Running Safety Tips

Listen to Your Body

Sometimes the brain is ready for more than the body is. You may be excited about a goal you’ve set for yourself, but it’s important to hear what your body may be telling you. According to the Better Health Channel, running beyond your current fitness level may put strain on your muscles, tendons and ligaments. Two-time Olympian Pete Pfitzinger, MS, told Runner’s World “When I look back on my own 29 years of running experience, I realize that listening to my body has been — and continues to be — critical to my running success.” According to Pfitzinger, the body provides constant feedback that can runners help improve their performance. Learning to differentiate between the discomfort of hard effort and the pain of an injury is important for success. When you first start running, you should start slowly and at a pace that’s right for you. Instead of jumping from a 2-mile run to a 6-miler, gradually increase your training to meet your goal.

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Review Date: 
July 2, 2015

Last Updated:
July 2, 2015