by Randall Walker

Created on: January 31, 2009

Jogging 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.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.