Winter started off slowly here. Remember my Boxing Day bike ride? Or my 5 degree bike ride with Nat? Those days are gone. Winter was late to the party this year but it seems to have arrived with a bang.
This weekend: Extreme cold warning issued for London area; wind chills below -30 expected
So no biking for me.
Even dog walking is a bit of a challenge. The sidewalks are snowy and the snow banks are getting high.
Tracy commented recently that I pay attention to pedestrian safety. I didn’t used to even think about it but since moving to London I’ve had two acquaintances killed by drivers while they were out walking, one person I knew from church and another I rode with regularly at the velodrome. Both ongoing acquaintances, both fit healthy women in midlife, dead because they were hit by drivers.
Knowing this makes me a well-prepared dog walker. Usually I wear reflective running gear and brightly coloured clothes but my winter stuff tends to be dark.
Luckily my son got a job with a snow shoveling company. The post came with a super warm, workplace safety approved, high visibility coat. Toasty! (This article details the stages of Canadian cold. I’m at least at Level 6, not caring what I look like.)
So I’m warm and extra visible. Tracy’s recent post got me thinking about the distinction between fear and anxiety. It’s true I take precautions when I’m out walking, and cycling, but once out there I relax and enjoy myself.
How about you? Do you feel safe out walking and running? What steps do you take to stay safe?
