Fast Running Blog

If you need a reason

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7697178

Also, don't water the road. Control your sprinklers, people.

Didn't mention was she listening to "Life is a Highway" or "On the Road Again" or maybe it was a classic from Queen? Seriously hope she is ok.  Listening to an ipod is not a big deal when you are running in the morning in La Verkin, you can pretty much do repeats down the main street until your heart is content and not even worry about seeing anybody.  Probably about as safe as Planet Walk or the Provo River Trail

Hey, how do you know about Planet Walk?!? 

You notice the advice in the article is to run against traffic and to have an id, no mention of don't wear an ipod.  I wear an mp3 player, don't want to pay for all that ***fancy*** advertising.

I was surprised the police officer recommended running against traffic. I questioned this when I got a few glares recently from bicyclists. But I feel safer running against traffic.

If you leave your music quiet enough to hear cars around you it should not be a problem.

The most important thing is to pay attention to cars because they don't pay attention to you.

Running against traffic is a good idea - but not always practical.  However, my sister-in-law was killed while running from a driver that looked down for a few seconds and his truck drifted across a country rode and hit her.  You can't prevent every possible accident.

Running against trafic doesn't always help yesturday I was running against traffic on a road with a large sholder.  A car starts coming at me.   I went clear off the side of the road to avoid being hit.  The car was a foot and a half over the white line.  Cars don't see you and sometimes, the old man in this case, looks at you too much and turns the car into you. 

If you are one that can't run with out music make sure you can pay attention to everything around you. 

Running against traffic let's you see traffic coming and adjust, as Matt did.  I think there should also be a rule against running in speedos.  How do the Tri people get away with that?

It did help in your case because you saw the car coming and were able to get out of the way.  That is the reason for running against traffic. 

I don't think this accident had anything to do with her wearing an iPod.  From what it sounds like, it was mostly due to her jumping out in front of the car to avoid the sprinklers.

I can't figure out why she would be avoiding the sprinkler.  As hot as it I look for sprinklers to run through.

Me too.  Although I know some people who are afraid a bit of water will short out iPods or Garmins (they are tougher than we think).

Provo River Trail is safe but not quite iPod safe. Once in a while you have a speedy biker and it is nice to be able to hear him tell you to get out of the way. Plus you really have to watch out for the tunnels.

I am surprised the police officer said nothing about iPods. Ability to hear your surroundings without interference is very important. One time I was able to avoid a serious accident (when driving) thanks to listening physically and spiritually as well. I was making a right turn into my driveway. What could possibly go wrong? I heard two things. Physically a distant noise of an engine. Spiritually an impression to put my foot on the brakes and wait a few seconds.  That's right, while making a right turn into a driveway of all things!  In the next second a speeding car passed me on the right squeezing into the little bit of space I had left between the curb and my car to make a narrow turn. I had my whole family in the car at the time, back then we only had Benjamin and Jenny, and they were both little. I do not want to imagine what a side hit at 50 mph could have done to our little Ford Escort.

What I learned from that experience is that you must always listen, both physically and spiritually.

This is why treadmills are so much safer you guys! But I still never really run on mine.

Did you read the article and then check out the responses? Wow is all I can say. Most people have no respect at all for someone that runs or bikes. They own the road. I have had so many times when I have had to bail out so I would not be hit. Some of those times the cars are trying to get you to move off the road. I had a guy a few weeks ago in a truck actually turn his blinker on and start moving into the shoulder......that was fun! NOT
We all need to be more aware of our surrounding when running. I also feel that the drivers need to be more alert and patient with runners.
CAN"T WE JUST ALL GET ALONG????? LOL

One more case in Sandy.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7853852

Moreover, this is the primary reason to wear a RoadID.

http://roadid.com/Common/default.aspx

That's horrible!! I run by there often (and was considering to run by there this morning). It's a quiet intersection. I can't imagine how someone could be going fast enough (on a turn especially) to hit her hard enough that she flew 30 feet in the air. Very sad.

Regarding today's story of the jogger who was hit by a car in Sandy, it sounds like darkness was the key issue. I run early in the morning when it's dark, but I wear a reflective vest and a headlamp, as much to be seen as to see. I see lots of other runners while I'm out and they never are wearing these things. I may look like a dork, but I don't care. This is something to think about in addition to the Road ID.

Very sad situation.  That intersection is less than a mile from my house and it's where I usually begin and end my hill repeats.  I echo the other comments about it usually being a quiet area.

In addition to the previous good suggestions about wearing a RoadID, reflective vest / headlamp, please also remember to be cautious at intersections.  There are obvious dangers about crossing against the light, as oncoming drivers have the right of way and may not see you until the last amount.  It can be even more dangerous in the low light of early morning and evening.  Remember what we all learned at a young age - look both ways and only cross when the intersection is clear.  Think of the 30 seconds you spend at the light as a rest period.



 

It's horrible that someone had to die to bring this to our attention. This is something that drives me nuts when I see it happening. I remember in the Strider's 10-miler being told by the police officer that we should run with traffic. I remember yelling back for her to learn the laws she was there to enforce. My dad was a cop in a Chicago suburb and always told me the LAW was to run against traffic. I tried looking for the UT State law and came across the following flyer.
http://www.ci.slc.ut.us/transportation/Pedestrian/pdf/PedestrianLawsBrochure11_05.pdf
It states that we should be on the sidewalk but if in the street we should go against traffic... I think that Andy Browning's point about running against traffic is the best. Also, I've noticed I am 100X more likely to have things yelled at me if I'm running with traffic than against traffic. Finally, I know of at least three different women in three different states that made the mistake of running with traffic with headphones on and had a car pull up behind them, the passenger reach out the window, and grab them as they drove off...
RUN AGAINST TRAFFIC SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IS COMING! DO NOT TRUST DRIVERS!!!