no white at night

while i welcome the slight, gradual decrease in temperature (and perhaps more importantly - humidity), i am not happy about the days getting shorter. the sun is just starting to crest the horizon when i get ready for work around 6:45am, and dusk kicks in before 8pm. i am definitely a summer girl - i love the days where the sun doesn't set until 9pm or later.

i was recently sent this video by a rep for 3m. it's a good reminder to us all as we hit the pavement in the dark mornings or evenings this fall and winter.



i definitely failed this test - makes me want to get a head-to-toe reflective outfit!

i know some of my running gear (clothes and shoes) has an emblem or small strips of that silvery-reflective stuff (scientific name), but i do wonder if it is enough. my road id anklet has a good-sized strip of reflective material all the way around and when i know i'm running in the dark i wear this brooks nightlife hat ($24), complete with blinky red light on the back. dorky, yes, but i haven't been turned into road kill either.

new balance offers the 360 jacket ($90) for men and women that is made using 3m scotchlite reflective material. it just missed the cut for fashion week, but we runners eat too much to be found within 3 miles of the runway anyway. joking aside, the reflective material used on these jackets is a modification from that which is used to paint lines on the road. the 360 jacket comes with a music-friendly internal chest pocket and an "ice" (in case of emergency) tag.

as we wrap up the last official days of summer and kick off fall on wednesday, consider how visible you are or aren't to the traffic on your runs and take extra precautions if necessary. put on something with a little reflectivity and remember - "no white at night".

ps: don't forget to enter the pom giveaway - free coupons for pom juice!