Run SAFE with RunLites!

Though Cleveland's cold, dark winter is finally (sorta) wrapping up, inevitably it will return.  Short days and overcast skies make safe running very difficult in the winter.  And of course, now that I'm stretching runs long and longer, eventually I'll be finding myself running in the early morning or late evening - again, very dark and difficult to stay safe, especially since I love running in parks, which aren't historically the best-lit places.  I struggled to find a balance between safety and training over the past few months, but honestly, more often than not it was training that took the hit in favor of staying safe.  Then, I finally saw the light.

RunLites, that is!  These gloves have had a huge impact on my training - most specifically, I no longer have an excuse to skip a run because "it's too dark."  I tried the fingerless glove options (they also have full-fingers) and basically fell in love.  The fit is perfect for me, and the gloves are made of very comfortable material.  They're not as breathable as I'd probably like them to be, but it's hard to make the back of the hand more open because of the light pockets.  Yup, light pockets.  Small, lightweight, press-on lights can be slipped into the backs of the gloves and anchored with velcro (which also allows you to seal those compartments if you choose to remove the lights).

I've run with blinking LED lights and a reflective vest before, to try to mitigate some of the danger of running in the dark, and it's a great solution - when it's just me.  But there's the whole "running with my puppy" thing, and a reflective vest on me doesn't keep HER safe.  Not to mention when there's wildlife around us and the other animals aren't wearing reflective vests...  The light from these RunLites is bright enough that I can 15 feet around me, just by pointing my hand at it.  In fact, when I'm out with the dog, the hand holding the leash is angled exactly right for the light to shine on Kaalia and the road in front of us, so I can always see our path.  My other hand is free to point out whatever area needs more light, including straight ahead when cars are approaching or to the sides when we're running through the woods and need to scan for danger.

No streetlights, no filters.

That's ALL RunLites in the middle of the night!

I'm so much less worried about running with Kaalia when my schedule forces us to run in the dark!  Being able to see so much more of my surroundings is a huge training benefit for the winter months and early mornings/late nights.  The gloves are comfortable and easy to use, and the lights are rechargeable, so there's no issue with using them up or worrying about replacement batteries.  And I'm not even using all of the features: there are bungee cords across the palm that are perfect for strapping down some running fuel, like gel packets, if you aren't taking a belt or don't have pockets.

Guess what - all of these awesome benefits can be YOURS too!  I'm giving away a pair of RunLites for a lucky reader!  As always, use the Rafflecopter below to earn entries into the giveaway; contest ends May 18th at midnight!

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