Running can be quite intimidating for a lot of people. Not everybody has that wish to put on their trainers and pound the pavements to get some exercise. In fact, even seasoned runners are not a fan of running most of the time. Some people don’t fall in love with running until they’re adult years, but if you are able bodied but hearing impaired, running can be even more of a challenge. You still may be out rocking your running route, but how can you make it safer so that you feel like you are in one piece when you run and you can run securely, getting the exercise that you need without worrying about external factors?
Thankfully, there have been a lot of evolutions and changes in the tech industry and when combined with sports medicine, you can bet that how tech is evolving for those with hearing impairment is only going to make life easier for those who love to run. If you’re hard of hearing or deaf or you wear a hearing aid, take a look at our safety tips below so that you can get out and get your exercise done without worrying about external factors around you.
- Use wearable tech. One of the biggest barriers to running if you’re deaf or hard of hearing is your safety. If you’re a woman and you love to jog at night time, you already have been lectured and told what not to do and what to do to keep yourself safe. You have an additional challenge if you’re wearing a hearing aid because you may not always be able to hear those around you. With the evolution of technology in sports medicine and in wearable tech, you’ll be able to sync your hearing aid to your phone with Bluetooth capabilities. This way, you can instruct Siri or any other virtual assistant to help you to call the emergency services if you need it.
- Find a group you love. Another pointer when it comes to safety when running is to find a running group or a partner to run with. If you’re not going it alone, you’re going to feel safer in numbers. You’ll also be able to follow the crowd, so if you are hard of hearing whilst you are running, you’ll be able to watch what others are doing and follow where they go. This can really help you out when it comes to dodging cars, cyclists and other pedestrians because your group can warn you of any dangers ahead.
- Wear something to alert others. If you are running alone and there is an emergency, you may not always hear somebody calling for you to stop running or to pay attention. You need to be able to let drivers and cyclists know that you are hard of hearing and you might not hear that they are there. This allows them to be more cautious, and it also lets other runners and pedestrians know how to communicate with you if necessary. Whether it be a sign on the back of your reflective vest or you wear a badge, it’s completely up to you.
- Keep a good pace. If you are running the same route night in, night out, then you should keep a good pace as you go. If you’re staying with a group especially, make sure that you stay on course and don’t miss any instructions that could be audible but not visual.
