#WisdomWednesday: Safety tips for outdoor training
The Herald consulted with local runner Thola Masibi about the safety of running outdoors, especially now that summer is here.
The warmer weather means many of us will be heading outdoors, to train and shake off those excess winter kilogrammes. But, whether you are doing it purely for personal health reasons or if you are setting your sights on that next marathon, it is important to make personal safety part of your training regime.
For this week’s #WisdomWednesday, the Herald caught up with Randmark’s 62-year-old Thola Masibi, who shared some running safety tips with us.
Security company Fidelity ADT also offered their tips for outdoor training.
According to Charnel Hattingh, Fidelity ADT’s national marketing and communications manager, “Staying safe while exercising outdoors is easy. We hope that by following this step-by-step guide you will be able to focus all your attention on your training.”
Here are their seven top safety tips:
1. Carry some ID – Carry some form of identification on you, so that any bystanders will know who you are and who to contact in case of an emergency. Most exercise gear has small pockets for this very reason.
2. Safety in numbers – Charnel strongly discourages running or cycling alone. Rather join a group of people who can look out for your safety and also offer encouragement along the way when muscle pain or cramps set in.
3. Tell someone – Another good idea is to ensure that someone you trust knows you are headed out for a run or cycle, has an idea of the route you plan to take and when you expect to return. In this way, they can quickly raise the alarm if you do not return as planned.
4. Be visible – Wear reflective clothing to make sure you are visible to other road users. Run against traffic and cycle with traffic. This makes you even more visible to others. If you can, make use of pavements or any designated cycle tracks.
5. Vary your routine – Changing up your route and training time makes it difficult for any would-be criminal to anticipate your movements. The change in scenery can also make the physical exertion more bearable.
6. Charge your phone battery – Make sure your cellphone battery is fully charged so that you are able to call for help in case of an emergency. It is also important to save the correct emergency contact numbers on your phone, so that you can quickly contact the police, your security company or your neighbourhood watch when you need them.
7. Mobile tracking – Find out from your security company if they offer a mobile tracking app which can be downloaded onto your cellphone. This is an effective way of alerting emergency service providers when you need them, while also giving them your accurate location, especially if you are running or hiking along a mountain path or in a forest.
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