The JCP Swansea Half Marathon may have crossed the finish line last month, but runners are being reminded that their fitness needn’t suffer this winter. Despite the colder climate and shorter days, keeping up training throughout the year can improve your health and give you the boost of energy you may need. But staying safe and being careful is a must for runners during the darker months!

Brake’s Road Safety Week campaign began this week and runners are being urged to take sensible measures to avoid injury by cars, bikes or scooters. To help, we’ve put together a few tips for you:

• Make sure traffic can see you by wearing reflective gear
• Run in a safe, well-lit area with a wide path
• Plan your route and tell people where you are going and when you expect to be back
• Wear a head or chest torch just in case you need it
• Be aware that wearing headphones could make you unable to hear any approaching hazard
• Go with a running buddy if possible

David Martin Jewell of Front Runner Events (the organisers of the JCP Swansea Half Marathon), said: “Many runners will be hitting the streets in the winter months to keep their fitness levels up and it is important to make sure safety is a top priority. Even a relatively small injury can impact your running schedule, so it is important to warm up carefully and be safety conscious by taking the steps mentioned. The theme of National Road Safety Week is ‘be a road safety hero’ and this is a handy reminder of the part we play as drivers and cyclists, too, to look out for each other’s welfare.”

Kirsty Meech, an avid runner and Associate Solicitor at JCP Solicitors, said: “Of course it is important to do whatever you can to avoid injury. A&E departments are particularly stretched in the winter and aside from the fact that nobody wants to have to deal with an injury, it is important not to put any extra strain on the NHS.”

For details about how you can get involved in Brake’s Road Safety Week, click here.