PUBLISHED 08/30/2006
Darryl S., Oak Park, Michigan
I know little about weather beyond the wind-chill factor, so I checked in with a meteorologist buddy who also runs five or six marathons a year. He told me that your risk of being struck by lightning while wearing those gadgets is no higher than if you ran stripped-down naked. Why? Because lightning is attracted to the tallest object around, like a telephone pole or house--not battery-operated gadgets. (If your GPS operates with a lightning rod or a kite with a key, that's another story.) But since simply being outdoors increases your risk of being struck, it's best to head for shelter during a thunderstorm. When you get home, don't hop right on the treadmill. If lightning hits your house, the current can pass through electrical wiring and give you a jolt that's stronger than a double-caffeinated gel.
