Running is a natural human activity. It allows you to burn off stress hormones. It builds cardiovascular endurance, something that improves your overall life expectancy. It burns calories, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight. However, you can get hurt when you go running and you can cause problems if you try to run when you aren’t ready. Here are 7 ways to run safely on the road.
Talk to Your Doctor First
Do you have heart disease? Do you have blood pressure problems? Are you recovering from an injury? Have you recently had surgery? Talk to your doctor before you start jogging or hiking again. Ask if and when you can resume running on the trails or by the side of the road. Ask the doctor if you need to take your medical condition into account, whether you need extra padding in your shoes, a knee brace or extra breaks.
What if you got worse because your doctor didn’t give you the right advice before you hit the road? Know that there is nothing wrong with finding help with malpractice claims due to a medical professional’s bad advice. You may also have a case if they didn’t do their job correctly, such as when sutures become infected or they didn’t prescribe anti-inflammatories.
Have the Right Gear
Get running shoes that absorb the force generated every time your feet impact the road. Carry water with you so that you don’t get dehydrated. This could be a water bottle or a water pack, but you must have water. Consider wearing clothes that allow your sweat to evaporate.
Put Safety First
Be extra alert on blind curves and hills. Cars are unlikely to see you, so you need to take responsibility and keep an eye out for cars. Wear a reflective vest and bright colored clothing if jogging in low light conditions or bad weather. That’s more important than looking cool. Don’t cut through construction sites or try to jump a drainage ditch. If you’re running on residential streets, choose streets that have good lighting.
Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
A lot of people get hurt because they aren’t paying attention to their surroundings. They wear headphones, blocking outside noise. Then they don’t hear a car horn honking for them until it is too late. Or they don’t hear the dog growling and snapping until it bites them.
Mix It Up
A lot of people jog on hard surfaces like roads and sidewalks because it is readily available. However, doing this too much can damage your knees. Mix things up. Go jogging on gravel trails, dirt roads and grass as often as you’re jogging on the pavement.
Stay in Familiar Areas
In general, you should stick to familiar areas. This has a number of benefits. You’re less likely to get lost. You’re more likely to be able to get help if you’re hurt or mugged. However, you should consider changing your route and your routine so that you’re not an easy target for criminals. This is why you should carry a cell phone and stay alert, especially if jogging at night.
Give Cars Space
Ideally, you should run on a path or sidewalk, not on the road. If you run on the road, run on the shoulder, not the lane the car is driving on. If you must jog on the street, choose low traffic roads with good visibility. If you’re jogging on the road with friends, travel single file so that you’re not forcing a car to choose between hitting one of your party and veering into another lane. Don’t cut right in front of cars on the road, even if they’re stopped at a stoplight.