NATHAN Sports, the Running Essentials leader in creating purposefully-designed hydration, visibility and performance gear, is excited to celebrate National Running Safety Month this November. With the help of NATHAN’s elite athletes, including Andy Potts and Cam Dye, the brand wants to make sure runners understand the importance of staying properly hydrated and visible when heading out for a run, for optimal safety.

Fresh on the heels of NATHAN’s recent “What’s Your Hydration Plan?” and “Fire Up Your Run” campaigns, NATHAN’s top athletes are emphasizing the combined importance of both hydration and visibility in the lead-up to National Running Safety Month. Proper hydration plays a vital role in safety, helping runners to fuel their run and avoid injury, perform better and recover faster. Proper visibility is also imperative to a safe run, as 70 percent of adult pedestrian fatalities occur in the dimly lit hours of dusk and dawn.

With those statistics in mind, and for easy reference, here are a few helpful running safety tips from some of NATHAN’s record-breaking athletes:

Be Visible.

• Andy Potts, Olympian and World Champion triathlete – “When running or cycling, I always assume that people cannot see me. As such, I always dress in reflective clothing/vests and use some sort of light or strobe.”
• Max Fennell, First professional African American triathlete – “I love running at dawn – watching the sun rise in the middle of a training session energizes me. In the early morning hours, commuters are accustomed to seeing red blinking lights in traffic, so I like to make myself a bit more noticeable with NATHAN’s neon green StrobeLight.”
• Mike Wardian, Marathoner and ultra marathoner – “Try not to wear all black when running at night. While it is fun to dress like a ninja sometimes, this is not the time or the place – it only makes it harder for people to see you. I try to make sure I wear something reflective or carry a handheld light, to make sure I catch the attention of drivers in the dark.”

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate.

• Cam Dye, Professional triathlete – “Whether summer or winter, it’s crucial to hydrate before, during and after your run. During my runs, I like to use one 10 oz. NATHAN QuickShot every 45 minutes for optimal performance.”
• Pam Reed, Ultrarunner and 2-time Overall Badwater Champion – “I like to take a Nathan water bottle, filled only with ice, out on my runs. Eating the ice helps, and as it melts, I can drink the water to fuel the rest of my run.”

Be Prepared.

• Emily Harrison, Marathoner and ultrarunner – “Be sure to tell someone you’re going for a run and what route you’ll be taking. Also check the most recent weather report before heading out.”
• Ian Torrence, Ultrarunner – “If you plan to run in a busy area, use only one ear bud so you can hear what’s going on around you and stay more alert. When possible, run with a partner and carry your cell phone.”
• James Bonnett, Ultrarunner and coach – “While running in city streets, be sure to run toward traffic so you can always see what’s coming towards you.”

“As evidenced by our athletes’ expert advice, it’s important to stay properly hydrated while running, whether you prefer to carry (water bottles) or wear (belts or vests) your water source,” says Brent Hollowell, VP of Marketing for NATHAN. “Equally important is the use of lights and reflective pieces that can be seen from multiple angles, ensuring drivers can see you from all directions. Being prepared for a run – with proper hydration and visibility in place – means runners can focus and know they’re safe, for National Running Safety Month and beyond.”

For more details, visit NATHAN at www.NathanSports.com, on Facebook (NATHAN Performance Gear) and Twitter (@NathanPerfGear).

Contact

Allison Showalter
919.277.1158
ashowalter@fwv-us.com

Logo courtesy NATHAN