If you manage to fit workouts into your business travels, you’re one step ahead of most road warriors. It always feels good to be able to go into your morning meeting and let your coworkers know about your awesome morning run. But I’m willing to bet that you don’t want to hobble in on crutches after hurting yourself while running on unfamiliar terrain or in foreign neighborhoods. And you definitely don’t want to have to hit a hospital when you’re far from home - who wants his or her boss to see him or her in a hospital gown? With a little safety know-how, you can successfully stay active on the road while avoiding broken bones.

If you’re a regular runner or power walker, you probably have your neighborhood route mapped out and memorized. You know every crack in the sidewalk and every scary alley to avoid, but when you’re in an unfamiliar city, you might not know the best, safest place to hit the pavement. It’s always wise to stop at the front desk of your hotel to ask about the neighborhood before you set out on your jog. Staff will be able to point you in the right direction - whether it’s sidewalks or a nearby running path. They’ll let you know if there are entire roads blocked off for construction and tell you how to steer clear of dangerous highways.

Once you know the best direction to take, be prepared. If possible, run during daylight hours when you can easily be seen by cars. However, this is a business trip, right? And the best times to get active are probably before morning meetings or after the sun goes down. If you must run after dusk or before dawn, take necessary precautions. Stay on sidewalks if you can. If you have to run on the road, beware of ankle-spraining potholes, and run against the flow of traffic. Make sure you bring a charged cell phone in case of emergencies or on the off chance that you get lost, and wear reflective gear and light-colored clothing so you’ll be easily illuminated by approaching headlights.

You might never run without your MP3 player, but when you’re in unfamiliar surroundings, it’s best to go music-free so you can hear the traffic and noise. Also be sure to check the weather before you head out, especially if you’re hitting a hiking trail. When you’re in a city, you can stop in a coffee shop for a break from a thunderstorm, but it’s a little more dangerous when you’re out in the woods.

Even if you do your homework, you still might feel uneasy in an unfamiliar neighborhood. If you ever feel unsafe, trust your instincts and head back to the hotel. Better safe than sorry. If you just don’t feel comfortable exploring new territory on your own, invite a colleague along for a walk or simply stay behind and hit an indoor treadmill or elliptical machine in the Embassy Suites fitness center to round out your workout. Plus, you can always take the stairs to keep active!