In a different world, the disembodied hand of my mother would have emerged from the phone receiver to pinch my ear.

“Nasobrahan na ka ug dagan (you’re running too much),” she said in a testy voice that still couldn’t hide her concern.

RUN SAFE. To run safe at night, choose well-lit roads or run with a large group. If you want to to try running at night, join the weekly ungo run every Friday at 10 p.m. from the Sun.Star Cebu office to the It Park.

She had known through Facebook that I was nursing a fever and called me up on a Friday, the day that I organize a weekly run from Sun.Star Cebu to the IT Park, to tell me I should scale down on my running.

“Mangaligsan gani mo (you’ll be run over),” a teenager said with a laugh after taking a drag of cigarette and blowing a puff of smoke at the sidewalk while watching scores of runners in one of the Friday night runs that I organize from the Sun.Star Cebu office to the IT Park.

Recent incidents have raised questions on the safety of the fastest growing sport in the country. Fatalities have been reported in the Milo Marathon in Manila and a recent night run in Mandaue City.

Friends express worry on the risks of running on the road, especially at night. They express their concern with a tone appropriate to someone trying to stop a person from pulling out his own fingernails.

Not to trivialize the risks but more people actually die of illnesses caused by a sedentary lifestyle than by running-related accidents or illnesses.

Running, as with any outdoor physical activity, carries risks. What is important is to minimize these risks.

The Philippine National Guidelines on Physical Activity (PNGPA) provides very important tips for people wishing to take up physical activities like running:

• As a general precaution, all individuals who want to engage in vigorous physical activity should get clearance from a doctor. Individuals with contraindications to exercise and with symptoms of diseases should be cleared first by a doctor.
• Start slow and within comfortable levels. Progress slowly and according to improved work capacity and do not over-exert.
• Stop immediately if you experience dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath and chest pains.
• Reduce intensity of exercise or stop when there are manifestations of severe fatigue, joint and muscle pains and cramps.
• Keep a daily record of your exercise for monitoring and tracking.
• Ensure proper hydration.
• Wear proper attire and footwear for thermal management and protection from injuries.
• Allow ample recovery after physical activities.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador, meanwhile, said people who run at night should avoid dark streets and areas near slums. He said runners should run only in well-lit areas like the Asiatown IT Park.

City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) executive director Rafael Yap said people who run on the road should have “spatial awareness” at all times.

“Always keep in mind to consider safety first,” Yap said. He also suggested that runners run on sidewalks instead of on the road.

Yap also suggested that runners plot their routes ahead and avoid accident-prone areas.

To help increase awareness on safety, CebuRunning will feature several blog posts on the subject this week.