City Running tips

quebot · October 2012

I have only been running a few years (took time off to have a baby too- ran till I was 20 weeks pregnant, then got in a car accident). I'm trying to figure out how to run outside more. The treadmill gets boring and I feel more of a workout when I run outside. I live in Atlanta, and if you've ever been here then you know it can go from being a great neighborhood to sketchy REALLY fast. It's hard to run more than a block without hitting the rough part of town in every direction. Also the sidewalks are BAD. Dogs want to eat runners (lots of folks have pits around here), there is a homeless camp in the woods outside my neighborhood, and there is a prostitute in my neighborhood who happens to be redheaded like me (so lots of men slow their cars down around me thinking I am her- ugh).

I am a mom of four and I started running because it's one of the only workouts I can do for free that I can fit in with my mommy schedule. I really enjoy it. I used to be a swimmer and I just enjoy the monotony and rhythm of this sort of exercise. As a mom of young children, I also love the QUIET I can get when running (especially outside).

I was hoping y'all could help give me some safety tips for running in this sort of environment. Also, I was wondering if it's bad to run in the bike lane on the road? I hate running the sidewalks and would love to run in the bike lane. I wonder if I would get a ticket?

My last unrelated question is I was wondering if other people do other workouts on days that they run?

Any other related city running wisdom is welcome! I need all the help I can get!

nc90 · October 2012

Is there a certain part of town you can maybe drive to/ take public transit to that's safer for your run? I've been to Atlanta before, so I definitely know what you mean by the safe-to-sketch areas. lol

I'm currently in Milwaukee, and there are a few roads that I can take as long as I stick to them, and don't branch off too much until I get closer to the nicer parts of town.

Otherwise, you could invest in some mace and make sure to have a cell phone when you run just in case you need to call for help? I would also suggest not running with headphones in and just staying alert to your surroundings.

I'm not sure about the laws of running in the bike lane, I also don't know how safe that would be if bikers/vehicles didn't see you.

As for other workouts, I have been doing the 30 Day Shred and then try to get in a 20-25min easy run in after (legs willing!) You could definitely do some lifting/weight training on a day where you run, but my suggestion would be to not have that planned the same day as a longer/harder run.

Hope this helps!

AmyRhubarb · October 2012

Frustrating to not have a good place to run, isn't it? My area isn't as bad as yours sounds!

Are you able to get out at any time of day? I don't run in the dark (and seems like an obvious time for you to NOT run your neighborhood!

), but choose morning because there is usually less traffic and fewer people about.

As for dogs, maybe get some pepper spray? And maybe drive the area and find a route that seems to have the fewest amount of dogs.

I run in the bike lane on part of my usual route, making sure that I always run against traffic so I can see the oncoming cars and any bikes coming my direction - and hope that the cyclists are following the rules and riding WITH the traffic so I can see them coming.

I have no idea if there are laws against it - I don't think so in my state, and I see other runners & walkers do it all the time.

I wouldn't wear any headphones, keep your head up, & look behind you often. Carry your phone in an armband, pocket or running belt, and maybe get a RoadID - a great thing to have should you become injured & are unable to call for help or speak for yourself - I never run or walk without mine!

Good luck - I hope you are able to find a route that works for you!

quebot · October 2012

Thanks for all of your input. My husband helped me map out a run that should keep me in the nice areas today. It has about 1/2 mile of mildly sketchy roads, cross a main road, and then I am in a blissfully beautiful neighborhood with a nice 3 (ish) mile run around a golf course. There is also parking near by in case the 1/2 mile run to get to that area proves not to be a good idea. I tested it out today and it was a nice enough route.

Also thanks for the reminder about pepper spray. I used to carry some one my key chain till I had kids. Then I became afraid they would steal my keys and spray themselves with it, so I ditched it. I should get some for running. I would feel much safer around the stay dogs and strange men.

My schedule is pretty flexible. I am pretty lucky that way. And my husband is great at watching the babies while I get in some "me" time. I am horrible at running in the mornings (I've tried and tried). I find that I have a hard time consistently getting up and then I give myself a hard time and will give up on my schedule and won't run all together if I miss a morning run. Plus mornings are just CRAZY with 4 kids (3 under 3). I usually go out when my kids nap after lunch (whenever my husband is home during the day) or I wait till my hubs gets home from work and I will go around 4 or 5, right before dinner.

The headphones thing is not a problem. There is so much noise in my house, I rarely run with music. I am usually thankful for the quiet. If I do listen, I just have light music coming out the speaker of my phone. Not sure if I even own headphones, haha.

I'm glad to hear about additional workouts. If I get my running in early in the day, I usually feel like I want to do something else in the afternoon. I am also going through the 30DS for the first time. Wasn't sure if doing that in addition to my running would be a bad idea. I feel good doing it, so I guess that's what matters.

Again, thanks for you ideas. It helped me process and get a better idea of how I would like to do things.

City Running tips

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