Jackie was out on her morning run. She had her iPod playing her favorite running mix. The bike path ended at 5th Avenue so she jogged into the street and began running in the direction opposite the traffic on that side of the street. As she turned onto Park Place she looked down to change the song. Without knowing she drifted off near the middle of the road. Suddenly she heard a car horn and looked up to see a car swerve around her. She was shaken up and walked to the edge of the road to gather herself. The driver of the car that swerved stopped and got out to see if she was okay. He advised her that running with headphones can be dangerous when on the road. She agreed, thanking the driver for his alertness and for stopping to check on her.
Besides a distraction, running on the road with your iPod or MP3 player can decrease your ability to hear oncoming cars, cyclist shout outs, unleashed dogs, or other potential hazards. Save your iPod for the treadmill or community field track.
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Running and Jogging
Road Runners Club of America: Running Safety Tips
Media Team: Safety Krew
