(0 comments)

Fitness Street Smarts

Don’t let dogs, weather, or other worries hold you back from outdoor exercise. Here’s how to keep up the pace.

Exercising outdoors is one of life’s great pleasures. But everything from nipping dogs to stormy skies can throw obstacles in your path. Here’s how to enjoy your workout and stay safe:

Before You Go
Spread the word. Tell a friend or family member where you’re going and how long you think you’ll be gone.

Dress smart. When temperatures are cool, put on light layers you can remove as you warm up from your workout. To boost your visibility, wear light colors and add reflective clothing or tape wherever you can.

Know what to carry, what to leave behind. Take your driver’s license, or ID with your name and phone number, and a cell phone. But don’t bring cash or wear jewelry. It’s also smart to leave earphones at home—better to keep your ears open for the approach of vehicles, bikes, people, and animals.

Be a weather watcher. Don’t get caught in a thunderstorm, high winds, or whiteout conditions. When skies look the least bit iffy, check local weather reports before you leave the house. Always have a plan B for your fitness activity on bad weather days—walking at a local mall or riding a stationary bike, for example.

Street Sense
Mix it up. Vary your routine by time and place. This makes your schedule less predictable to strangers, says Jonathan Chang, MD, a spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine and clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery for the University of Southern California.

Be alert. Pay attention to your surroundings at all times, says Dr. Chang. Watch for potential hiding places and don’t walk, ride, or run alone in isolated areas. Don’t exercise alone outdoors after dark. If someone stops and asks for directions, keep your distance. If you think you’re being followed, move toward retail or busy residential areas.

Find an exercise buddy. There’s safety in numbers, says Dr. Chang. If you can’t meet up with a human companion, you can walk or run with your dog (or borrow your neighbor’s dog)—just make sure the pooch can handle the workout.

Play by the rules. Ride with traffic; walk and run against it. Obey all traffic signs and signals.

Animal Alert
Stay still. In most cases, your best bet is to stop, turn around slowly, be still, and face the dog, says Bonnie Beaver, a professor in the department of small-animal clinical science at Texas A&M University and past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Don’t do anything. Don’t speak and don’t look in its eyes. The dog may approach and sniff you, then leave.

Go slow. Once you believe the situation is under control, slowly walk away from the dog but watch it out of the corner of your eye, says Beaver. Dogs usually chase to protect their yard or territory. In fact, says Beaver, a dog may chase after you the first few times then stop once it gets used to seeing you near its turf.