwork at the center of the street.

Something also very important is the acknowledgement of appreciation when an approaching vehicle slows and moves over resulting in greater clearance. A nod of my head and a high five or thumbs up with the mouthing of THANK YOU can only help others out on the road.

McFlurry John

 

[appleorchard]

Very timely post. We're just driving back from our son's in Virginia. They live in the boonies on a very fast road with little shoulder and I really debated about running there, but I'm trying to burn at least a few Christmas cookies off every day. There's nowhere to run for MILES but the road. I ran against traffic and moved off the shoulder and onto the grass whenever a car--or, more likely, a truck-- came barreling past. It slowed me down--but I'm slow anyway, what the heck -- and most of THEM waved or gave me a thumb's up for moving over lol.

Glad you were all okay. That's very scary.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I run 30-50 miles per week on a very busy road with wide shoulders. The remainder of my miles are logged on a great trail in our area (trail not available now due to snow).

At any rate, I couldn't count the number of times that I have come within a few inches of being struck by a vehicle. I have had to dive into ditches to save my life a few times. Never has a car that forced me to jump stopped to see if I was okay, which tells me that they had no idea that I was even there. Most dangerous is the driver who is making a right onto the road and only looking for cars to their left. Unless I KNOW that they see me, I stop and wait.

I always say thank you to courteous drivers, and they far outnumber the idiots, but the sheer number of cars on the roads and your time spent on the roads means that you will eventually have to save your own life. The only way to do that is to keep your head up and don't allow yourself to "zone out". Stinks, because miles can fly by when you are in that zone, but it just isn't safe.

Good luck, and be safe.

 

[Diskidatheart]

Thanks for the reminder. You can never beat something like safety into someone's head enough. Glad that you and your wife (and the dog) were all OK. I run through various neighborhoods and I don't encounter too many problems, but every once in awhile, you get some idiot that doesn't care and seems to try and get as close to you as possible to prove some kind of point. I just want to say to them, "Dude, I know your truck is bigger than me, but I'll make sure I bleed all over it if you hit me".

 

[cewait]

I am glad everything turned out OK

I cannot emphasize enough!!!! Wear ID when running. I am a car on runner survivor and the reflective band of my RoadID saved my life.

I was on Marco Island February 2009. I headed out for an early morning run and realized I was not wearing my RoadID when the elevator came. I was a little late but a cold chill hit so I ran back to the room and put the bracelet on. 3-4 miles later I was crossing an intersection when I heard an engine gun. It was a car turning left against a red arrow and attempting to avoid an oncoming car. All I saw was headlights; I danced and contacted the car just behind the front wheel and on the mirror. The car stopped about a quarter mile down this little road. The life saving part comes while I was laying on the road and saw a second set of head lights..... The driver stopped short of me and flew out of the car. She had not seen me but did see the reflection of the wrist band.

I was lucky, very lucky and am on the RoadID freebie list as I was in an ad. I suggest a RoadID because they have all your info in one place and can talk for you when you cannot talk. I also do not suggest wearing a shoe mounted ID. Yes they are never forgotten but when you are splayed out on the road, you shoes may not be there.

I got up and walked away from this with nothing more than road rash and a bruise. Oh, the driver of car 1 drove off as soon as I stood up. For those who frequent FLA, that is not all that uncommon... leaving a pedestrian for dead after hitting them.

 

[dragitoff]

I am glad everything turned out OK

I cannot emphasize enough!!!! Wear ID when running. I am a car on runner survivor and the reflective band of my RoadID saved my life.

I was on Marco Island February 2009. I headed out for an early morning run and realized I was not wearing my RoadID when the elevator came. I was a little late but a cold chill hit so I ran back to the room and put the bracelet on. 3-4 miles later I was crossing an intersection when I heard an engine gun. It was a car turning left against a red arrow and attempting to avoid an oncoming car. All I saw was headlights; I danced and contacted the car just behind the front wheel and on the mirror. The car stopped about a quarter mile down this little road. The life saving part comes while I was laying on the road and saw a second set of head lights..... The driver stopped short of me and flew out of the car. She had not seen me but did see the reflection of the wrist band.

I was lucky, very lucky and am on the RoadID freebie list as I was in an ad. I suggest a RoadID because they have all your info in one place and can talk for you when you cannot talk. I also do not suggest wearing a shoe mounted ID. Yes they are never forgotten but when you are splayed out on the road, you shoes may not be there.

I got up and walked away from this with nothing more than road rash and a bruise. Oh, the driver of car 1 drove off as soon as I stood up. For those who frequent FLA, that is not all that uncommon... leaving a pedestrian for dead after hitting them.

We absolutely wear our Road ID's when running. It's become the norm for wearing them just as I'd put on a pair of shoes. I even wear mine when I run on trails and the riverwalk. I've even instinctively put them on a few times when I got on the treadmill at home just because it's habit to wear it when running. Possibly the best $20 I've ever spent on running gear.