Safety Tips: Running Around Your College Apartment Complex

Running has been proven to reduce stress while keeping you feeling fit, which is especially important when trying to remain productive and healthy during your time at college. Outdoor running also allows you to connect with nature and to explore your neighborhood without waiting in line at the treadmill.

Off-campus housing complexes are often ideal locations for going on runs. You can also go jogging throughout your neighborhood or running around the perimeter of your college campus. However, awareness of your surroundings and safety should always be your top priority:

Turn your music down. While it’s natural, and often necessary, to put your ear buds in on the way out the door, pumping up the jams can decrease your level of alertness. High volumes can block out important sounds, like honking horns or passing bicyclists

Carry pepper spray. While likely unnecessary, keeping mace with you can give you peace of mind should an unexpected attacker or even an aggressive animal approach.

Wear neon. Rather than sporting all black, wearing bright colors will better ensure that cars can see you while you’re running. Better yet, find reflective material to really help you stand out. Plus, neon colors are always fun to wear.

Carry your phone. While sometimes annoying, keeping your mobile device nearby guarantees that you have a way of contacting help should you get into trouble. It can also help you navigate if you take a wrong turn while running.

Obey traffic laws. While going all the way to the stop light or waiting for a walking signal can add a few seconds to your run time, just pause your tracking device to maintain an accurate speed calculation. It’s much more important to stay safe, and, yes, you can get ticketed for jaywalking.

Do you have any other safety tips to keep in mind when you’re running? Share your running tips with us in the comment section below.