RUNNING: How To Stay Safe on Trails?

I've been into trail running since January this year and really enjoyed the experience. As my previous post, beautiful scenery, majestic views of nature, a lot of greens and fresh air awaits for those who'll first try the awesome experience of trail running. I want to share to you an article written by Lewis G. Maharam, MD, FACSM about running safe on trails.

Keeping a few key points in mind will help make your off-road experience more enjoyable.

Running in the great outdoors can be an awesome adventure. However, trail running comes with a unique set of challenges and obstacles every runner should consider. Here are some tips for injury prevention and first aid. 

* Watch where you are going—this advice seems simple enough, but it can be easy to forget that you’re not running on smooth paved roads. Beware of tree roots, rocks and other obstacles. 

* Always tell someone when and where you’re going to run, and carry a cell phone. 

* If you are prone to blisters, make sure your trail running shoes fit properly. A coat of Vaseline on your feet paired with synthetic non-cotton socks works well. If you do get a blister, keep your running shoes on until you can wash your foot and drain the blister. Be sure to leave the skin on and bandage it with antibiotic ointment. 

* Ankle sprains can be serious business. If you can walk on a sprained ankle, move slowly. Sprains can be great pretenders, and many times an X-ray is necessary to rule out a fracture. 

* A poison ivy encounter is good and bad news. Good news: You probably won’t feel it for most of your trail run. The bad news is you WILL feel the itchy red rash hours later. Although calamine lotion can help relieve the discomfort, a trip to your doctor for a shot of Celestone works wonders and decreases the course of a poison ivy reaction by days. 

* Snake bites on the trails aren’t all that common but can happen. Snakes to watch out for include: rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouth water moccasins and coral snakes, but a bite from any snake warrants an immediate trip to the emergency room. Try to note what the snake looked like to tell the doctor. Apply a cool compress over the wound, immobilize the area and keep it positioned below your heart. If you have a bandage, wrap it approximately two to four inches above the bite (between the bite and your heart) to slow the venom moving through your system.

****

About The Author:

Dr. Maharam is the medical director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. He also serves as chairman of the Board of Governors, International Marathon Medical Directors Association. Find him on Facebook at Running Doc.

Photo Courtesy of Mr. Alvin Balderama of PIMCO 

For RANDOM UPDATES, 
You can follow me on twitter and instagram at @ohohleo_PH 
or FB Like Page at ohohleo_PH || Gebet und Arbeit


LIKE, SHARE & COMMENT. 
Thank you!

DISCLAIMER: All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The pictures or videos posted here doesn't necessarily mean that it's the owner's property. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.