BIR2: Running Incognito

It is Valentine’s Day, so I bought myself some jewelry.  A custom bracelet!  A Road ID.

BIR #2: Running alone without identification or accountability.

Welcome back to Bad Idea Runner, my blog feature where I try to help you learn from my mistakes.

I live alone and often run alone.  My cat is the only living thing that would miss me if I didn’t come home, sometimes for days if it was a weekend run (and let’s be honest, he wouldn’t miss me until his food bowl was empty).  Lately I’ve been coping with a case of paranoia; imagining getting kidnapped, mugged, or hit by a car when I’m out running in the dark.  Frankly, there is a part of me that feels the only thing a Road ID would do is give my abductor a list of people to demand ransom from, but I’ll try to be more realistic and positive… if thinking of getting hurt to a point where I couldn’t identify myself is positive.  There is always the chance of getting injured, whether hit by a car or falling on ice, mud, roots, or bumpy sidewalks.  Run about in the dark for hours and I’m bound to take a spill one day.

I’m very hopeful that I’ll never need to use the Road ID at all, but it is something I have been meaning to get  for years.  Finally decided today was the day.  A couple weeks ago, I got an email for 10% off, and the Road ID coupon code expires on 02/18/13.  If you’d like to use it before then, it is pcVDay13.  I saved $2.15, so not a huge savings but I’ll take it!

Months ago, a local sporting goods shop, Omega Sports, had assorted Road IDs on display for sizing purposes.  I tried on the various styles and sizes and decided to get the Wrist ID Sport, a bracelet of nylon webbing with velcro closure.  They also make the Wrist ID Elite, with silicone band and metal closure; the Wrist ID Slim which is a LiveStrong-type silicone band that just slips over the hand; and assorted other options such as ankle ID, dog tags and more.

While the webbing might take on more sweat than the silicone types, I didn’t want the metal closure of the Elite, nor the potential bouncing around of the non-fitted Slim.  I’ll probably wear it on my right wrist, whereas I wear my watch or Garmin on my left wrist.

I thought I remembered trying on a size small version at the store, but I checked their online suggestion of wrapping a dollar bill around your wrist to indicate size.  Since mine is less than a quarter inch gap, I am indeed a small wrist.  I chose the color black since green wasn’t an option, and red, yellow, purple, pink, and blue were not calling to me.

dolla dolla bill

As for the remainder of the order, the actual ID part, I’ll share an (edited) photo when it arrives.  You have up to six lines of text with up to 24 characters per line.  They suggest name on the top line, location on the second, 2-3 lines of emergency contacts and 1-2 lines of medical information and/or motivational phrases.

I put:Full Name
City, State
Parents ###
Sister ###
Friend ###
Just Keep Running

One thing that bothered me was the character limit per line.  I wanted to put my sister’s name and “sister,” as well as my friend’s name and “friend” or “local,” but there was not enough space.  I decided to write their given names and leave the descriptor off, though I did literally write “Parents” for that line.

I thought about putting this blog name instead of “Just Keep Running” but then I realized that hopefully nobody will ever look at this bracelet.  If someone besides me is reading it, I don’t need to be sending them to my blog, more likely they need to be sending me to the hospital.  A little motivational mantra seemed the right ticket as I’ll surely catch glimpses of this bracelet whilst wearing it.

Anyway, so in a week or so I’ll have my new Road ID.  This certainly doesn’t mean I’m going to start running in dangerous places or anything, but I hope it will give me some peace of mind once I start wearing it.

As for the Bad Idea Runner lesson part of this, I just suggest that you consider carrying some form of identification with you while you run (or walk, bike, hike, etc).  Maybe a cell phone, your license, implanted microchip (hey, my cat has one), or something.  And/or tell someone when you are going out and when you expect to return.  I thankfully haven’t had any bad runs without this, but I should have been safer all along.

And a heads up that this is not a sponsored post; I am not getting any compensation.  I’ve heard good things about this product and wanted to try it.  Just wanting to share my findings with you all!  I will follow up with a review once I’ve had it for some time.