I live way out in the country, far from the street. My driveway is a good distance long, and gravel. I wanted to start running to get in shape. Is it safe to run on gravel? Any greater risk of injuries?

the great one

I don't see why running on gravel has any more safety risk then running anywhere else. Unless it's that big stuff where you about break your ankle walking on it.

Running on pavement can have the most risk because of the impact on the knees and the rest of the body, but it's all good if nothing bothers you! If you have problems running in gravel then run in grass or on a ruberized track or so on where there's less impact.

Nocer <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

I do my runs on a trail around a lake; for the most part untill you get past the 1.5 mile marker it is a jeep trail covered in gravel which then turns into just a dirt hiking trail. The only problem I've found with gravel is: 1. when it gets in your shoes 2. when you kick it onto your friends because you lost the 3 mile race 3. when it helps objects like sticks and logs blend into the trail and you trip over them <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> Go run on gravel, it has more drag than the street, but it's easier on the knees. -- but compacted dirt is the best IMO