Things You Should Consider When Jogging on Roads

By Al M. Kind

Running on the road where vehicles travel is a frequent activity among runners. Although a running trail on the park or at a track is ideal, some runners are left with no choice but to run on asphalt or concrete roads.

This article discusses some things worth remembering when running on the roads. We will be discussing Safety, Pollution, Injury and Shoe Type as the main things to consider when running on roads.

Safety

Your primary concern is the safety of yourself and the motorists who pass by you. You must try to a steady line on the curb or the side of the road. You must also run against traffic rather than go along with it. This gives you and the vehicle driver time to react should any accident happen/

Wearing high visibility running gear is also important. If you run on tricky lightning situations like dusk or dawn a high visibility running vest would be a good investment. It may well save your life one day. Shoes that feature reflective strips also help in keeping you safe.

Pollution

The number two concern when running on roads with traffic is pollution. You want to avoid inhaling carbon dioxide emissions from passing traffic. There are several ways to do this. First is to avoid times when traffic is heavy. This might mean that you are going to run earlier or later than normal. Five in the morning is a good time to run and so is around 9pm at night.

The second way to avoid pollution is to wear masks. Wearing masks especially if you run around traffic in city blocks is a good way to minimize the toxins that combustion engines release.

Injury

Unlike the softer ground trail or predictable surface of tracks, running on asphalt or concrete is a lot riskier. Often you will find holes or objects you need to avoid. If you run at a city you might find yourself having to avoid things like trash cans, pot holes, manholes, drainage grills and even broken roads.

It is best to keep yourself aware of the hurdles that are around you. Running on the roads of a city will hone your instincts as well as your reflexes.

Shoe Type

Unknown to some, there are different types of shoes for different surfaces. Running on trails, the track and on the road all require different running shoes.

It is absolutely essential that you have the right running shoe for the job. Track running shoes are too light and will not cushion your foot enough for the unpredictable road obstacles. Track running shoes are designed to give maximum traction might be too heavy. Try and find shoes which are meant to be ran on asphalt or concrete roads.

Have you heard about the Brooks Ariel Running Shoes. This is one tough pair of motion control running shoes that will protect your feet from the rigors of concrete road running.