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| Yes | 31% | 382 votes | Total: 1247 votes | |
| No | 69% | 865 votes |
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Add to FavoritesJogging is a great way to have fun and stay in shape. But is it safe? Well yes it can be as long as you are making it safe. There is no reason that you can't share the road with everyone. Here are some things to do and not to do while jogging.
First of all, it is best to run with a partner, just in case something would go wrong. But some people enjoy running as a way to be alone and get away for awhile. I must admit, I am guilty of this one myself. So if possible, bring a cell phone, I always carry it in my hand if I don't have pockets.
I know the number one worry when jogging on the road is traffic. You can't control who is driving on the road, but there are precautions that you can take. Avoid running at night, even with reflective clothing, it can be hard to see you. If your limited to time, try early mornings, it beautiful in the morning anyways. And also avoid running in bad weather, when conditions are bad, try to use alternate forms of exercises. When running, stay as close to the shoulder as you can, and make sure your on the proper side of the road. And pay attention to whats going on, if you drift of in your own world when your running, your more likely to be unable to avoid a situation. If you tend to drift off, which I am also guilty of, then run in the park, trails, or country if possible.
Next, if you plan on running for a long distance, make sure you have access to water. If you plan on running in the country and might not have access to a fountain, then bring a light bottle with you. You can strap it right to your pack. I use a light nylon backpack, but a simple string will do the trick.
Wearing proper shoes is also important, especially if your running of ruff terrain or blacktop. Not wearing proper shoes can result in blisters, rashes, and even more serious injuries such as sprained ankles. And we all know that them are not fun. Obviously tennis shoes are a must, but its even better if you have special designed running shoes. I prefer Adidas cross country, but all major shoe companies make a running shoe. Also walk in your shoes for awhile after you get them. You don't want to run in your shoes until they are broken in.
Warming up is a must when jogging, especially for long distances. If you don't, cramps are a very likely to happen, and they are not fun at all, not to mention pulling and straining muscles. I like to take a very light warm up jog, just around the block or down the driveway and back if you live in the country. This allows your muscles to loosen up so you can stretch. Stretching is a very good idea. I usually stretch for about fifteen to twenty minutes.
The final tip is cooling down. When your heart is racing, you don't want to just immediately stop and lay down. You want to slowly come down, turn your jog or run into a walk. Then stretching afterwards is also a good idea. Your muscled will be able to heal properly and you won't be as sore the next day either, which is a big plus. Proper nutrition also helps, try eating a fruit after your stretch, this will get natural sugars back into your muscles.
I hope this helped. Jogging is a great exercise and great passtime. Be safe, be aware, and have fun.
Learn more about this author, Randall Walker.
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No
I think that the question is, is it really necessary to jog on the roads anymore and put your life in danger. What good does it do you to be in good shape and get run over on the side of the road by somebody driving down the road text messaging and doesn't see you. Bright clothes and all the safety equipment and ideas can't overcome people not watching where they are going. To me it just isn't worth the risk and besides there are all kinds of parks, walking and jogging trails, tracks and recreation centers where you can jog and not have to worry about getting run over. Almost every community whether it be big or small has parks and hiking trails where it is safe to jog It isn't hardly safe to drive a car on the road anymore let alone jog down the road.
If you absolutely can't find a jogging path or trail close enough to your house and feel you must jog on the road, invest in a safety green jogging suit with fluorescent reflective tape and have reflective tape on you hat and shoes. IF you are stupid enough to jog after dark, I don't know what to tell you except that to have your business in order and make sure you are right with the Master
You need bright rain gear too if you are going to jog in the rain.In the winter when the roads are icy, I find a recreation center or definitely some place off the road where there are other people in case you slip and break something. Icy roads and joggers are the worst possible scenario.
If you are jogging when the sun is at its peak, make sure you use a good sun block and have plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Sun burn and skin cancer can be very serious. Another thing that you really have to watch for jogging on the road is animals. Mostly it is dogs but depending on where you are , there can be wild animals like fox, coyote, skunks, opossums, badgers and even sometimes a mountain lion. You usually don't run into these types of things on jogging paths and animal droppings isn't a problem either.
When you consider all the dangers associated with jogging on the roads, I think it is worth getting in the car and riving to a park or trail head where it is much safer and there are usually other people who can help if you have a medical emergency.
Another danger of jogging along roads are inconsiderate people who throw things out of the window. Bottles ,cans, and cigarettes are dangerous. I have a very good friend who got a very serious cut on his calf from a bottle thrown out the window of a car. The bottle broke and bounced up and impaled the neck of the bottle in his calf.
I love to walk and take my dogs with me but I will not walk on the road or highway. It just is not worth the risk, because jogging on the roads definitely isn't safe any more.
Learn more about this author, Bill Whitney.
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