Are you Afraid of the Dark?

During the winter months when hours of daylight are at a minimum, it can be difficult to fit in a run when you can still see the road.  It's dark in the morning when you leave for work and dark when you get home.  Don't despair--technology comes to the rescue!  Fortunately, there are many cool, new, inexpensive products on the market  specifically designed for night running.  I'm pretty sure my husband was wearing them all yesterday when he ventured out in the rain and the dark after work (yes, that's him in the picture).

If you aren't lucky enough to have streetlights in your neighborhood, a headlamp is a good idea.  Headlamps are ultra-small and light, and the LED bulbs are very bright.  Not only can you use them for running, they come in handy when you're working on the car or looking behind furniture for that lost game piece.  You can find them in the camping section of any sporting goods store.

A reflective vest is best for high visibility.  Lightweight, the Velcro-equipped designs fit directly over your shirt/sweatshirt and are not cumbersome to run in.

A clip-on safety strobe light also increases your visibility, which can be clipped to your hat or at your waist--whichever is more comfortable.

With all this gear, you'll be visible, but be ware...not everyone is paying attention.  I recommend running against traffic so you can make a last minute dive out of the way if you need to.

Congratulations on making it through the second week!  Hopefully your status as a "runner" is intact.  Enjoy your day off.