Watch where you run

First off let me say that I am not a professional runner nor am I a gold medalist in the 400m relay. I have done a bit of running over the years and I know my ground. I see a lot of high school and college kids running down sidewalks. There seems to be something lacking in their sports education. No one has told these youngsters about where to and not to run. DO NO RUN ON CONCRETE!

Concrete is...obviously...hard. It isn't the fact that is is hard, but in that it has no "spring." Concrete is extremely durable and will last years under ever changing weather conditions. Part of concretes success is the fact that it doesn't give it has no elasticity. Contrast concrete to asphalt...obviously...asphalt is hard. The difference is that asphalt gives, it has elasticity. This elasticity means that when it is used for construction it has to be repaired or patched regularly. Asphalt provides more spring than concrete.

Several inches of concrete gives very little when an object such as a foot.When a shod human foot hits concrete the shock wave as sent from the foot to the knees, upwards to the hip then spine. You will do more damage to the human body that the human body will to the concrete. Asphalt on the the other hand gives ever so slightly when a runner does his thing. The less dense asphalt provides a slight give that does not shock the body as much as the concrete. Oh, yes, the difference is negligible from strike to strike between the two. But, the difference in accumulative. The more you run on concrete, the more damage you cause on your joints.

If you work standing on concrete every day, you know the basic principles of what I am talking about. Standing on concrete or walking around on it all day, has a detrimental on your body. Workman's Comp conscious employer will provide rubber mats for those who stand on a concrete floor. It is fatiguing and causes stress on the body. There are special shoes for those who stand on concrete all day.

It has been suggested that people run on natural ground. This in itself has inherent problems depending on the running location. Many larger cities provide a dirt or mulched path for runners. I suggest you find one and use it. I would caution that running on concrete be the LAST resort to your running activities. If you run on concrete now, I suggest you find a nice quiet, asphalt street and run on it. You will notice the difference.