Dear Editor Carol,

Is it safe to run with headphones on? I know all the bike safety stuff says not to. Do the same rules apply here?

Dear Scott,

To be honest, I love to run with headphones. I used them to get through my first 10 mile run on the roads. I listened to Meatloaf and I had no trouble finishing that run but I eventually came to realize that it is not safe to wear headphones when running outside. It's important to be able to hear people, animals, and cars approaching that are out of your sight, so I no longer wear them when hitting the roads or trails.

Now I only use my headphones when I run on the treadmill at my fitness club or at home.

It's great to get into the groove and run to tunes, but safety should come first.

Please send us a note and let us know how you stay safe while on the run.

Do you have any questions about a child's running program? Feel free to email the kid's editor at rwedit@rodale.com.