Have run, be safe.

Ah, glorious sunshine. You are finally back in my life! Because of you, I can part ways with my treadmill. I can stomp out my runs on local sidewalks while taking in the birds, the bees, the flowers and the trees that I have come to miss since the first flakes of snow fell just a few months ago.

If you're anything like me, dear reader, you will certainly take advantage of this weather and start running outside again. And I'd like to take a minute to remind us all about the importance of safety. It's a crazy, crazy world we live in and it never hurts to have a heightened sense of safety when you're out running.

A few tips:

1) Wear earbuds, but keep the volume down. If you can't hear the passing cars or the conversations of the people you zoom by, then your music is diminishing your awareness of potential hazards. Or goofballs that wish to attack you from behind.

2) Carry your keyring like it's a weapon. Stick a key through each of your knuckles to make a claw-like fist. You bet they'll poke out eyeballs and scratch skin!

3) Invest in gear that reflects, especially if you'll be engaging in pre-dawn or post-sunset runs. Is it really their fault if they couldn't even see you?

4) Look for shorts or shirts that have a pocket and slip that sleek cell phone inside it. You'll be glad you have it if you get lost or sprain an ankle.

5) Buy jewelry—running jewelry, that is. A simple Google search for ID bracelets will produce a list of vendors. As creepy sick as it sounds, you'll be easier to identify.

6) Never run the same path. If someone is watching you, they'll know where you go. Change it up and they'll get confused. And it'll obviously keep you from getting bored.

7) Hydrate when it's hot. (Duh.)

8) Wear sunscreen. You're obviously not running in a bathing suit, but you're still exposed to harmful UV rays.

9) Find a tiny bottle of pepper spray, perhaps one that fits on your keyring. It'll show that neighborhood dog who's boss.

10) Keep your eyes up and observe, observe, observe your surroundings at all times. Change routes for the better if something looks fishy. If they see you seeing them, well...they might back off.

What tips can you add to this list?