by jim brennan

Created on: July 14, 2008

Jogging on road is no less safe than talking on a cell phone while driving, exposure to the sun or walking alone after dark in an urban area. It all depends on the care and precautions that an individual takes. In each of the examples risk can be alleviated by measures taken. Take talking on a cell phone in a car. The practice is commonplace; there are accessories that free up the hands, and for crying out loud, driving is your primary responsibility not talking. Just a little common sense can fix that problem. It really is no different than a driver who is having a conversation with someone in the back seat and insists on turning around and making eye contact. Give me a break! For those that are sun worshipers, who about a little sun block? And who wouldn't think of getting a lay of the land before blindly walking the streets of an unfamiliar city at night. It's called common sense.

There are many benefits to jogging on the road. For one thing asphalt is a forgiving surface and roads are generally well maintained. Compared to cement, the road surface will contribute to the runners' longevity. Also, a runner can easily map out a route to get from point A to point B and back. Another benefit is ability to measure the distance you ran either using GPS or the old fashion way, a car odometer. Familiarity with the community helps select little used roads with lower speed limits as well. It certainly makes more sense to jog in a development with 25 m.p.h speed limit than on an interstate. Do you think!

There are precautions a jogger can take to increase the safety of running on the roads. First, rule of thumb is to ride a bike with traffic and jog against traffic. You should always be facing oncoming traffic while jogging. Second, if your jogging on the road leaves the iPod at home or pause it while on the road if you are alternating between trail and road. Ability to hear when vehicles are coming from behind, even though on the other side of the road, provides the situational awareness a runner requires to know that cars will be passing one another and move closer to the side of the road. Finally, where reflective clothing or running shoes in the dark. Make yourself visible!

Most communities have bike and jogging paths; however at times running on the road is unavoidable. The best way to have a safe jog on the road is to use common sense and exercise fundamental safety practices presented above. Happy and safe jogging!

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