Tips for running on the street?

[venturieta]

Hello everyone.

As expected, all parks in my city closed their gates this Saturday, as a safety rule regarding Covid-19. I intend to continue running for as long as possible, respecting social distance, of course. It is no longer a question of completing or not the C25K programme, but that these brief moments of exercise in my week have helped me to maintain some calm, structure and even hope.

The problem is: I never ran in traffic and I am very afraid to do it for the first time on Monday (considering that I am still a newbie at W3R2.)

Do you have any tips on running on the street?

[Foxglove2 Graduate]

Once you start the longer runs it's difficult to cross busy roads (if any are busy at the moment) so plan your route with that in mind. Other than that, I don't think it's that different from running in the park (I do both). I like quiet residential streets - everyone's front gardens are full of spring flowers right now, it's a lovely sight.

[Hidden]

Definitely look both ways crossing the street V! Do you use headphones? Keep that sound on low and keep that awareness! You'll be fine though the streets are good for running

[dieOR5k Graduate]

I would trip myself gawking at the front gardens. Shiny object syndrome. Good luck🍀

[Speedy60 Graduate]

You may find there's not so much traffic about from tomorrow, especially with the schools shut. Try to avoid busy times.

Be careful with headphones. I always make sure I turn my head a look all around me before I run across a road. Sometimes drivers are worried you're going to do unpredictable things, like dart across a crossing.

Apart from that, just enjoy!

[Alast]

I'm a street (well, pavement) runner, I'm certainly no expert, but this is what I do. Firstly I go out early in the morning, 5 AM weekdays, so there's not a lot of traffic about then. (It's the only way I can fit running in around work and family). I do always wear a Hi-Viz jacket, even though it is getting lighter in the mornings now. I listen to my instructions from Laura, have a metronome app to make me run slowly, and I also listen to comedy podcasts as a distraction so I have to wear headphones so I've bought a cheap pair of \Bluetooth bone conducting ones so I can still hear what's going on around me (last week it was the dawn chorus of birds chirruping). I am lucky that where I live my runs (at the moment) take me through the streets and just out of the village before I have to turn around, and there are pavements all of the way. On my way out I always turn left, so the only roads I have to cross are side-roads which are quiet, and it's easy to see if something's coming. (I do cross over our main street to avoid an uneven pavement but the road is quite straight so again I can easily see & hear any traffic). I did consider a head torch but haven't got one as being in a village, some streetlights are lit when I set out (and they're all lit on the way back),, the only tricky bit was the few hundred yards outside of the village which has no lighting. It has been an interesting experience, sometimes starting off in moonlight and seeing the stars in the sky, and then as the mornings have become lighter looking around at the village I live in and the countryside around me has been quite enlightening, it's surprising how little you see when you're just passing by in the car.

[PollensaPal]

Hi. I have to do all my running on the streets.

I tend to do the same route most of the time (I like being able to compare my results on Strava even though I go mega slow). I don’t know if I’ve just been lucky but when I do have to cross a road (my route keeps it to a minimum), car drivers have been really considerate, slowing down & waving me across quite often. Obviously you do have to keep your wits about you though.

Good luck & enjoy those runs!!!

[venturieta Graduate]

I did it! W3R2 was a workout on the street.

Thanks to everyone for the advice, I read all the posts before I left home - which already helped me to calm down. I planned my route and everything went well. I ended up leaving a little late, the sun was already high in the sky and it was very hot - 28 Celsius. I will try to wake up earlier in the next few days.

I ended up running in the financial center of the city, which is reasonably close to home (it was very strange to see the streets empty, except for other runners and people riding bicycles), I don't know how things will during the week, but I imagine that a large part of people are already doing home office, and from Tuesday the mayor decreed a quarantine of 15 days, so all non-essential services will stop. Streets will be emptier, I suppose.

You were right: running on the street has its own challenges, but it is possible. I'm missing my park, but happy that I have an alternative and I won't have to stop the programme, at least for now.