Running Shorts

I don't carry one. Not even when I'm on call and have the pager. (not too sure why I would carry the pager with me but not a phone to call if I actually got paged).

I can totally understand the reasoning for it, but I just don't want to carry that big thing (I know, they are not big) around with me! Part of running is being able to get away from things...not carry them with you...

Audrey I rarely run alone, and when I do it's almost always during the day on the city's trail where I know someone every 400 yards usually. On a rare occasion I'll venture out onto the main streets of my suburban neighborhood at night. But I'm easily spooked out of running at night by myself and usually head for a treadmill. So I wouldn't have a need to carry a cell phone.

But if I had to run around town or run at night I might consider carrying one. Even though I generally hate having anything attached to me or having to carry things when I run I don't mind having small, heavy-ish things in my hands. I think I'd be ok carrying one, although I don't know how the sweat would affect the phone! I guess that's what the holder's for? As for attaching it to my shorts ... I think I'd hate that. Wouldn't it pull your pants down?

By the way - I've been meaning to express condolences about your grandfather, too.

as best i can tell it attaches to your arm right above your wrist...wow, i cannot believe you rarely you run alone...so different than my running persona/lifestyle!

The only time I carry my cell id when I do runs that last over an hour. That is mostly in case I hurt myself or get tired and need to call a cab or something. On the lakefront path there are usually a fair number of people, but it is kind of comforting to have it anyway. I put it in the pouch in my water bottle carrier thing.

I'm always running alone. I run in a crime ridden city (lunch time @ work) and a suburb of the crime ridden city (home). I carry a cell phone for safety. My rationale is that I could call the police or emergency services if something happened. On longer runs I put the phone in the pocket of the water bottle holder that fits around my waist. (It’s not one of those annoying fanny packs—I swear!) On shorter runs, I wear shorts that have a mesh pocket in the back that secures the phone and prevents it from moving around. I agree that people shouldn’t be taking/making phone calls when running. Some people are TOO in touch with people. Recently, I saw someone on the cell phone while canoeing. He crashed into the bank and nearly capsized.

For the last little while I've only been working part time, so I haven't had to carry a phone. The one time I was on call, I put my phone in my amphipod. The front of my hip was killing for the next few days!

In the next little while I'm going back to full time work, where I will constantly need my pager. Since I actually do get paged, I'll need to carry my cell. So I'd be curious to see how this turns out, and if that carrier doohickey is any good.

(And I guess the answer to your question is: if I'm not on call, I'd never take a phone. I don't want to be called. Though the truth is I barely like being called on my cell when I'm not running...)

How weird that you should blog about this today. I ran, for the first time ever, with my cell phone this morning. Even though I almost always run alone, I am usually running on suburban roads or in parks where lots of people or cars are around. But today, to give my ankles a rest from the pretty severe camber that the roads here have, I ran on the bridle paths in a nearby state park. And after having several people tell me that it was dangerous to run there alone, I freaked out enough to carry my cell phone.

I didn't need to use it (thank goodness!) but I'm kind of glad I had it -- I ran for over an hour and didn't see *anyone*. The funny thing was someone from work actually did call me while I was running. I didn't answer the phone though -- that would have been too weird.

I don't have a cell phone period so I guess in a sense that disqualifies me from commenting. But I think I wouldn't run with one for the same reason I don't have one: I don't feel I have to be in touch all the time. In fact, I often cringe when the phone rings at home. I'm married, I have kids (though they're grown), I'm outgoing and sociable (I can see where it doesn't exactly sound that way!), but there are limits.

Like you, I run mostly in a big city. I do carry ID.

Oh, and if it helps, I'm probably your mother's age.

I have only run with a cell phone once, when I was in Boston with Alison and Caitlin. I also ran with an umbrella that day :-) I probably would only do it in a strange city so that if I got lost, I could call the hotel for directions back (and have to remember the hotel phone number too!).

Blondie

Having been an EMS provider at a couple of fire departments here in VA I can tell you that cell phones have helped find critically injured people on a number of occasions including cyclists and runners. An ID tag is good for ID-ing an unconscious, incoherent, or deceased person, beyond that it is of little benefit. ANYONE running alone, particularly in unfamiliar or lightly traveled areas should seriously consider carrying a phone even if you turn the ringer off. There are a lot of hazards any time and place you run like dogs, falls, bike and vehicle hit and runs, weather, crime, sudden illnesses, etc... Is the one time it saves your life or limb in ten thousand runs worth carrying it?