With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, more people have decided to take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle. Running, helping benefit both the body and the mind, can be a prominent part of this initiative. However, good things aren’t always practiced by good people. It’s important to always be aware of your surroundings and always think before you act, using these tips as a guide to making smart choices.

1. Run with a friend or running partner.

With the extra motivation as a bonus, running with a friend or partner makes for a safer and more enjoyable experience. Plus, if something were to happen, there’d be someone by your side to help you.

2. Don’t run with headsets – be aware of what is around you.

Stay alert. Although running with music blasting into your ears can be quite an enjoyable experience, it’s important to be able to hear, see, and comprehend what’s happening around you.

3. Carry change for a phone call.

You never know when or where your will die. If you run into some trouble (literally) or you simply don’t feel safe, it’s important you are able to access the resources needed to call a family member or close friend.

4. Tell friends or your parents where you will be running and when you should be back.

If something goes wrong, it’s essential someone know where you were and when you were supposed to be there. If you were to possibly go missing, whatever the circumstance, it would be that much easier to find you.

5. Run in areas you are familiar with.

If you know the area, you are less likely to get lost. If you don’t get lost, you are less likely to find yourself in a situation you don’t know how to get out of.

6. Run against traffic so you can see approaching cars.

It’s a whole lot easier to jump out of the way if you can actually see the car that isn’t moving out of your path. Even if you’re running off the road, don’t just assume all drivers are able to see you.

7. Wear reflective material if you run before dawn or after dark.

Again, just be smart. If drivers are distracted, with the added detriment of not being able to see to their best ability, what’s to stop them from hitting an unsuspecting runner? And even if you do choose to wear reflecting clothing, still, keep an eye out.

8. Avoid strangers or people acting strangely.

Ok. I’m going to be honest here. The world is not a perfect place and people are not the kindest beings on it. If you have a bad feeling about someone or something, honor your instincts! It’s good to be trusting of people, but makes sure if you do it’s for a reason that makes sense. Don’t trust blindly – you are not being kind, by doing this you are putting yourself in danger.

These tips aren’t supposed to scare you out of running, they should simply make you more mindful while running. Just be smart, have fun, and, please, stay safe.