Safe outdoor running (tips, clothing and shoes)
Many people like running, but sometimes running on an indoor sweaty treadmill with artificial light and rolling news, is not the same as running outdoors in nature. But of course this requires a few safety tips, from legs pounding on pavements, weather and keeping early morning or at night.
Simple tips for safe outdoor running
- Choose a safe route with few cars, don’t be too isolated and carry some kind of emergency contact device.
- Check the weather forecast before you run. Avoid running on bad weather, and know what to wear. Never take dogs on walks or runs if it’s too warm, wet or icy.
- Enjoy the Quiet. It’s not good to wear headphones as you miss hearing traffic and other dangers. Just listen to the breeze or singing birds.
- Build gradually. Walk before you run! If you’re older or not used to exercise, increase slowly from walks, and only run properly once fit. Do properly warm-ups and cool-downs.
- Check out Lucy Wyndham-Read’s online running videos. This qualified trainer builds up safely with you at home. So by the time you go outside, you’re fit enough.
Vegan running shoes (funds hay for animals!)
Fiona Oakes is an amazing woman. Missing one kneecap, she still trained to be a firefighter. And in her little spare time, she runs marathons to raise money for her Tower Hill Stables farm sanctuary.
She helped to design this pair of vegan running shoes with profits to help fund the sanctuary. These have breathable water-resistant uppers and deep outside outsole lugs for traction on all terrain, and a storage pouch on the tongue.
Choose sustainable running clothes
sochsoch makes nice print-on-demand organic cotton t-shirts with running logos, in various colours.
Use code englandnaturallysite for 10% discount)
Vegan Original offers organic cotton gym/running clothes (from t-shirts to joggers), with animal compassion messages. Made with green energy and sent in plastic-free packaging.
Safe outdoor running with dogs
Only run with young fit dogs (not very young dogs, as their bones are still growing). Never run with old or overweight dogs. Blue Cross has safety tips (check with vet beforehand). These include:
- Don’t run with brachyephalic dogs (short muzzles, flat faces: pugs, bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, boxers, shih tzus).
- Give dogs time to stop and sniff!
- Leave two hours after meals before walks/runs, to avoid bloat. Don’t let dogs gulp lots of water before or after running.
- Ensure good recall, so dogs don’t pull on harnesses.
- Rest if dogs are tired, then just walk slowly home.
- Check weather and paving heat before you go. Stop if weather gets hot and find a shady place. Soak your dog’s coat with cool (not cold) water (focus on less hairy belly, chest, legs and groin – avoid trapping heat under a soaked heavy double coat without airflow). Long coats especially can overheat.
- Carry a foldable water bowl, safety lights and poo bags (let dogs go to the loo beforehand, as running causes bowel movements).
- Rinse paws with warm water after running in snow and ice, to avoid toxic rock salt burning paws (when coming indoors to higher temperatures).
Roger Bannister (first man to run a 4-minute mile)
Roger Bannister was the fir person to run a mile in under 4 minutes, something thought impossible. Even today, only 20 seconds or so has been shaved off that time.
Born in Harrow in 1929, Roger studied medicine at Oxford and combined athletics training with his studies. He never became a professional athlete, instead he ended up a medical consultant, specialising in neurology.
