Day Glo Joes story...
Joes a novice runner and after reading about the importance of Hi Viz on a well known runners forum decides to go out and make a few purchases. He doesn’t do things by half, so ends up with jacket, shorts and trainers all in luminous yellow with reflective trim. He adds a head torch and arm strobes as the finishing touches. Off he goes for his first night time run. He lives in the countryside so sets off down the road, with his back to the traffic, confident in the knowledge that everybody can see him and so they can all avoid him or stop. After the first mile he turns off the road into a residential area. He moves onto the footpath (well actually a cycle path, but that doesn’t matter as nobody cycles at night). As he wants to try and set a PB he fly’s down the path cutting every corner and staying as close to the wall as he can, “bump”, what was that – no time to stop, there’s a PB at stake here. After another mile he zooms out of the side road then back along the country road home. What a pleasant run and all those motorists patiently waiting or waving and shouting encouragement to him – or at least that’s what he thinks they said as he couldn’t hear them over his iPod.
Ninja Fool Jules story...
Jules is a shy type, she doesn’t like drawing attention to herself and so always wears black when running. She’s been a runner for many years so knows the risks and picks her route carefully. It’s not going to be her daytime route, but rather one which avoids road crossings as much as possible and keeps clear of driveways or cycle paths. Off she goes alert to traffic and others who can’t see her – she knows she’s pretty much invisible, so stops at every road and driveway, goes wide round each bend and really listens out for others. There’s one particular road that she crosses which is one way – she checks both as it wouldn’t be the first time someone got this wrong. She always looks a long way ahead and takes care for hidden footpaths or driveways (although there aren’t that many on the dual carriageway she’s running next to at the moment).
If you believe high viz is helpful, but not the only way to stay safe at night then read this:
Ending 1: After a steady run she arrives home safely, looking forwards to tomorrows daytime park run where she can chase that PB.
If you believe that high viz is essential kit and that only an idiot would choose not to wear it then read this:
Ending 2: Back on her own street she mentally starts to relax and switch off. Just at that point another runner dressed in luminous yellow, head torch and strobes leaps out of from the cycle path ahead, she doesn’t notice him in time and he clips her as he passes, but he doesn’t seem to notice. The knock sends her off balance, she tumbles and lands in the road, just as a car is passing...as the car skids her only thought is ‘if only I’d worn high viz’.
BE SAFE HOWEVER YOU RUN.
