Monday, 7 January 2013

Keep Safe with the Ice!

We had balmy weather this weekend at around 0 deg celsius (32 deg F).  Now that I am feeling better I decided to head outdoors.  I didn't want to push a run the first time out, so opted for a brisk walk instead.  I ended up doing 4.7 km (I thought it was 5) the first day and 5 km the second day out.  It felt so good to be outside rather than the dreaded treadmill, I was able to do some short runs inbetween the walking.  I felt fabulous and rosy cheeked when I wash finished!

 

Please make sure you keep safe when you are outside walking or running in the wintertime. Our neighbourhood is fairly quiet, but during morning or evening rush hour there are quite a few cars out. For most of the time I was out, I had to stay on the road.    The sidewalks were quite icy still, but I tried to keep as safe as I possibly could by following these tips:
  • Choose a time that isn't too busy on the roads, if possible.  Avoid rush hour times.
  • Run/walk against traffic
  • Wear some kind of reflective clothing/tape
  • Dress appropriately for the weather
  • I bring my phone with me
  • Always yield to cars.  No record run time is worth getting injured over
  • Trust your intuition.  If something or someone doesn't seem right, avoid any confrontation
  • Bring id with you (now this is something I just thought of and did not do)
  • I do use my ipod, but have the volume on fairly low and am able to hear the cars and activity around me
  • Watch for slippery surfaces on the road

Safety is #1!  Take care of yourself

8 comments:

  1. I have been missing working out outside, but it has been soooooo cold! I. Am such a klutz and terrible on ice... But I might have to give it a try.

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    1. I like it outside too, but this morning I tried and there was just too much ice for me on both the road and sidewalk. I was just trying not to slip!

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  2. That black ice stuff is treacherous, almost as bad as freezing rain. Good call on avoiding it all together!

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  3. I live for the weekends when I get the opportunity to get off the treadmill and get out on the road. With the snow/ice and narrowed roads, it's just too dangerous for me to be out there at 4:30 am when it's dark. We are having a warm up this week so I'm hoping much of it melts away!

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  4. Hi Katrin - when I do walk on the road next to traffic I wear more reflective clothing lately than a road crew worker for the Dept of Transportation. I don't want to get hit because they didn't see me:)

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  5. Excellent safety tips! My husband goes running at all times of the day or night. He does wear a reflective vest but doesn't carry ID. I wish he would, but he doesn't believe anything could happen to him.

    Have you ever tried Yaktrax? They are a great help in walking/running on ice, and you can put them over almost any kind of shoe or boot.

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  6. I hope you dont mind me following you, found you on Runsforcookies. Just looking for more support :)

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    1. Welcome to my blog. I am always looking for more support too! Hope we can help each other. Thanks for the follow

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