Clip-on lights, usually priced at $10 or less, are rela­tively lightweight and may come with an arm or waist­band to facilitate wearing. Battery-powered, they are most often red and may feature different flash patterns. A note on flash patterns: while not proven, some believe flashing lights hamper drivers ' distance and speed perception. Some cyclists utilize a steady burn in low-traffic areas and switch to flash in urban areas to compete with ambient lights. Flashing lights generally have a longer lifespan than steady-bum lights.

When using armband lights, be sure the strap adjusts comfortably and that the light is permanently attached or clips firmly to the strap so that it is not distracting and stays in a position to face traffic at the proper angle.

A new development is the lighted strap, available as arm/ankle bands for around $12-$15 and as a belt for $18-$20. There is even a leash version to help protect your four-footed running partner. These straps are light, flexible and make it easy to achieve 360-degree visibility. Neon green, yellow or red in color, they are powered by a standard watch battery lasting up to 200 hours. Some include an adjustable flash pattern and provide visibility up to one mile away-a definite pre-

ventive measure . Trail runners are familiar with the

miner-style headlamp, which offers the advantage of illuminating unfamiliar ter­ritory in time to avoid the odd obstacle or hole underfoot. More expensive at around $20-$80, they run on M, AM or lithium batteries with a variable life of up to 35 hours, depending on brand, weather conditions and beam intensity selection. Some runners find that the continually moving circle of light in their field of vision makes them queasy after a while. Headlamps can also blind an oncoming motorist, so if you're strictly an urban harrier, this type of light is probably unnecessary. A light flashlight should suffice.

Of course, while reflective and/or lighted gear is crucial in darkness, good sense and caution are even more so. Don't let the darkness keep you from running, but respect it-and keep your­self from going bump in the night. e

The Expo Nov. 20-21, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Don't for~et, the Atlanta

Marathon and Half Marathon

are comin~ up on Thanks~iv­

in~ Day-and that means an

event dear to any ~ear

hound's heart: the Expo. This

year's Expo will be Tuesday

and Wednesday, Nov. 20-21

from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the

Sheraton Colony Square

Hotel, corner of l'tth and

Peachtree Streets. It's a ~reat

chance to catch some bar­

~ains and discover the latest

trends in runnin~ ~ear, so be

sure to check it out. Even if

you'll just be watchin~ the

race, you can look like a con­

tender.

PHIDIPPIDES RUNNING STORES

Ansley Mall 1544 Piedmont Rd. 404-875-4268

Sandy Springs 220 Sandy Springs Cir. 404-255-6149

THE NAME IN RUNNING FOR OVER 2400 YEARS!

10% ATC Discount