M. Suzanne Terry

Road and sky

I love this view.

I love a long road stretched out before me so far that I can actually see its two sides meet on the horizon. I love the way the wind sweeps through, breaking on nothing.

I love the big, big sky.

I especially love that, with this view, I can see trouble coming from far off.

You may have a path designated for pedestrians that you run, but if you run on the road, there are a few safety precautions that help keep you safe.

First, take your phone. Just because you can see trouble doesn’t mean you can stop it, and you might need to call for backup. This, of course, is perhaps not as big a deal within the city limits where there are witnesses aplenty, but while strangers can be helpful, it’s not always wise to assume you can depend on it.

If you are running a path that is new to you, and you are going it alone, it’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going to be. I’m not saying it has to be your overprotective friends that will call 911 if you are a minute later texting them that you’re home safe than they expected you to be. But maybe let the park ranger know if you’re hiking their most challenging trail by yourself.

Second, stay aware of traffic. A good way to do this is to run facing traffic. That is, on a two-way street, run on the left side. When you are facing the cars, you can not only hear them but you can see them without having to twist around.

Speaking of hearing your surroundings, it’s also a good idea to run without headphones. I know that sounds weird coming from a music lover, not to mention from someone who generally would not be described as outdoorsy, but hear me out. If I’m going to be outside, I’m going to make an effort to engage with the outdoors with all my senses. Otherwise, what’s the point? If I’m going to purposely distract myself from my surroundings, I might as well run on a treadmill in the relatively safe, temperature-controlled, bugless environment of the gym. In addition to keeping you in the moment, running with your full aural faculties also allows you to be more aware of your surroundings. You can hear what’s going on around you and give yourself more response time.

What are some other running rules of the road that you use?

I’m spending 31 days running wild.