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There are some who might have seen this swimming around the Sports forum but I decided that I'd get a better response here. It's also the revised edition, as the last one was kinda vague.

Righto. Over the summer I changed my exercise regime to running out on the Common down my street, at about 7am. During the early morning light of summer it meant that it was a sensible and safe place to go, what with all the dog-walkers and other runners down there. But now it's winter and its getting darker with less people, and I can't wait until later in the morning to run because even when it was light, almost straight after I came back I'd have to get ready for school. So it's the place I need to change. I live in England, in a large city on the south coast, meaning that there are plenty of roads to run down but I question their safety. They tend to be even emptier than the Common is in early morning, and what with the roads and all it would be easy for someone to drive up and drag me into his car. As for after school - it's pretty much dark as soon as I get home anyway. confused Problems indeed.

Where do you run in the winter? Or don't you run at all during this time? I need some help, as you can see. I'm very happy with this type of exercise and don't really want to change again unless I absolutely have to.

EDIT:: There is the chance that even in the winter it's still reasonably light at 7am, but I wouldn't know because I've only been doing it since the start of summer...any English runners out there who can give information?

You could probably find a gym to go to after school that has a treadmill. Or if you still want to run in the morning outside, carry a whistle or airhorn that you can use so that people farther away can still come help if you're in trouble, and if you use either close to an assailant's ear, you'll probably be able to get away while they clutch their heads in pain.