Tips for running outside?

REFLECTORS.

Wear them if you go in the morning or late evening.

GOOD SHOES

For the love of your body, invest in good shoes. Otherwise, your shins, and your lower back will complain. Or worse you'll have to get expensive surgery for your body because of cheap chooses. Also. Inserts. Get them. Wear them. Break 'em in. Love them.

KNOW YOUR ROUTE

Is your route safe at the time you want to go? Do you need a buddy with you? Should you go later when there's more light out? Recon your route like a scout in the army would, and make sure it is safe before running it.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Yes, even in running. Wearing clothes that you feel comfortable in, and are the right key for the job is the best way to perform your best. It's getting colder, so consider something warmer.

I only run outside--can't stand the treadmill. Here are some tips I've found helpful, but it may be an individual thing:

1. I don't look up and out when I'm running. I see things too far off and the distance closes too slowly...unmotivating. Instead, I look 5-10 feet in front of me on the road or sidewalk.

2. Make sure you have good running shoes. The roads and sidewalks are a lot harsher a landing plane than a treadmill. Injuries can happen faster.

3. Don't worry about pace. My pace goes up and down and all around when I'm running. There are small inclines outside that you don't typically notice...until you're running them. I tend to take it slower up small hills, even out for a few seconds, then speed it up a little bit again.

4. Anything over an hour--take water. Get a hydration pack, hold a bottle in your hand, whatever.

5. Pay attention to your surroundings! I run on sidewalks and the road, but I listen to music. I NEVER rely on crosswalks--always look around before you cross. Look around if you cross in front of parking lot entrances, side roads, etc.

6. Be slightly cold in your clothing when you go out. You'll warm up fast, and if the sun is shining you'll warm up faster. There may not always be a breeze--I don't know about your gym, but in mine there are fans everywhere. You aren't guaranteed that cool air outside (though you will be if you live somewhere that gets cold in the winter...but in general you know what I mean).

Best of luck! I found that once I started running outside, I can never go back to treadmills...

oh! I run with my phone, too, so I use Runkeeper to track runs. If you run with your smartphone, I recommend getting a running app to track....nothing fancy, a free one works!

I prefer outdoor running! Running inside just doesnt do it for me. I've been running for two years and at this point I just slap in my earbuds, crank some really great music and go Most of the people I see on the path are regulars with thier dogs or fellow runners and we all smile and nod as we go by, others I pay no attention to at all. I find that running is also my "meditation" time so I tend to get into a zone and appreciate my surroundings without too much thought aside from how good I feel. I think once you start outdoor running you will find it addictive, take care though because pavement running and treadmill running do feel different and you may end up a little more sore afterward.

This pretty much sums up what I was going to say.

Did the treadmill many many years ago, but this round is strictly outdoors. I found the pace on the treadmill to be very deceptive compared to my pace outdoors, even back when I was in shape. I had to set the incline up quite a few % to get the same feeling.

I am in a very rural area (no sidewalks, no street lights, 55+mph speed limits, and steep ditches), so I actually started out jogging on the road facing into traffic (ie left hand side of road). Since I was leaving from home, I didn't need a key, and my iPhone was in an armband. Most drivers are very courteous about swinging wide to avoid me.

I've moved to jogging on the local high school tracks now since it's gotten too dark to jog on the road at home. In the evenings the tracks are generally free - will be better once football is over - and there are always other people using the track too, just enough for safety, not enough to be forced to be social..

I have tried jogging in our "city park" (we only have one, and I hesitate to call the town a city plus the trails are not maintained - bad enough I not even trot my horse down them) and apparently there is an alligator problem!!!!!!! I will not jog there towards dusk, I don't care that the trail is elevated when near the water, just having seen TWO alligators dive into the water when I chugged past was enough to cure me of that. I have jogged there in the middle of the day a couple of times, but you really can't "run" the trails - there is a mile that has to be walked simply because the footing is so treacherous. And the signs that reminds people "don't feed the gators" is still off-putting.

At the tracks, I leave my keys on the ground near the gate, where the other runners/walkers leave keys, jackets and water bottles, and just go. The tracks are nicely cushy compared to pavement. It's still kinda embarrassing though that some of those speed walkers lap me while I'm jogging. And they aren't even breathing hard!

At the park, I leave my keys under my car or on top of a tire. The joys of small town living

Thanks, everyone! I just got back from my first outdoor run, and I have to tell you...I'm officially a convert! I liked it SO MUCH BETTER than running on a treadmill. I felt like I got a much better workout, and the fresh air made it much easier to steady my breathing, so I never felt like I was going to die during the running intervals, even when I ran up hills. There were other people in the park I went to, but they didn't even notice I was there -- they were too busy doing their own thing! Turns out I was worried over nothing, I'm so glad I took the risk and went for it! I'm definitely doing it this way from now on!

GOOD FOR YOU!!! Great Job!

Thanks, everyone! I just got back from my first outdoor run, and I have to tell you...I'm officially a convert! I liked it SO MUCH BETTER than running on a treadmill. I felt like I got a much better workout, and the fresh air made it much easier to steady my breathing, so I never felt like I was going to die during the running intervals, even when I ran up hills. There were other people in the park I went to, but they didn't even notice I was there -- they were too busy doing their own thing! Turns out I was worried over nothing, I'm so glad I took the risk and went for it! I'm definitely doing it this way from now on!

I kinda thought that may happen...LOL! I'm so glad for you!