Evening is one of the best times to exercise outside, especially in the summer. By dusk, the air is cooler and everything seems a bit more tranquil. If you’d rather not get up at the crack of dawn to beat the heat, evening workouts of walking, biking, or running might be for you.
Just remember that the benefits of working out at night do come with some safety risks. Here are three simple tips to help keep you safe during your evening activities.
1. Be Alert
You should always be careful when exercising on the road, but when visibility is reduced, use an extra measure of caution. Looking both ways before crossing an intersection goes without saying, but when it’s dark you’ll need to use your other senses to back you up. Leave the headphones at home and take an extra moment to look and listen before heading out into the street.
2. Be Visible
Wear reflective clothing. If you exercise at night regularly, invest in a reflective vest or other item of clothing that will help make you visible from a distance. If you’re biking, make sure your bike has reflectors on the front, wheels, and pedals.
Another good idea is to use a head lamp or flashlight. This will not only help you see where you’re going, but it will also let motorists know where you are.
3. Use the Buddy System
If you can, exercise with a friend. Groups or pairs of people are easier to see, and there’s truth to the “strength in numbers” idea. If you run with other people, you’ll have more ears and eyes watching out for potential danger, not to mention someone to get help in the event that someone should get hurt.
Follow these simple safety guidelines during your nightly activities. You’ll be able to enjoy your evening workouts with greater peace of mind if you’re doing all you can to keep yourself safe.
