Visible/Reflective Running

[colby]

A 17-year old was injured during a 185-mile relay race this weekend when a driver crossed the center line onto the opposing lane and onto the shoulder where a cyclist was escorting. The cyclist died. They were wearing reflective gear and the driver may have been drunk, but it got me thinking.

I'm considering upping my mileage by getting my dog the doggie jacket and running her to and/or from work at least once a week (probably to work once or twice with intervals, and both directions once for a tempo run). It's 6 miles each way - our morning run wouldn't be well shaded but I'd wait to return until the sun was almost down, basically dusk. We would be running on the trail for 4 of the 6 miles, but the other 2 miles will be on sidewalks, with some street crossings that are not going to be as pleasant when it's not light outside (cars don't really stop for you when you're there during the daylight, let alone at dusk). All of that said, it's still warm here in the mornings/evenings, so I would rather not wear anything heavy.

Any good suggestions for staying visible? My camelbak does have some reflectivity on it, though I would usually not plan on wearing it for this short of a distance unless it was hot maybe I would anyway for the added reflectivity - I could put some of that reflective tape on it to increase reflectivity. My shoes and shorts and dog jacket also have small reflective patches, I could add tape to the dog's collar and jacket to increase that. That just leaves, well... the meat of my body. ;) I'm most concerned with chafing, discomfort, and bulk.

Open to suggestions.... these were all pretty local people so the fact that it could happen to you has hit home pretty hard.

[Veronica]

Thom got me a mesh vest when I was doing brevets. The back is just as reflective as the front. It's pretty light.

http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/albums/sf-300k-2008/sf300-01.jpg

I have stuck a light in the back pocket of the capris I wear in the winter. We actually got it at the pet store. You're suppose to put it on the leash. I've seen how bright it is in our security camera footage.

The biggest thing I think is just being aware of what is going on around you. I run at 5 AM in my neighborhood - so not a lot of traffic but I assume anyone in their car, just doesn't see me, especially people backing out of their driveways. They just don't look to their left because they are not expecting anyone else to be out at the hour. And especially not running!

Veronica

[jessmarimba]

They have red flashing light-buttons that you can just clip on to your clothes...they're nearly weightless. I've gotten several for free with the names of various running-related companies stamped on the front. For some reason I can't find them (googling keeps turning up articles about people who run red lights). Also these (http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/FNU111/) armbands work really well. I run with a headlamp when it's dark out, more to be seen than to see with, but it's sort of a pain and doesn't stay where I want it without a hat on.

[Becky]

What about reflective tape/bands around her paws and your ankles? Anything moving is going to catch a driver's eye that much faster.... (Yep, the canine portion of this one will depend on how comfortable your dog is with having her feet handled. My dog wouldn't stand for this.)

I have a Brooks vest and an Amphipod vest, both of which are extremely light and very reflective. I think I prefer the Brooks- more flexible.

[7rider]

No amount of blinking lights or reflective material will make you more visible to a motorist who is drunk, distracted, inattentive, or just plain stupid. Be aware of your surroundings always, assume you are not seen (regardless of what you are wearing - wear all the reflective stuff you can get your hands on if it makes you more comfortable), and be ready to take evasive action at a moment's notice.

[colby]

No amount of blinking lights or reflective material will make you more visible to a motorist who is drunk, distracted, inattentive, or just plain stupid. Be aware of your surroundings always, assume you are not seen (regardless of what you are wearing - wear all the reflective stuff you can get your hands on if it makes you more comfortable), and be ready to take evasive action at a moment's notice.

Of course, a drunk driver is a drunk driver and that doesn't change in the daylight either (and in fact blinking lights and reflective material may just draw them TO you like a moth to a flame), but I'm looking for ways to take responsibility for sharing the roads with conscientious drivers who would normally stop or at least see you during the daylight to help them see during dusk/twilight, too. I don't run on roads themselves, I run on sidewalks and paths, but I do cross intersections at 4-way stops and trail crossings where it would help drivers to know where I was. And in the event I do end up running in a bike lane for some reason (sometimes sprinklers are on full boar and we go around them), I'd like a car to have the best chance of knowing I was there. I will probably avoid total darkness because running with a headlamp is a bit annoying and your chances of being seen decrease pretty rapidly.

As advised, I generally run pretty defensively anyway because a lot of drivers are terd faces or aren't paying attention, and we also have the backing out of driveways problem - even at 8 or 9am when kids are going to school. ;)

Wrists, ankles, and doggie feet are a good idea - I notice when I see runners at dusk with reflective materials you really do notice their feet but it's not where your eyes usually are. It seems like the more places you see moving the more your brain registers that it's not a fluke, it's an object moving in front of you.

I'll have to keep my eye out for a lightweight vest, too. I was/am a little concerned that more bulk might be irritating, but those sound pretty light.

Thanks everyone.

[tulip]

http://alertshirt.com/

lots of safety wear.

[OakLeaf]

This (http://www.amphipod.com/401-402/401.html) looks nice.

I have their dorky crossing guard strap, but I think the vest would be more visible.

I run in hi-viz in daylight. It's not for the ones who regularly rear-end school buses and garbage trucks. It's for the drivers who ARE paying attention, who will have the maximum possible time to see me and prepare to pass me.

[rocknrollgirl]

I think Nathan makes a bunch of reflecty stuff too. And +1 on the little blinky clip on lights. Firefly I think they are called. We road ride at night all winter and use a combination of all of the above.