by Bill Whitney

Created on: August 26, 2007   Last Updated: March 05, 2009

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.

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