Running Safely

I believe the worst accident we have had on a training run off campus was when someone was turned around talking, and ran into a street sign requiring six stitches. When I first began coaching at Capital the administration threatened to restrict the team to campus for safety and behavioral reasons. I convinced them that sidewalks and bike paths would be safe and I would guarantee my athletes would follow certain rules while running off campus.

Here are the rules:

1. If there is a bike path or sidewalk use it.


2. If running on a road, which we are allowed to do now because of your splendid behavior, face on coming traffic. An exception to this rule would be if you were on a road with blind turns or curves and then you need to carefully run with the traffic briefly until all is clear. I find this to happen more when I’m on vacation running in unknown territory.


3. Always assume that vehicles cannot see you. Even if the law says you have the right of way don’t bet your life on it. You might be right, but you could be dead wrong.


4. Run with a partner and know where you are going.


5. Use walk lights. We don’t want you run over and we don’t want complaints which will lead to you being confined to campus.


6. In the off season when the weather is poor and it gets dark early wear bright clothing.


7. If you are harassed by people in cars, get a license number. Do not interact with them.


8. Stay off lawns. It really ticks some people off when you run across their lawns. I’m not sure why – perhaps it’s when 50 of you tromp through.


9. Keep your pants on. Yes, we had someone a while back stupid enough to moon an Olympia School District bus filled with elementary children. The bus driver contacted the school and it didn’t take too long to figure out who was the culprit. At best you would be confined to campus running, at worst you could be kicked off the team or be declared a sex offender and end up living in Grass Lakes – and I don’t mean the housing development.


10. It is not unusual for us to have 30 athletes in a group out running. If you are leading a group of runners and cut across a street make sure that everyone in the group can clear the traffic. If you are running in a group and it cuts across a street make sure you don’t follow blindly. Look both ways before crossing.