Get out there and run safely with the help of a few key tools. The mornings are definitely worth waking up for, and nothing does that better than an exhilarating run! Look at all this beauty we miss when we’re not out to welcome the sun in the morning! I love Psalm 57:7-8, “My heart is steadfast, O God… I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.” I love the image that paints, of being so vibrant in our worship of Jesus first thing in the morning that we ‘awaken the dawn!’ I sure want that to be true of my heart. With breathtaking views like this… how can it not be!?

This is a different sort of post that doesn’t necessarily pertain to homemaking… aside from the fact that staying strong, healthy and safe as a mother is key to doing all that needs done in the home! I am at the tail end of marathon training for my first ultra (50k) that I have had my eyes on for several years now. However, fear almost kept me from ever starting.

When I was in Okinawa, I trained for two marathons without a single thought of my safety because I was in one of the safest places in the world! While there, I heard a few heartbreaking reports of female runners (who happened to be mothers) being abducted while out running in California… my soon-to-be home! Once I got here, I would only run if my husband joined me. But when it came time to train for Zion, there was no way to wait for his availability. I had to face my fear! The mornings are so dark in the winter months, so I had to find the best running gear for my safety

Gadgets Equal Success

I am normally a “stick in the sand” sort of person when it comes to hiking and running. So many times on trails, my entire family (even when the kids were younger!) passes people bedecked with all the latest hiking gear. We are typically in random sandals and jeans! It became clear to me that these fancy walking sticks, $130 hiking boots, water backpacks, etc… were, if anything, only slowing these people down. One thing I love about running is the fact that I feel soo free while doing it. I have zero interest in weighing myself down with gadgets. But I also love the feeling of not putting myself in a dangerous situation! 😉 There is a balance by using the right gear.

Below, I’m sharing what I have done to bolster my safety on dark, early morning runs. At the end, I’ll share some other tips that are a good idea for running in general!

Reflective Tape

I run in the dark of the morning. In the pursuit of safety, I have chosen to run on main streets to stave off private abductions. (Always being sure to change up my familiar route as to not be predictable.) But cars can be just as dangerous if they can’t see you. Admittedly, most of my running clothes are dark, non-reflective clothing.

I didn’t want the bulk of wearing reflective vests, so I bought this fun rainbow reflective iron-on tape, but it didn’t stick to my clothes after the first wash. I had to go back through and use a separate iron-on adhesive. For subsequent reflector bedazzlement, I peeled off the original backing and just used the other adhesive. A bit of a pain, but it worked! This one has more favorable reviews and might be the better option. But I love the bright colors of the one I have! (I was piecing together scraps on the shirt in the picture below.) There is plenty of reflective gear that you can buy instead of buying the tape, if that’s more your speed!

Headlamp

I have this running headlamp and it fits comfortably over my hat and stays in place on the brim. I love how bright it is, making me visible to oncoming traffic. Another benefit is that I can clearly see anyone coming toward me, as well as the surrounding area. It keeps obscurity from being a tool in favor of someone with ill intentions. I do feel bad passing fellow runners because it is so bright. Once I see them, I will cover the light with my hand so I’m not blinding them! I never do nighttime runs, but I can only imagine how imperative this would be without the light of dawn approaching!

Whistle

Anything to draw attention has got to help! Whistles are old school personal safety alarms! Not that I’d have my wits about me to be able to blow in time, but I’m thinking even wild animals might be frightened by the loud noise. We have a lot of coyotes around here, believe it or not! On weekends, my husband will run “with” me at his WAY faster pace, so I like knowing that if I roll my ankle or something, I can blow on the whistle and he’ll know to come looking for me. This one is definitely an extra, but was lovingly given to me by a concerned neighbor, and it tucks away nicely between my shirt and sports bra, so I’m not even aware of it.

Pepper Spray

I pray I never have to use this self-defense weapon! It’s always on my mind when I’m running into the wind. “If I have to spray this, how can I get the bad guy on that side of me so that it blows into his face, not mine?!” This one has some helpful safety features, like a lock, where you have to swivel it to be able to press down. It fits comfortably in my hand as I run, and I don’t have to grip around it. I do typically keep my thumb on the trigger just so that I’m ready at any moment. My kids always ask me excitedly if I have had to spray it yet. No, praise God! That would entail a bit of a traumatic situation, and I’m so thankful I have not needed it. I’m also thankful to have something to protect myself with, if I were ever in need.

Pocket Knife

I used this before I bought the pepper spray. Sometimes I think about still carrying it in my pocket. I’m not sure how well it would work on my behalf as a weapon, but under normal daily happenings, a pocket knife sure comes in handy! I love my Buck knife for its simple design and ease of use.

Other Safety Tips

This first one is a “do as I say, not as I do”— but it is on my mind, I just need to figure something out to work with my hat: don’t wear your hair in a pony tail. This is expert advice all over the internet by police officers. A pony tail makes you too easy to grab from behind. What’s your favorite alternative way to wear your hair when you run?

If you’re listening to something, make sure that it’s low enough that you can still hear the sounds around you. And make sure you’re not too engaged that you’re missing things you should be aware of. One time I did not see a man until he was seriously right in front of me. I had NO idea where he came from! If he had bad motives, it would’ve been too late for me to prepare. I’m not a naturally observant person, I’m in my head a lot. So it’s something I have to go into each run telling myself. “Look around! Be observant!” Also, stay away from air pods. There is so much information out there on how dangerous they are, being so close to your brain. Deal with the wires, enjoy the fact that they never die, and save your brain!

Non-Safety Related, But Helpful Tools

Ball Cap

I have this hat and love it for so many reasons. It is breathable, makes wearing a headlamp comfortable, keeps the sweat out of my face and shields my face from the sun. But my favorite reason is that I can run no matter the weather conditions if I’m wearing it! The worst part of running in the rain is getting splattered in my eyes and not being able to see. I feel like this hat has an extra long bill, and keeps my face dry in the most torrential downpour! (I ran my first Okinawa marathon in a darn-near typhoon!!) It’s not necessarily water resistant, but it dries quickly. I don’t mess with things like a waterproof running jacket (in the warmth of the tropics where I live) but shielding my face is key! It also has a reflective logo on it for added safety.

Spiral Hair Ties

I might be late to the game with these, but holy cow! I’ve run 16 miles 31.5 miles (the race was AWESOME!) with my hair in one of these bad boys, and it stayed tight the entire time! So nice to not have to fuss over my hair while running.

Pants With Pockets

I don’t us an Apple Watch or fitbit, so that means I always have to have my phone with me. My hand cramps after a while if I’m holding it. The arm pouches are so annoying to deal with, so once they started putting pockets on yoga pants I was THRILLED! I got rid of every other pair of running pants I had and committed to only buying them if they had pockets! Running pants with pockets are at the top of my list for best running clothes!

Water Bottle Pack / Glucose Gel

I only wear this if I will be out longer than an hour and a half. This is the one I have, and love that it has a little pouch for applesauce, my favorite “glucose gel.” I can’t handle the other super syrupy, artificial gels, or worse, the chews! Applesauce is the perfect pick me up I need on long runs. These are my favorite hydration packs (and they have an amazing pre-work out drink, too!).

Sunglasses

The sun is so hard on the eyes when we’re out in it for hours on end! Definitely don’t feel cute in these, but I love the protection they provide. They stay on my face in spite of sweat—they kind of have a silicone texture. I love that they don’t have a nose piece that gets tangled in my hair if I put them up on my head for a minute. For those reasons, these lookers are the right pair for me. I swap these out of my pocket for the headlamp once the sun is out!

Basket

I keep everything pertaining to my runs in a basket by my bed, so I can quietly take it to the bathroom with everything I need without waking anyone up. It’s one of my final checks for the night, making sure everything that needs filled or batteries are all ready to go! I will put the outfit with socks and everything in the basket on top. Shoes are right next to it, ready to roll! (UGLY as they are, Altras are for sure the best running shoes. Now, having completed the race, I can attest to healthy feet for that long of a distance. People were losing toenails and having all kind of issues with their feet, but I was in good shape!) Having all of this ready gets me out the door without wasting any time in the morning!

I hope something in here resonated with you and you feel inspired to get up early and awaken the dawn! Wherever you are in your running journey, consider preparing for the worst case scenario and be safe out there with the right running gear! Please comment below or tag me on instagram if you have any extra ideas for our safety for solo runners!