Help - Running on country roads

[spunkypenguin]

I live in the middle of no where - seriously! I have been running from my house to the entrance of my neighborhood, which is exactly 1mi. Then back for 2mi total. I really want to start training for longer distances and going to the park by my work is not always convenient. I ran out on the road that leads to my neighborhood, but a half mile felt like an eternity b/c I was so anxious about cars coming. It's a country road with no shoulder. There's not heavy traffic, but I saw about 10 cars in the time it took me to run out (.5 mi) and back.

How do you get used to running on country roads? Any tips? The hills are killer, but I can overcome that and probably be a better runner for it. I just don't like cars coming at me...

[katiecj]

I run as close to the side as possible and I always run with a super bright crossguard type thing. That way I'm very visible.

I make sure my music isn't too loud so that I can hear the cars, most of the time I run with only one earbud in.

I guess I just figure I had no choice and got used to it.

[shauni27]

I also live in a very rural area--most of our roads are dirt and have no "shoulder" on them at all. I also only wear one earbud so I can hear cars coming behind me on the other side of the road, and I just stay close to the edge. Most people slow down and move over, especially since they are on country roads, they are going slow already. Just last weekend though two assholes were following each other, going WAY too fast and did not move over at all. I flipped them off and yelled at them.

[Deleted]

Bright bright bright neon colors and only one ear bud. I try to keep as far over to the side as I can. If there's level ground off the road I'll often move on it to when cars are passing me. Most people are pretty good about moving over. They don't want to hit you any more than you want to get hit.

[Brit]

It sounds like I am the odd man out here, but I simply won't do it. Yes, driving somewhere safe to run can be inconvenient, but it just isn't worth it to me to put myself at risk. Our local country roads are paved, but extremely narrow and people drive insanely fast on them, like 60+. I make time to drive 15 minutes into town to run on a paved trail.

[spunkypenguin]

I do wear light colors and I only run during the daylight hours. I guess I will just have to get over my fears. The closest town is 20+ minutes away and the closest town with a legitimate running trail (crushed gravel, though) is 45 minutes away (same as where I work, but don't always want to stay after work to run).

[2doxies]

Also, I would get a road ID if you don't already have one.

[spunkypenguin]

May 18, 2012 16:44:52 GMT -5 2doxies said:

Also, I would get a road ID if you don't already have one.

I was just looking at those today. It's on my wishlist to get one soon!