Fall Running Tips

It’s hard to believe that the Fall season has already arrived. Cooler nights, shorter days, pumpkin flavored treats, and much better running weather all come with my favorite season, not to mention the views of different colored leaves.

If you prefer cooler temps and lower humidity, then you probably also enjoy running in the fall. Just because the temps are better, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for the different conditions that fall provides.

Below are a few tips that will help you enjoy my favorite running season.

In order to get a little variety of feedback, I asked fellow Twitter #RunChat users about what tips they wanted to share for Fall Running. Below are a few of theirs and a few of my running tips.

If you have any other fall running tips, please send me a message or leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

1. Wear Reflective Clothing

Running in the fall means cooler weather, shorter days, and earlier sunsets. If you often run on the road, you need to be especially careful during sunrise and sunset. The times of these are often really close to rush hour, which means more traffic and less visibility. This is not a great combination for cyclists and runners who also want to share the road.

If you do plan to run on the road, wear bright clothing, run defensively, and try to stay as far off the road as you can.

@RunGearGuy Fall running is THE BEST. Perhaps something about reflective gear since there are less sunlight hours?

— Jessica N. (@JessRunsATL) October 18, 2016

Thanks to @JessRunsATL for the tip!

Related Post: Tips for running at Night

2. Replace batteries in Headlamps

With shorter days, comes less sunlight. Last year I started running more at night and even did some night trail runs (fun, but scary at first). During my first night trail run, I had a low powered headlamp. Not only was it not very bright, but made it tough to see things that I probably should avoid like twigs and rocks. I ended up buying the Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp on Amazon. This headlamp was a little more than I wanted to spend, but it was one of the top rated headlamps on Amazon and being able to see clearly at night was important to me.

If you are going to run at night and use a headlamp, make sure you put fresh batteries in your device. Not only will it shine brighter, but you will have confidence they will last during your next night run.

@RunGearGuy Get fresh batteries in your lights and be ready for some dark runs.

— Connie Kosberg (@conniekos) October 18, 2016

Thanks to @conniekos for tip!

Related Items: Running Headlamps | Batteries on Amazon.com

3. Try to avoid wet leaves

If you have trees in your yard, then you know why this tip is important. Running on any wet surface, especially leaves can be tricky. Leaves themselves can not only be slick, but there could be other things hiding under them such as sticks, rocks, and anything else that could cause you to roll an ankle, trip, or fall.

I find that shortening my stride helps me maintain my balance while running in wet or slick conditions.

@RunGearGuy Beware of wet leaves on the ground, so slippery!

— PghRunner (@pghrunner) October 18, 2016

Thanks @PghRunner for the tip!

4. Dress Appropriately

As the weather continues to get cooler, one thing I try to do is layer up when running. Layering up allows you to stay warm and dry during your runs. As you warm up, removing layers makes it easy to stay cool and run your best. @ChelseyKelsey suggests dressing as if its 20 degrees warmer. I have heard similar suggestions as well. Layering properly will allow you to adjust to changing weather conditions.

One of my favorite layering pieces is Patagonia Capilene. These shirts are comfortable, lightweight, and keep you warm when needed.

@RunGearGuy don’t overdress! Dress like you would if you were going for a walk and it was 20 degrees warmer!

— Kelsey (@ChelseyKelsey) October 18, 2016

Thanks to @ChelseyKelsey for sharing!

Related Items: Patagonia Capilene

5. Watch out for acorns, walnuts, and sticks

When I asked #RunChat folks about fall running tips, I didn’t expect to the acorn one multiple times. It’s amazing that something so harmless could wreak havoc on a runner. Two years ago I was training for the Akron 1/2 Marathon and two weeks before the race I rolled my ankle on a rock, which was about the size of a buckeye or large acorn so I can understand why people suggest avoiding these things.

Similar to what I mentioned for wet leaves, shortening my stride always seemed to help with balance when running with these in front of me.

@pghrunner @RunGearGuy Along with black walnuts and acorns!

— Ariana (@RunEatWineSleep) October 18, 2016

@RunGearGuy Beware of acorns and walnuts! ? Also, if you’re wearing shorts & a tee PLUS gloves, it’s perfect weather. #runchat

— tracy green (@TGRunFit) October 19, 2016

Thanks @RunEatWineSleep and @TGRunFit for Sharing!

6. Run inside if you need to

If the weather is wet, dark, and you aren’t sure of the trail or road conditions, then there is nothing wrong with mixing in a run on the treadmill or a ride on the bike trainer. If you run on a trail or need some additional grip for the trail, I recommend picking up a pair of Yaktrax. These easy to use shoe covers offer more traction on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces. Please note, these are not intended to be used on wet road surfaces.

Related Items: Treadmills | Bike trainers | Yaktrax

7. Order a Road ID

If you follow me on Twitter or Like my Facebook page, then you know that I am a huge fan of Road ID. These cheap, easy to wear devices can be a lifesaver if something happens while you are out running or cycling. These devices can be worn as a bracelet, attached to your activity tracker watch, or worn on your shoe. They contain important information like allergies, emergency contact information, and anything else that could help first responders. For $15-$20, it’s a cheap investment that could save your life.

Visit RoadID.com

Thanks again to those who contributed to this post!