Is concrete healthy to run on?

Answer 1

Concrete is fine to run on, but it is not an ideal surface. Concrete does not absorb your impact, so if you run on it all the time, you are likely to develop shin splints or knee problems. But asphalt (the road) and hard ground are little better. They don't "compress and spring back" very much more than concrete. Ideally you should run on a rubber track surface if you can. But there is good news. The key to "good running" is the selection of a good shoe and the timely replacement of it after it begins to wear out. (Just wear it to the store and the movies after "retiring" it to get more mileage.) If you have really good running shoes, they will absorb a lot of impact so you'll most likely be fine running on a sidewalk or any other surface. Be careful when running on grass or sand as well as on trails or any other uneven ground as you can be exposed to ankle injuries. Insure your running reflects consideration of your health and fitness level. You don't usually need a doctor's okay to run, but check in with your health care provider if any questions arise at all.