Quivering Quads 2010

For a Quivering Quads race report go to my personal blog.  Yes this is a cross posting because I didn't want to write two.

Be Safe Out There!

With the arrival of warmer weather we will be spending more and more time outside running and cycling.  I ran across this blog post from Marathon Maritza regarding safety while running.

Please Run Safely

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

My lovely readers – there are those of you I have met  and those of you who I haven’t.  But we all know we share a bond that non-runners cannot understand. We are a community. You waddle races, you win races…you BQ, you cross the first finish line of your first 5k…the details of it all really don’t matter.  We are a community of runners and when one of us triumphs, we all feel the pride and the joy. And when one of us falls, we all hurt.

If you don’t know about Chelsea King, then I am sorry to be the bearer of this news.  Our community will surely mourn this fellow runner, but I want to take this opportunity to educate you, remind you, give you food for thought, so that something even slightly positive can be salvaged from this awful, awful tragedy.

Please be safe runners out there.   We are responsible for taking the best care we possibly can of ourselves. 

1. When you run outside, run in busy well-lit neighborhoods. Yes, you might have to stop at more lights. Run on trails when there will be other foot-traffic. Run in the daylight whenever possible.

2. Run with a buddy or a group if you can. Run on the treadmill (yes, it sucks) when a safe environment is not available to you.

3. Run with your dog(s.) It’s good for them, it’s good for you.

4. Carry your cell phone and some cash or a credit card whenever possible. Have ID on you.

5. Wear reflective, light-colored clothing. If it’s dark out, wear a headlamp and/or those blinking lights.

6. If you need your music, put the volume low enough to hear traffic and the sounds around you. Better yet, turn the volume low and only put one earbud in. Even better, don’t wear it.

7. Make sure someone knows you’re out, what your route is, and when you can expect to be back. Call/text/tweet/Facebook/Chat/Skype them after your run. We have 50 million avenues to communicate. Use them.

8. Look both ways before you cross the street, make eye contact with car drivers, don’t run against red lights.  For crying out loud, run AGAINST traffic so you see cars coming and they see you! Yes, we have the right away, but we need to be responsible for ourselves.

9. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to carry pepper spray.

10. We need to be aware of our surroundings in general, especially us ladies. Be aware of parking garages, parking lots, etc. Have your keys in your hand already as you walk to your car. Walk with a friend, or co-worker if you can.  Pay attention.

This is not meant to scare you. It is meant to make you smarter.  It is meant to remind you of the little things that we sometimes forget and take for granted, things that are really small and easy to remember and can help keep us safe.

Run hard and run safe, my friends. 

My condolences to the King family.

More articles on running safely: From Runner’s World From About.com Lots from Runtheplanet (see links)

And Just so you don't get too complacent, thinking such things as "it wouldn't happen here".  Here is a blog post from Roger Kramer Cycling.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Jogger attacked on MCT Nature Trail

If you live in the St. Louis area, you pretty much had to be hiding under a rock Monday to have not heard about the attack on a female jogger that took place Sunday on the Madison County Transit Nature Trail in Edwardsville.

The good news is that Edwardsville Police have a suspect, although he was not in custody as of this morning. Also, the woman escaped his attacker and suffered only minor injuries.

The crime got big play in St. Louis-area media outlets, including the one I work for, the Belleville News-Democrat. My hope is that the extensive coverage prompts people to be more careful while using the trails, but that it doesn't create paranoia that prompt people to stop using the St. Louis region's trails.

The attack in Edwardsville also brought back reminders of an  August 2006 attack that took place on the MetroLink Trail in Belleville. No suspect has been arrested in that particular attack. That attack prompted the organizers of the Tour de Belleville bicycle ride, which will take place July 13, to use proceeds from this year's ride to purchase emergency telephones that will be installed along the trail.

Police and MCT believe trails are generally safe places to be. Edwardsville Police Lt. Scott Evers said there have not been any other attacks on the miles of MCT Trails that go through his city, and MCT released this statement on the trails:

"Thanks to existing security measures and a solid working relationship with law enforcement agencies in the communities served by the MCT bikeway system, tens of thousands of individuals safely enjoy the trails every year. MCT continues to believe that the trails are safe and that this was an isolated, unfortunate incident."

Nevertheless, Edwardsville Police offered several tips to stay safe on the trails, including cycling, running or walking with a friend or in groups and exercising only during daylight hours.

Here are some links to coverage on the attack:
Belleville News-Democrat
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The (Alton) Telegraph
Edwardsville Intelligencer
KSDK-TV
KMOV-TV
KTVI-TV
KPLR-TV

Don' t worry though the attacker was subsequently caught and brought to justice.  Just remember to be safe out there.  I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to any of you.