Running is considered a safe sport, especially when it is practiced in dedicated settings such as bicycle paths, trails, parks or places where cars are not allowed to traffic. In fact, it is generally thought that the main threat to runners is motorists.
That’s probably true-for cyclists it certainly is-but the dangers for us running may also lie elsewhere, and, for sure, special attention to safety allows us to enjoy more of our daily vacation moment in shorts and running shoes.
To talk about security, I think it is necessary to start with a fundamental distinction: as in any context, there are active and passive security devices.
The former serve to prevent accidents, the latter to contain and limit damage. To give you an automotive example, in simple language, a car’s ABS and ESP systems are active safety devices because they help you in critical situations by preventing possible accidents; seat belts and airbags are passive devices because-when an accident has occurred and you are always touching iron-they help you avoid getting hurt.
Doing the due diligence, even in running we can talk about such devices. Obviously they have to be dropped into our context because I don’t think ABS shoes will ever exist. ;)
The active safety devices
In this category, in my opinion, the most important are those that increase our visibility. So reflective clothing and lights. Within this context-since we are in Sweat Lab and talking about technology-a special mention should be made of the
Garmin Fēnix 7X
which, with its Flashlight(we talked about it here), gives the possibility of being visible both front and back.
Passive safety devices
If by some unfortunate chance we were to get hurt, what devices would be most useful?
In all sincerity, I can think of anything that allows us to ask for help, assistance and report our needs.
Let’s start with the simplest: the cell phone. The smartphone keeps us connected to the world, but while you’re working out, you almost never have it at your fingertips, so technology comes to us.
In fact, in its devices,
Garmin
offers three features that are extremely useful for our safety and peace of mind.
LiveTrack
Through this function, anyone can follow our rides or workouts in real time on a dedicated web page. Our friends or relatives will not only be able to see our GPS location but also real-time data. It is an important way to share our passion and, most importantly, to update people on where we are and what we are doing.
Incident Detection
Once we have set up on Garmin Connect what our emergency contacts are, if the device detects an incident-such as a fall-while walking, running, or biking outdoors, it will send an automatic message, a LiveTrack link, and GPS location (if available) to the people we have set up.
Assistance
The operation is the same as that of Incident Detection, but instead of starting automatically, we send the message. Just hold down the power off button and select the red icon with the white asterisk.
Clearly all these features need us to have the smartphone associated with the sportwatch with us because the message starts from there but being able to access all these features directly from the Garmin is an added security. And if you really want to always be safe, for areas where there is no cellular coverage there is the line
Garmin inReach
that relies on satellite communications.
Hoping to never need it.