If you manage risk appropriately, running can be a safe activity Published March 5, 2007 By Col. Michael S. Stough 100th Air Refueling Wing Commander RAF MILDENHALL, England -- I like to periodically revisit the subject of risk, because it's too easy to become complacent and let risk creep back into our everyday lives. I'll start with a bold statement: a runner could dress all in black, put shoe polish on her face, and wear black socks and shoes, yet still be safer than someone wearing a reflective belt. How can that be, you ask? If our "camouflaged" runner assumes she's invisible and acts accordingly, she's less at risk than the runner who assumes everyone can see her because she's wearing the belt. The runner dressed in black would make sure she crossed the street only at crosswalks and only when no traffic was even remotely close to her position, she'd make sure she was off the roadway surface when a car approached, and she'd be constantly scanning for threats as she ran. In contrast, the runner wearing the reflective belt would cross directly in front of oncoming cars, assuming they'd see her in time to slow down; she'd also stay on the roadway, knowing the cars would move over into the opposite lane in order to avoid her; and she'd let her mind wander rather than concentrating on staying alive. OK, I'll admit to a "slight" exaggeration, but I'm pretty sure there's some truth in my statements. If you assume everyone can see you just because you're wearing reflective gear, you can be prone to take risks you might otherwise avoid. In other words, reflective gear helps to mitigate risk, but it doesn't eliminate it altogether. Rather, smart runners examine their runs and assess the risks they might encounter from start to finish. Obviously, running on a treadmill is relatively low risk (other than the risk of dying from boredom), because you're pretty much guaranteed that you won't encounter any moving vehicles - just don't fall off the side or the back of the machine. Running on a track (or in one of the local forests) is also relatively low risk - just like a treadmill, it removes the vehicle threat from your risk inventory. Next might come running around the loop in the Northside cantonment area, which requires you to cross roads but entails running primarily on the sidewalks. Finally, the highest risk has to be associated with running along the side of a road, which puts you in direct conflict with moving vehicles. I'm certainly not saying you should only run on a treadmill or a track. Our perimeter road is now open along its entire length. I've personally taken advantage of our new 7-mile route, and I encourage other runners to try it out as well. But you need to approach perimeter road with care: Remain alert; run against traffic; run on the shoulder (not the side) of the road when cars approach; assume you're invisible; and yes, wear your reflective belt. Those rules don't just apply to perimeter road, of course. They should be observed any time you're running in the vicinity of a roadway. If you manage risk appropriately, running can be a safe activity regardless of the venue. Enjoy your run ... safely.