Fitness

In memory of Sherry Arnold.

On Saturday, January 7, Montana teacher Sherry Arnold went out for an early morning run. She never came home. Six days later, the FBI had a suspect in custody for her murder.

I had been following the story on her cousin Beth Risdon’s blog, Shut Up and Run. Like all of Beth’s readers, we hoped and believed that Sherry would be found safe. The fact that we were wrong has rocked many of us to the core. As a community, I think we all feel helpless and scared. If it can happen to one of us, it can happen to any of us.

But I have to believe that there are some things in life that you just can’t protect yourself against no matter how you prepare. As an experienced runner, I have no doubt that Sherry took all reasonable precautions when she went out and I believe that random acts of violence are just that: random. And that might be the most frightening concept of all.

You can’t plan for or prepare for every eventuality. You can, however, prepare for the most common problems that you’ll encounter on a run, such as injuries or accidents.

No matter what:

• Run against traffic. Bikes go with the flow. Runners run towards the cars.
• Turn down the tunes. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whether it’s an oncoming car or an angry dog, you want to know what’s going on.

If you’re running alone:

• Carry a phone. You can call for help if you’re injured. Some smartphones also have a tracking feature; if I were to fall down a ravine on a trail run, my husband would be able to pinpoint my location within meters.
• Tell someone where you’re going. Are you running the trail? The park? The roads? I always feel more comfortable knowing that someone knows where I am, and roughly when I’ll be returning.
• Light it up. If you’re running in the dark, make sure that you’re visible. One lone runner is hard to spot on a road. Wear reflective clothing or, better yet, something illuminating like Knuckle Lights.
• Carry ID. Statistically speaking, you’re much more likely to be hit by a car than to be abducted by a stranger. Let a Road ID speak for you when you can’t.

Above all, be safe out there. And when you run this weekend, please keep Sherry and her family in your thoughts.

If there are any safety tips that I’ve missed, please share them in the comments.

Tags: advice, beth risdon, running, Safety, sherry arnold, shut up and run, suar

« Previous Entry Next Entry »