Running on slanted roads

PippiNe

I live in a very small town (400 people). Our roads are either tarred then graveled or they are just dirt/gravel roads. Either way, they arch in the middle and are slanted down either side to the ditch. When I run, I try to find a somewhat flat area of the road to run on (usually smack down the middle), but often have to move out of the way for cars. We have no bike paths and our town sidewalks are mostly old and cracked, or on some properties, nonexistent.

So my question becomes....does running on an angled surface cause uneven muscle development in your legs/butt? Should I run on the right side of the road one way and the left coming back?

timeasterday

When I started running I ran in our neighborhood on the road surface which is cambered. I soon developed pain on the inside of my right ankle, probably from that ankle rolling in more than usual due to the slope. Eventually I started running half the run on one side (facing traffic) and half the run on the other side (with traffic). My pain soon went away.

I can't say for sure it affect muscle development but it seems like it might. But from my experience and others that I have heard from, the cambered surface does increase the risk of injuries from the ankles up through the hips. I would try to alternate directions if you can safely. Fortunately our neighborhood does not have a huge amount of traffic. But if you are on public roads be very, very careful.

CarsonRuns

I can't speak to muscle imbalances, but running on a cambered road and always on the same side can lead to IT Band injuries. As the previous poster suggests, try to run half on one side and half on the other.