Night/Rural Runners: Need some illumination/safety advice

I'm finally going to get back into running after almost 2 years of knee troubles. I've had two knee surgeries from a pretty violent fight at work and am ready to get off the elliptical and get out of the house. Due to my work schedule, family life, etc., I think the only way I can stick to it any type of regiment is to work out or run when I get off work at 5am. I live in a rural area with hilly roads. I used to run field roads before the injury, but that is too dangerous at night due to the rough terrain and it tends to be sloppy with any rain or pretty slick with early morning dew. I'm not comfortable running on the road, but will make due. There is very little traffic, but the occasional car usually comes through at highway speeds.

I plan on using my cheapy Energizer headlight which should be sufficient to the front. I use a Camelbak Ambush. I wish it were neon and/or reflective, but they only one I've seen that is reflective doesn't have a storage pouch. I won't be running far, but like to be able to have the water, carry my pistol for the occasional mean dog/meth head (both are around, especially the latter), cell. phone, and have my iPod strapped to it. I won't use the iPod at night, though.

Is there anything, other than the silly reflective belts or traffic vest, that I could use for some rear illum? Maybe something that will thread into the MOLLE on the Camelbak?

Run on the left side of the road so you can see what is coming.

Half of the idiots up here run on the right side so the cars approach them from the rear.

One got killed not too long ago.

You can't cure stupid.

there are blinking lights that some bicyclists use after dark you could attach a pack. Frankly running after dark in any area with significant traffic is a good way to get run over short of having a tank with flashing lights driving along side you.

my old chem prof does ultras, 100+ miles and some 24hr+ runs...

He uses these and a petzle headlamp when he's training at night...

I thought about investing in those. My wife and I just walked into town for ice cream one night and decided to eat out before walking back home. It got dark and even with a surefire I thought we were going to become hood ornaments before we got home

Ive always felt that retro reflective items allow things like cars to see you much faster than blinking LEDs and headlamps.

I have a set of these that work great. [URL=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KG5AB2[/URL]

Most people will spot things near the road. ie on an ankle. Plus the motion helps. If the reflective material is too high up they will think its something farther away and not react as fast.

brooks makes a line of reflective clothing, nightlife i think.

i run with a headlamp to show where i'm going. i wear reflective clothing and have a small hand light with a strap to alert cars to my presence

http://www.knucklelights.com/

Thanks for the suggestions, fellas. While browsing some of this stuff, I found a strap that may go around the pack and it has a lime green-looking LED flasher on it.

Fortunately, there is little traffic on our roads out here. They are oil and chipped roads that are barely passable by two cars at a time.

I wouldn't rule out a reflective belt. They're uber-visible if a car has headlights on and a belt doesn't have batteries that can go dead 5 miles from home. Just a thought - I like to mix reflective and illuminative stuff if I'm running in very dark areas.

I know you can buy the little flashing lights in red/green at the bicycle shops. I bought a couple when I was biking a lot, and they have a little plastic clip on the back that is the perfect size to clip onto a molle strap.

I've also had good luck with the arm/leg bands that are reflective from Road Runner Sports I buy almost all my stuff for running almost exclusively from them, even since I moved from San Diego and can't go to the retail store anymore.

If it's completely dark out I'll wear a headlamp and a small reflective vest I picked up at Lowe's.
Dusk, dawn or raining I wear the vest.

I did a 200 mile over night relay race last year. Required items to run in the dark were:


Head lamp


Reflective vest


Blinking LED light

I clipped the blinking LED light to the back of my head lamp.

I use a Brooks reflective vest and then often wear a Firefly Flashing LED.

http://www.roadid.com/Common/LearnMore.aspx?PID=12

I found a normal headlamp to be uncomfortable so instead I clip a AAA LED light to my visor.

Fenix makes a good one and I also have a Quark, although I like the Fenix better. Smaller than a headlamp and it allows me to still wear a visor/hat.

I don't have much of an option but to run at night a good portion of the year (e.g. late fall through early spring).I end up running at night at times during the summer as well to avoid temps sometimes as well. It is definetely something that makes me concerned- not only of cars but the criminal element. This past year, I smartened up start donning a reflective belt (in addition to the reflective elements on my running shorts and shoes that I have used for several years). I try to run in well lit areas and I prefer to run in more affluent neighborhoods when possible- one time I took a wrong turn at night that lead to me running through the projects....I didn't experience any direct threats, but that was an interesting experience[- that I have no intentions of repeatingBD] I am fortunate that I live close to a college campus, where I also happen to be taking my MS classes. It is a great place to run to (and at). College campuses can be good places to run- usually well lit, friendly people (not many bums), restricted traffic patterns, etc... Some even have running tracks that are open to the public (if you can handle the loops). I have also made the decision to stay on side-walks as much as possible, as long as I am familiar enough with them to be confident that there are no heaves- I tripped on one once and that sucked I cut my elbow up pretty good. Of course, I trail run a lot- so I am good at dealing with roots and stuff. Most of the sidewalks in my area are fairly new construction, either cement or asphalt. The old slate ones tend to be the worst. One other caution with cement sidewalks is that cement is a harder surface....If you run at night, you will occasionally get profane comments from motorists. I have noticed that I get much less attention from them off the road than on, my choice. Not necessarily recommending sidewalks to you unless you are comfortable with it and the 'facilities' in your area.

You may also want to reassess all of the gear that you want to carry with you. I know that I personally deplore carrying a bag or anything when I run. The extra weight, even a little can make a difference. I have found that I can comfortably do 5-6 miles with carrying hydration, except on the hottest, muggiest days- though a sip is always refreshing (I have never passed liquid at a race, my longest besing a quarter marathon). I'm assuming you are an LEO, so you may have no say in the matter or may encounter scum bags who 'know you'- but personally, I don't usually carry when I run. I know that I feel the weight, even when I was pocket carrying an NAA. When I do carry, the NAA goes in an arm band IPOD case. I was mugged once while running (early evening, wittnesses around who couldn't give 2 shits to do anything- even to call the cops and report the crime in progress...one of whom should have seen which apartment the scumbags ran into after). Three athetlic build ~18 y/o Latino (PR) males tailed me for about a block, before striking me in the back of the head. I took some blows (including 2-3 to the face and several to the sides of my head) but managed to block most hits and adequately defend myself using physical force. I thank god that I wasn't carrying. Though I'll admit that I was scared, the threat to my person never reached one where I could have articulated fear of imminent death or grave bodily harm. I don't believe that I would have been able to articulate justification even based on a disparity of force theory- because even though I did go to the ground, I was not getting my ass kicked enough to meet the threshold. Likewise, I had a feeling that the attack was going to come. I knew three males were following me for that block. The last opportunity I would have I had to draw a weapon effectively, without getting my face smashed in would have been before the first punch to the back of my head (looking over my shoulder). Had I drawn a weapon, they may have stopped the attack- but I would be sitting in a cell in Somers right now awaiting a felony trial- I'm sure that they were nice, christian boys who wanted to offer me water or help me train or something. Same if I had drawn (and fired) after the attack began. Had I drawn and not fired, I am sure that they would have taken my gun. If I had it on my person, there is a chance that they would have gotten it as well. They didn't get any valuables because I didn't have any- except a watch that was covered by my gloves. In the end, I went home sore and needed some ice. They ran off as well into one of several apartment buildings right near where they jumped me- I'm not sure exactly which building or apartment, but it was clear that they planned their attack and were waiting for prey. If I had electronics they would have gotten them. If I had a gun or other weapon, they would have gotten it–– and maybe used it against me or at best put it on the street to be used against somebody else. Many joggers are attacked for electronics and other valuables- especially things like IPODS that are visible. I hope that your bag or bat belt doesn't become an attractive target- that leaves some punk with expensive stuff, a gun, and your credentials.

I ended up ordering a black Diamond Sprinter, similar to this one: Black Diamond Sprinter. It has a flashing light on the back of the strap. They were pretty highly recommended on runnersworld.com. I might get try to fit a couple of reflective wrist or ankle straps onto my pack. I think the Camelbak will probably block the rear view of a reflective vest. Still probably wouldn't hurt for front visibility.

JAD-I appreciate your comments, too, but have to disagree on the point carrying of a weapon. This is probably a topic that has been covered a million times on here. If I were afraid of it being taken from me, I couldn't leave the house and would have to find a different job. Don't get me, this isn't a high-crime area. There is the occasional shithead in the area. I'm more worried about people hauling ass going to work.

I guess not having sidewalks is the price I have to pay for living out in the country. The closest town with a decent place to run is about 10-15 minutes away. It would be much safer, but I'll just have to deal with it due to time constraints. Even in the wee hours of the morning, it's quieter and prettier out of here.

I run almost every night between 10 and midnight.

>no lights
>no reflectors
>the goddamn batman

i have good sidewalks though

City folk...

Even if you aren't worried about traffic, when I run in the dark I wear a headlamp just so I can better see what is in front of me.

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