how bad is running on cement?

Will it? How? And...so what? How is this beneficial?

So you have evidence that there is a correlation between the uniformity of a surface and the occurence of repetitive strain injuries? Where was this study conducted?

Again, so what? Why is it that "harder = bad". More injuries?

anecdotal

So? they also eat raw beef and have unprotected sex in a country w/ an AIDS rate >20%. Will these practices make you run faster?

the idea of running on soft surfaces is intuitively appealing but has no shred of measurable value if one wears proper running shoes.

There is no evidence whatsoever that 'proper running shoes' reduce the risk of injury.

and there is no (hard) evidence that running on "soft surfaces" reduces the risk of injury

this study doesnt show anything about long term effects - which is what i'm bothered with. it doesnt really relate to injury, only SOME linked factors

Personal, anecdotal support only... I have always had pain in my shins, knees and hips whenever I keep it on the crete.

I can not say that it is psychological since I have experienced this since I was too young and naive to even consider that there was a differance in density or "hardness" between concrete and asphalt.

I guess the only thing that matters is how it effects you. If it doesn't cause you any pain, then it is fine.

You obviously do not have a background in science. You might want to find a study on "chronic exposure to concrete" rather than a quick little jog.

Running on cement, which is a powder produced from primarily crushed limestone heated in a kiln at a cement plant, would be like running on sand.

Running on portland cement concrete, which we usually call concrete, and is different from asphaltic concrete (normally called asphalt here in North America), is like running on flat rock.

I know this doesn't address the OP's original question, but it drives my civil engineer wife absolutely NUTS when someone calls concrete "cement," and I thought I'd take this opportunity to pass along a little bit of learning for all my LetsRun friends. :-)

I hate running on concrete, and much prefer running on asphalt, or soft trails if I can find them. I have no scientific basis for saying concrete is any worse, but it's certainly more jarring, since it doen't flex at all, like asphalt can, when you land.

'A softer surface will always give you additional cushioning

-ls it? How? And...so what? How is this beneficial?'

The next time they let you out go to your local park. Punch the grass. now punch the grass surface next to it - which is harder?

'So? they also eat raw beef and have unprotected sex in a country w/ an AIDS rate >20%. Will these practices make you run faster?'

I didn't say their general health was better, but they are better runners than us. One reason among along with the Kenyans, is that they train on trails and softer surface. If you do full time training on roads you are more likely to get injured. As for the food I had a very nice cooked meal at their house several times & it was very nice. It was however, healthy and very low in fat

Yes harder = bad and more injuries (the difference between tarmac & concrete is minimal between road & trail/park there is a big difference

'the idea of running on soft surfaces is intuitively appealing but has no shred of measurable value if one wears proper running shoes.'

1 Do you work for Nike?

2 There are no studies done to prove running off a cliff is bad for your either

Anyway:http://www.kinetics360.com/media/Why_do_runners_get_stress_fractures.pdf

Cement and concrete are not the same thing. Cement is one component of concrete, the latter of which includes aggregates (such as sand and gravel), water, cement, and additives (as desired). Cement manufacturing is extremely energy-intensive; 7% of the world's CO2 emissions can be attributed to cement manufacturing.

You know, I've actually heard that cement and concrete might be different things. I'll see if I can find out more information!

It probably varies from person to person:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11079523?dopt=Abstract

Do check it out! Don't even get me started on magnesia-based cements. They have outstanding performance properties.

Test only

flats

That's interesting if you type in flats it puts an advert up. Is this something always happens on this site? Have noticed it before & thought it was people trying to flog stuff

We're whores for advertising.

Back to the 2009 comment

Your are actually going back to the 70's, 80's when the masses started doing marathons and eveyone was flogging away on the roads

This guy does his long run on cross country:

http://japanrunningnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/samuel-wanjiru-shares-secret-of.html

Stlouiscountyparks wrote:

pave the earth wrote:

Thank you St. Louis County Parks for ruining what was once a great trail out by Castlewood.

You\'re welcome you pretentious A-hole.

Stlouiscountyparks has got it right. The practice of paving parks defeats one of the chief purposes of a park which is to provide a more natural setting as a respite from the manufactured construct of the city or town. I think that a limitd amount of paved roads is sometimes needed, but there should be an emphasis that a significant amount of paths remain unpaved.

As an older (40s) runner, I can tell you that I definitely feel it in my lower back, hips and knees when I run on concrete. I try to run only on dirt and sand, whenever possible. Regardless of what the studies say, it makes sense that concrete is harder on the body than soft surfaces.

You know what's really awesome? Pykrete: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pykrete