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[quote=Anonymous]The thread about trail running had me curious about how to choose the safest running route.  Some background--I'm a new runner (SLOW--couldn't outrun an attacker if I tried...), I don't run with headphones, and I try to stay alert but sometimes it's all I can do to put one foot in front of the other.  The best time for me to run is at dawn.  I wear reflective gear and run with a phone, but I worry about cars, potholes, and attackers.  I've tried a morning schedule since the time change but rarely see other pedestrians or runners.

Is it safer to run on the neighborhood streets?
Pros: quiet, few cars
Cons: 
*cars are unpredictable--I worry about the stray car backing out quickly from a driveway
*running surface is also less predictable, lots of streets without sidewalks

Or safer to run on a busy road (like Old Georgetown Road or Rockville Pike in Bethesda)?
Pros: 
*lots of people in cars (but really, who would notice a runner on the side of the road when driving at 50 mph?)
*predictable traffic patterns (cars turn at lights)
*predictable running surface
Cons: lots of cars

Thanks in advance!  I don't think either option is horrible, but I can be jumpy when I don't see anybody around.  Ideally I'd find a neighbor to run with, but so far that hasn't happened (the few people I do see are much faster than me).

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