We run together: some in groups, running races, and with our pets. Yes, sometimes there are solo workouts and runs for all of us but in large measure we are surrounded by people exercising, especially outdoors and/or at the gym. And in order to remain safe, especially in winter, we need to have a sense of where others are nearby at all times. Slippery icy conditions can appear when we least expect it and endanger our safety and that of others whom we are running/walking. There is a sense of synchronicity that is required in order to be safe and to keep our footing on solid ground.
Recently Misty and I were running together and crossing a bridge that appeared to be “safe” but there were some icy patches and even wearing Yaktrax, I almost slipped and fell. Rewinding that situation to figure out what happened is helpful because it may allow us to prevent future accidents/injuries from happening. One difficulty with running with dogs is all the differential speeds they use. We have to know what pace the dog is running and keep our steps close enough to theirs in order to be safe. If the dog suddenly pulls on the leash and we aren’t prepared for that or if the dog slips on snow/ice, we have to be ready to correct the situation in order to maintain our balance. In winter especially I try to keep Misty closer than usual with the leash (within a few feet) but not so close that we step on each others feet/paws. If it is more pleasant weather (like today) and the trails are not crowded, I give her maximum latitude with a looser longer leash so she can roam a little more (and hunt…or pretend to hunt).
The only really bad fall I’ve had with Misty on the leash was in icy conditions a few years ago. The dog simply slipped on the ice unexpectedly and I didn’t have time to correct and rebalance. So I fell sideways hitting my ribs hard on the rocks/ground. Not all falls are preventable (this one probably wasn’t: it was extremely cold and icy) but many are.
Let’s look at a few pictures of synchronized running and less synchronized running with a dog on the leash.
The first picture shows close to an ideal placement of synchronized steps and running with your dog. It’s safer as long as you aren’t too close (at least a foot or two is usually enough space). Two feet gives a little more margin for error or movement. In the other picture, we’re pretty far apart with the leash almost fully extended. Not an ideal synchronized alignment to use for very long (if we let out the leash too much bikers and runners will have to work harder to pass us if they are going by us) although on a warm weather day, it’s okay to test it a little bit and see how your dog responds. Misty usually likes maximum amount of leeway on a looser leash unless she is frightened by something (larger dogs or loud noises). I do try to synchronize steps with Misty as much as possible: it helps us run safer.
We don’t have to be synchronized to the extent of Olympic figure skaters or synchronized swimmers but enough to stay safe on the roads and trails. Similarly, if we separate from a group run/pace group too much, it can place us in a little more danger (depending on the neighborhood/area we are running through at the time). If you’re trying to break a PR (personal record), that’s understandable and that would be an exception. So we want to be aware of how fast the group is running or run-walking and try to at least keep them in sight for safety. Our footsteps don’t have to be completely coordinated to be striking the ground at the same time but matching stride-for-stride is close enough: again, allowing space for all runners to be safe in their own “zone”. We all need our own safety zone to keep our running groove intact and allow us to develop that groove and take it to the next level of goals, improvements, and aspirations that drive us.
One way of staying safe in running/exercise is to utilize Brilliant Reflective safety strips. Have you tried these? Stick-on and ironing varieties and varying sizes give us a lot of options to easily be seen by others. That’s important because collisions happen, even between runners on the trails/roads. Fortunately, it’s usually the variety of brushing elbows against someone during a race or bumping into someone who makes an unexpected move in an unexpected direction. If you’re interested in trying Brilliant Reflective, check out their website: BrilliantReflective.com. As a Brilliant Reflective ambassador, I have a special code I can share to allow you to save a little more on your purchase.
Just as we synchronize our watches and clocks to show up for events at the same time, we must synchronize our footsteps and movements with others (including our pets) in order to stay safe on the roads and trails. Hope your winter training is going well. Happy healthy trails and stay synchronized!
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