The other day I was driving on No Name Uno in Gilroy at dusk when the car in front of me swerved out of our lane into the empty oncoming lane and then swerved back into the proper lane. It was a good thing too. Because of that driver’s actions, I noticed the woman in dark clothes facing traffic, walking in the scrubby grasses alongside of the roadway with three leashed dogs. They were very hard to see and only a few feet separated them from cars traveling 50mph or more.
  Now that we are off Daylight Saving Time, it gets dark very early. Anyone who is out walking, riding, or running at dawn or dusk needs to take precautions. Plan ahead by wearing light colored clothing; wear clothing that has reflective material on it; wear a reflective vest (running or sporting goods stores should have a selection of these; also, hardware stores will have vests for construction workers–these are a bit more heavy duty, but they work all the same); wear reflective bands and/or “blinkies”: flashers that you can attach to your water belt, shorts waistband, wrist, or arm; wear a headlamp–again, running, camping, or sporting goods stores should have a large selection to choose from, but even a lower-end headlamp sold at hardware stores will provide adequate light to see and be seen by drivers on the road.
  I purchased the armband Blinkies in the picture from Home Depot in their stocking-stuffer-section at the front of the store; they are sold as a pair and cost less than $10–a really good deal.
 Today, on my morning run in San Martin on the narrow roads, I ran facing traffic, as I usually do, and because in many places there is no shoulder to run on, I have to stay on or near the white line. But fortunately, the vast majority of drivers pull over to the opposite lane–when it’s safe to do so, of course–to give me lots of room, and to reassure me that I have been seen. I always give a polite wave and a smile to everyone who extends this courtesy.
  Naturally, it’s not always possible to give runners and walkers a wide berth, when, for example, there is traffic coming the opposite way. But it is always possible to slow down, rather than blow past somebody. Walkers, cyclists, and runners are extremely vulnerable; moving over, or slowing down won’t significantly impact anyone’s daily schedule. By showing a bit of courtesy to those of us who are continually running about, it’s likely that all of us, and others too, will extend the same courtesy when we encounter you or someone whom you care about is running a ridiculous number of miles to feed their addictive running habit.
  The Rotary Mission Ten–10 Mile and 5K races and a 1 Mile Kid’s run in San Juan Bautista is coming up on Saturday, January 25. The 1-mile kid’s run begins at 9 AM; 10-mile race starts at a very civilized 10 AM, and the 5K takes off at 10:15. Race-day registration opens at 8 AM. This is an excellent local run that is well-organized and well–attended by several hundred runners who use this late-January race as a kickstart to the new running season. Put on by the Rotary Club of Hollister, the race funds scholarships and charities in San Benito County. After the race–and the awards and the raffle–take advantage of the great food in the local restaurants, browse the shops along the main street, and do not fail to purchase some after-race goodies from the Bakery–breads and goodies to reward your efforts during the race. Register now, online to get a better deal than on race day–
http://mission10.racemine.com/Mission-10/events/2014/Rotary-Mission-Ten-10-Mile-5k—2014
Gotta run,
Craig Lore
