Jogging/Walking Tips for Outside

Many of us like to walk or jog outside for some of our workouts just for the change, for the scenery and just to make it more fun and interesting. I was reading an article in Shape magazine about things to watch out for so I thought I would talk about my own experiences as well as their suggestions.

For me, when I jog outside, I am always aware of my surroundings whether it is early, midday or late. I NEVER listen to music. I know some of you are not going to like this but it sure is going to be hard to hear a person or car or bike coming at you if you have ear buds in your ears & the music cranked. I take this time to think thru things I want to accomplish in my workouts or life as well as just some peaceful thinking. Give that a try. I also like to enjoy the scenery.

Also, it is less hard on your joints to jog/walk on asphalt versus the concrete of a sidewalk. If you choose to do this, always jog towards oncoming traffic so you can see if a car is coming at you or losing control.

I only jog outside one day per week so I prefer to use the sidewalk to be safe. I like this because I can plan where I might want to go if I feel threatened by a person or animal. I am always on the lookout for that & possible places I can go. You can also try to get to a public place if that is possible. Now, saying that, I do keep an eye on the ground too... I alternate looking down & ahead to not only see what is in front/side of me but also down so I don't trip on cracks, stones or anything else on the sidewalk. If you don't want to jog on the street & the pavement is too tough on your joints, try jogging/walking on the grass... a good option!

Now, Shape also discussed if you confront a hostile dog. They say to freeze, yell "NO" and walk backwards slowly to show that you are not a threat. The article says never to turn & run.

Another suggestion from Shape is if you get injured. If you can move, get to a higher spot like a bench or hill if possible & try to flag someone down. If you can't move, stay stable & also try to flag down a person or car. I usually see similar people on my outside route so hopefully for you, that is the same & you can wait for a friendly face.

Hope this all helps & enjoy the jog or walk!