First, Safety

Road ID is the company that makes ID tags especially for athletes–cyclists, triathletes, runners. When we are out on the roads, or trails, we are quite vulnerable. Accidents happen, medical conditions arise, and there you are miles from home. If something happens–you have been hit or you have passed out. Nobody is going to know who you are, where you live, or who to call. You are wearing shorts and a shirt–there’s no place to stash your wallet and nobody wants to rip their ID from that wallet, transfer it to a shorts pocket, and then have to remember to put it back in your wallet after the run. It can be a problem.
So RoadID.com stepped up, and offers for sale a wide variety of bracelets, shoe tags, dog tags and other items that are laser printed with important Identification information. Put the shoe tag on your running shoes or wrap the bracelet around your wrist as you head out the door, and you have a better chance of getting help when somebody finds you.
Now, RoadID has introduced an app for iPhone and other iProducts (they say and Android version may come in the future). So once you activate the app you enter the amount of time you plan to be running, select the people you want to contact (up to five people whose phone number or email you have entered), turn “eCrumb Tracking” to “ON” hit “NEXT” to check your setting, and when you start your run hit “Start eCrumb.” The people you have selected will be contacted by text or email as you have designated and will receive a message from RoadID that contains a webpage URL. When your contacts clicks on the link they will see a map of your location. The map is updated every minute, so they can keep track of you during your bike or run, and see how close you might be to finishing your workout. In addition, if you wish, you can activate a Stationary Alert–if you are not moving for five minutes, the app first sends an audible note to your phone, which you can deactivate, but if you don’t deactivate the alarm, your contacts will be notified to call you and see if you are OK. You can also customize the exact time for the alert. If you are unable to call your contacts because you have been incapacitated, they can use the map to alert emergency personnel to your location. Lastly, you can add Identification information to your lock screen–emergency telephone numbers, medical information–blood type, medications taking or allergic to, or whatever is important to know.
Of course, the app only works if you take your phone with you. So you need to carry it in a water-bottle holder, a backpack, pocket, or waist belt of some kind. I always take my phone with me anyway, just for emergencies. And there are lots of easy to use and comfortable products that can carry your phone. In addition, it only works if you have cell phone service in the area. But if you are in and out of cell service, it will pick you up whenever you are “in.” The map in the photo is the route that I took Sunday morning, October 27 at Harvey Bear County Park.
For your own safety, and for your anxious loved ones back home, this is a great tool to make sure that somebody knows where you are and where to find you in case of an emergency.
Gotta Run,
Craig Lore