There is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning. What should you do when you’re out on the trail or in the middle of a race during a thunderstorm?
Author
Liza Howard
Liza Howard
Liza Howard is a long-time ultrarunner and harried mom living in San Antonio, TX. Her racing highlights include winning the Leadville 100 twice and winning the USATF 50-mile Road Championships in 2017 and the 100k in 2018. She divides her time between teaching for NOLS Wilderness Medicine, directing the Band of Runners non-profit and coaching for Sharman Ultra and being a busy mom.
-
-
The goal of this column is to identify the hazards you’re likely to face on the trails so you can best manage the risk, mitigate consequences and make good decisions about the places you want to run and race. Taking on this responsibility yourself will help you avoid uncomfortable, distressing and sometimes very dangerous situations.
-
Wilderness medicine is simply urban medicine practiced in an austere and inconveniently distant environment – like out on the trails or at a race aid station. But there are a number of important differences between the two.
-
If cutoffs are your nemesis, try the following aid station tactics. They’ll easily give you a 30-minute cushion. In a 100 miler, you’ll likely end up with an hour’s worth of safety net. And if you just want to PR or nose out a rival without running any faster, try these strategies too.