If you are like me, you run — often times alone — and think of all the disaster scenarios that you could possibly encounter on said run, plus how you would get out of them. Like, what if the dog that is chasing you isn’t friendly, how would you get away? Or what if a creepy guy jumped out from behind a giant electrical box and attacked you? Or what if you got hit by a car, and you were knocked unconscious and rushed to the hospital, and they didn’t know your identity or medical information!?

No? Just me?

WHEW! Cause if we all did, can you imagine how different our world would be? Thank goodness for all the sane people out there, who don’t let their fears get the best of them. But my family does love the saying, better to be safe than sorry.

So if you DO worry like me, here are some tips you may not have thought of, and if you DON’T worry like me WELL YOU BETTER START DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS. CAUSE OMG I want you to be safe!

In absolute seriousness, I genuinely hope none of you ever encounter any of those situations in real life.

• First of all, you should absolutely identify yourself. I do this by wearing a Road ID bracelet. They are so lightweight you can’t even tell you have it on, once you slip it over your hand. If you don’t want to spend the money, just stick your driver’s license in your running shorts mini-pocket or water bottle pocket – find a place.
• Secondly, you need to figure out a way to carry your phone with you. You don’t have to use it on your run, but bring it as a backup for emergencies. I always carry mine in my spibelt and again, don’t even notice it’s there.
• UPDATE: I’m going to add the wrist mace I just bought, based on many reader comments here and on social media! I needed a hands-free one and something I didn’t have to dig out of my pocket. I just ordered it, so I’ll let you know how it works once I’ve actually worn it.
• Consider using a technology tracker app on each run, for peace of mind. Lately, I’ve been using the iPhone app called Glympse. It allows you to share your location, in real time, with anyone of your choosing for a specified length of time. So for instance, just before I head out the door, I send an active link to my husband, telling him how many miles I’m doing and he can track my location as I’m running. It tracks in 1 mile segments as well, so it is better than the “Share my Location” feature on the iPhone.
• And of course, if you can, run with a friend! After so many years of running on trails and on the road, and experiencing various bizarre encounters, I would prefer running with a trusted friend. And lately, Mr. Zucchini Runner has been joining me on my long runs, by riding his bike next to me. (Yes, I’m aware I’m totally and utterly lucky.)
• If you are going to listen to music or an audio book, keep the volume down low enough that you can hear cars or people approaching. This is for your own safety, but also just good running etiquette. Wearing one earbud is a good choice too.
• The graphic below features runner safety apps for smartphones which are designed to keep you focused, informed, and connected to your surroundings. So much can be done on a smartphone, from pinging your location to monitoring your home security system. Ultimately it’s about finding what works for you.

Click the image to learn more about SimpliSafe and keeping your home secure, while away from home.

What about you? What are some of your safety measures when running?

This post was prompted by SimpliSafe.  I was in no way compensated for this post.