8 Tips for Jogging at Night

There are a select few of us who enjoy jogging, and I’m sure there are even fewer of us who enjoy jogging at night! But I am proud to admit I am one of them. I especially enjoy nighttime jogging in the Summer when it’s nice and cooled off from the heat of the day. I love to gaze at the stars during my intermittent walking periods or my cool down.

However, jogging outside has its risks. Jogging at night only increases those risks. So if you are like me and love to jog at night, here are a few helpful tips to help you stay safe!

1. Wear Reflective Clothing

I can’t stress this enough. It is important for cars to be able to see you, especially when you're crossing any street. Unless you plan on jogging around the same block 50 times, best to get yourself some reflective clothing. Like this Adidas Reflective Jogging Tee. {affiliate} Even Reflective Tape would work well, which could be easily removed. Make sure it is on the front AND the back so it can be seen from both directions.

2. Tell Someone Where You Are Going.

It may seem trivial for a mature person to need to let others know where they are, but a good rule of thumb is to tell someone in your household roughly where you will be jogging, and what time you will roughly be back.

3. Wear Bright Clothing too.

Along with reflective clothing, make sure it’s BRIGHT! You want to be seen! Even in the dark, bright clothing will be seen better by car headlights and under street lights. You can also buy a clip-on jogging light that is hands-free like this one {affiliate} Clip-On Strobe LED Safety Light Kit

4. Speaking of Lights.

Make sure you are jogging in a well-lit area! Pay attention to park hours as their lights may go out after operation hours to deter late-night visitors. If you are jogging in your own neighborhood, and you see a street light out, don’t be afraid to contact your electric company to have them get it fixed.

5. Stay off the Streets

This becomes more crucial at night. Be sure that you are jogging in a place that has a sidewalk or a jogging path for you to be on. The further away from cars, the safer you are.

6. Get a Buddy

This one may be hard, but jogging with a partner is ALWAYS a smart idea. If you have no one in person to jog with, bring a dog along. Odds are they need the exercise too! Just be sure you have a good handle on them, as chasing a dog around in the dark would NOT be fun!

7. Lower Your Music

This tip isn’t the funniest, but it is important to be aware of your surroundings. Make sure your music is low enough to hear nearby traffic and people. Music can drain batteries on phones quickly, especially when streaming, so be sure you have a good charge to be able to use your phone if you run into trouble. A better idea would be to not listen to music at all. Sometimes nature and the night sky are all you need to keep going.

8. Keep Location on Your Phone

Remember how Google seems to have a map of everywhere you go? When your location is on, your cell phone pings various towers and satellites as you move around. If anything were to happen to you, (heaven forbid!) Local authorities should be able to figure out where you have been most recently. It may take more battery power, however, so make sure you have a good charge! Stay safe out there!