Womens safety while running alone

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Replies

  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    there is now a free app called NOONLIGHT check it out...simple to install on your phone and easy to use.
  • FL_Hiker
    FL_Hiker Posts: 919 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I did feel very safe when my husky was alive and walking with me.

    2puw7zhucfui.jpg

    Now I carry pepper spray and a phone, and told my OH I use MapMyHike - presumably if I didn't come back one day the police could get my last location from that? I'm not really worried about this, just thinking it out.

    I usually have clippers for trail maintenance too.

    While I do wear headphones, I don't play the music loud enough that I can't hear other people.

    I have taken a self defense class in the past, but that was probably 20 years ago, so should take a refresher.

    I am friendly when I encounter people on the trails, but reserved.

    Beautiful dog
  • RunsWithBees
    RunsWithBees Posts: 1,508 Member
    resale3108 wrote: »
    monkeefan1974 wrote: »
    I mostly run alone, I take many of the reasonable precautions already mentioned in this thread. As long as for me personally, the benefits outweigh the risks, I will continue to run alone.

    Wear those teeth when you go running. Bare them at anyone who comes near you and they'll sprint off in the opposite direction!

    Those are my real teeth :#
  • makkimakki2018
    makkimakki2018 Posts: 414 Member
    Get a taser gun.
  • resale3108
    resale3108 Posts: 293 Member
    monkeefan1974 wrote: »
    resale3108 wrote: »
    monkeefan1974 wrote: »
    I mostly run alone, I take many of the reasonable precautions already mentioned in this thread. As long as for me personally, the benefits outweigh the risks, I will continue to run alone.

    Wear those teeth when you go running. Bare them at anyone who comes near you and they'll sprint off in the opposite direction!

    Those are my real teeth :#

    I can only imagine what your fingernails look like. (Wont contemplate yiur toenails, thats just too weird). And you have to practice looking more scary.
  • Carmen_TX
    Carmen_TX Posts: 39 Member
    There’s a lot to consider and a lot of good advice in this thread. One thing I typically do is only put one earbud in my ear to listen to music when I run outside. The other ear is open.

    That way I can still have my music, but not be completely tuned out from the world. It doesn’t just help against potential crime, but also bad drivers, ambulances, dogs, and more.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    VioletRojo wrote: »
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    Trying to figure out how to ask this.

    As a guy, if I'm on the same trail as you, and I'm coming up behind you, what (if anything) can I do to make you feel more comfortable. Some of the trails I run on are not well traveled, but I still will see someone. Normally it's a couple walking a dog, but it could be someone running alone.

    Yell, "Behind you!" from a good distance away. I can usually hear oncoming runners, but I appreciate when they give me a warning.

    Not "HE'S" behind you or "I'M" behind you? :D

    I think "on your left" is a good choice, it's like, I'm just doing my thing the same as you are doing your thing, all here for the same reason, carry on.
  • SummerSkier
    SummerSkier Posts: 5,179 Member
    I carry pepper spray and use one ear bud. I have had a man run by me and cop a feel on my butt in the past. It was pretty creepy when it happened but no weapon or self defense would have prevented it. He was a LOT faster than I was.

    I wear a lot of flashing lights when it's dark. I agree that there is more danger from neighborhood traffic backing out of driveways half asleep or loose dogs then a criminal. I actually got hit and run side swiped by a truck last year in a school zone in a cross walk. I dove out of the way, and it only glanced me but it was a huge wake up call. I am sure they never saw me. I was in their blind spot left front, but I am always hyper aware of traffic and realized they were going to turn into me giving me the opportunity to dive forward. I also checked my flashing lights and they had lost a lot of their battery power so not completely the driver's fault. CHECK YOUR LIGHTS OUT!

    I don't run the same route every day at the same time. Not for safety specifically altho it is a good idea, but just because I like to vary my routine and see different neighborhoods.

    It's a good topic for ALL runners not just women.
  • autumnblade75
    autumnblade75 Posts: 1,661 Member
    @smolmaus I agree with you. If I felt unsafe, perhaps I would do all the things to make myself feel safer. I'm not sure that many people truly recognize the difference between *feeling* safe and *being* safe. Many of these precautions seem designed to reinforce the idea that women are natural victims, and paying too much attention to all the ways I can make myself the less attractive target actually makes me feel LESS safe.

    I don't feel like I'm admitting my own victimhood to provide a general map of where I intend to be, or tell someone how long they should wait before sending out the search party. Making myself visible to traffic is just plain sense. The level of commitment to ensure that a weapon stays in my control is way more effort than I'm willing to make to keep safe. Especially when the actual level of risk is really so low. Carrying a weapon that can easily be taken and used against me makes me feel least safe of all.

    I am not a car, either. I leave that unlocked in the driveway. It hasn't been stolen, yet. Once, someone stole my energy drink and the DC converter for my phone charger (but not the cable) out of my unlocked car. I have no idea what sort of analogy that would make.

    I'm probably safer on the treadmill at home, and it's easier - but I still miss the freedom of running at midnight and maybe seeing a skunk or coyote. But why would I do that, with the treadmill in the living room? It's so safe.
  • smolmaus
    smolmaus Posts: 442 Member
    autumnblade75 wrote: »
    @smolmaus I agree with you. If I felt unsafe, perhaps I would do all the things to make myself feel safer. I'm not sure that many people truly recognize the difference between *feeling* safe and *being* safe. Many of these precautions seem designed to reinforce the idea that women are natural victims, and paying too much attention to all the ways I can make myself the less attractive target actually makes me feel LESS safe.

    Yes, well put. I can't live my life believing and following every tip anyone has ever given me. I'd never leave my house. Or let anyone in.
  • Deviette
    Deviette Posts: 978 Member
    You know, it never occurred to me that it might be unsafe to run on my own at night. It might be that I grew up and now live in fairly good areas, but I have never felt unsafe wherever I've lived. This shocked my female friends when I told them that while I was at uni, I used to walk home, alone, after a night out (drunk, in very stupidly high heels and it took about half an hour).

    Of course I would say that part of this does come down to myself personally. As @autumnblade75 said above, I do not feel like I am going to be a victim, and so these kind of precautions seem unnecessary to me. I do martial arts and have done a lot of self defense stuff in the past, so I guess I am confident in myself and I honestly think that that shows.

    I have, however, started running with my dog, nothing to do with safety though, it gives him a nice run around when I can't really let him off the lead when it's dark. He is a spaniel though, so not exactly fearsome but means my runs are now less lonely
  • krisleve7707
    krisleve7707 Posts: 18 Member
    edited December 2018
    I run in the early morning hours too. Right now I carry a knife and pepper spray. I do have my license to carry and currently looking for a small hand gun to carry with me instead. Cant be too careful these days. Where I'm from I'm more worried about animals like coyotes than I am of people.
  • leahkathleen13
    leahkathleen13 Posts: 272 Member
    A guy jumped out at me, and I ran away while running 20 years ago. I heard a scuffle in the leaves that warned me. Lessons learned? Avoid areas with wooded lots between houses. Listen while you run. Leave a margin of space around yourself so you will see anyone coming toward you. Carry mace. Now I never run at dusk or in the dark, I’m too scared. I also only run in open places that are well travelled with lots of cars. It does happen, I never thought it would tho. I was lucky and was completely unharmed except psychologically.
  • scorpio516
    scorpio516 Posts: 955 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    If you wonder about specific trails or neighborhoods, you can even go to the closest police station, and ask. (You may be told paternalistic generalities, but it's worth a try.)

    My city publishes all incidents online on a map. In the last 6 months, there has been 600+ assaults. 50% happen Friday or Saturday night between 11 and 3 am. 30%+ happen domestically. The rest are crime related (drugs and prostitution). There has been about three dozen indecent exposure. Zero sexual assaults. And I live in one of the least safe cities in Massachusetts.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    Runaroundafieldx2 wrote: »
    I'm not sure "Looking good" is a good thing to say to a lone runner who may feel nervous.

    A shout of "Evening passing on your left" (or right) I would prefer.

    yeah - just a friendly sounding 'morning' would be better.

    I was once walking home very late (and somewhat inebriated) with a guy behind me. He kept trying to reassure me that he was just walking home the same direction, telling me that he was crossing the road to not worry me. I found that worse than him just being there. Then, he stopped at the end of a street, and invited me back to his. Seriously.

    I run alone, in the dark, in the mornings. Often I don’t even bother having any lights, hi vis, or phone. I go by the assumption that all the bad guys are still in bed (there are some statistics that show mornings are actually safer). I see very few people. I see the occasional fellow runner, a few dog walkers, an elderly gentleman on his daily walk, and the odd homeless guy or a few drunks. None of them are interested in me.
  • Deviette
    Deviette Posts: 978 Member
    edited December 2018
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    The more I learned about martial arts, the clearer it became in my mind that a physical conflict with someone larger and stronger was really, really a bad idea, with bad odds for me. (My late husband was a martial arts teacher, and I practiced moderately seriously, mostly with men, for around 8 years.)

    I'm just quoting this because it's such an important sentiment. Something I've come across time and time again with those who are very well practiced in different martial arts, is not that they can handle themselves, but more that they do not allow themselves to get into a position that that could happen. I think that there is an understanding once you've practiced martial arts for some time that you realise how random everything is, how all it takes is one person to do something you weren't expecting and everything you thought you knew goes out the window.

    I've known many people who were once angry and aggressive people, those who were the first to get into a fight or lose their temper, become some of the calmest people in the world after taking up martial arts.

    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    I think no one (of either sex) should carry a weapon unless they practice with it, including practice against a friendly but firm/committed opponent if it's a close-quarters weapon like a knife or keys (use a soft/safe thing as a substitute weapon). If you're not willing to kill someone, don't carry a deadly weapon . . . not because you'll feel bad if you kill someone (you likely would; I know I would), but because if you're not that committed, it's going to be futile and probably dangerous to you.

    Also this^^^ 100%

    The best piece of self defense advise that I've ever heard was: "don't fight, run" Because at the end of the day, nobody can stab you if they're not next to you.
  • smolmaus
    smolmaus Posts: 442 Member
    girlinahat wrote: »
    I was once walking home very late (and somewhat inebriated) with a guy behind me. He kept trying to reassure me that he was just walking home the same direction, telling me that he was crossing the road to not worry me. I found that worse than him just being there. Then, he stopped at the end of a street, and invited me back to his. Seriously.

    Good grief. He thinks he gets it, but still so very very far away.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    knowing a few criminal elements
    they do look for people with earbuds in or on the phone or generally look like they aren't aware of their surroundings.
    groups are discouraging
    dogs are discouraging(even yappy noisy dogs)
    they look at how you carry your bags

    besides my anecdotal knowledge, studies have been done stating similar things. and has little to with sex other than a smaller person appears to be an easier target.
    to a criminal you are an object, not a person
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,541 Member
    HoneyBadger155 wrote: »
    Coming from an ex-cop:
    <snip much good advice>

    Self defense and martial arts are not a bad idea. You can learn things like how to break someone's arm if they grab your ponytail, actually turning your supposed "handle" into a way to control a would be attacker. You can kill and seriously maim someone with your bare hands, and it's not hard to learn to do - usually the harder part is keeping your cool enough to actually do those thing if you were attacked, and that's where practice and repetition come in. Doing it a few times in a class probably won't be enough - practice with friends/SOs regularly so your body knows how to respond and you don't have to "think" about it. Hopefully you never need it, but that confidence in knowing you can carries over into how you carry yourself, and can be a turn off on it's own, never actually confronting someone.

    <snip more good advice>

    Maybe it's an artifact of my age (I grew up when young women didn't much do contact sports), but for me another helpful thing about an extended martial arts practice (not just a single self defense class or two), was internalizing the difference between pain and injury.

    When someone hits or kicks you hard, the pain has a big shock component, and it can be distracting and disabling (more from the mental side than the physical). Automatically recognizing pain (vs. injury) and not being immobilized (even temporarily) by it is a pretty helpful thing. An actual disabling injury, maybe even a minor one, requires an adjustment in tactics. Pain requires nothing but that you ignore it, and route any resulting adrenaline boost productively.

    I've been to quite a few "women's self defense" classes (one or two session types). The best spent a good bit of the wall-clock time on awareness and situation assessment, with a run-down of the actual types of assaults that were most common (though still statistically rare ;) ) in the area (locations, times, weapons or no, etc.). The worst spent almost all the time on physical tricks taught by instructors who didn't really understand them fully, then practiced with fellow students who applied them half-heartedly (didn't want to hurt anyone) against a basically non-resisting fellow student "opponent" (also didn't want to hurt anyone).
  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    edited December 2018
    What I found interesting when reading this thread is that many people advocate letting other people know that noticed them. I attended a self-defence evening many years ago, but I seem to remember that the instructor had the opposite advice, stating that looking around at each small sound makes you look insecure and therefore a potential target?

    Other than that, I remember that we learned this arm movement technique to free yourself when someone grabbed your wrist. I practised with another girl and was quite happy at how well I was able to do it at the end of the session. And then I wanted to show it to a friend later who is two heads taller and twice as heavy an me (and quite muscular on top). And it didn't work on him when he really tried to keep a grip! If I remember right, the technique somehow relied on turning your hand and then putting rotating it out at the exact spot where the thumb and fingers of the attacker touch where their hand wraps around your wrist. Only that I have very small wrists, and my friends fingers and thumb "overlapped" when he tried to hold me, so that weak spot wasn't there. Quite a sobering realisation that what worked well on a girl my size in the self-defense class might not work against a strong man in real life...


    Anyway, I always run alone, quite often between 22h-1h. When I was living in a big city, I would sometimes take pepper spray with me. Now I live in the countryside, and don't carry anything with me. Maybe it's foolish, but it's so rare that I meet anyone at all when running that late. I don't run at the same time each day, and I spontaneously decide where to go, so I don't expect anyone to lie in wait for me. I'm more worried about car drivers than anything else, so keeping the music volume very low when I run with headphones is a given.
    Every now and then I meet another runner, or somebody walking a dog. But I don't think I've ever had anybody yell at me to announce that they are passing. Just say good evening as you draw even. Contrary to the advice I quoted at the start of my post, I usually glance behind me when I hear someone approach - and if it's a guy dressed in running clothes and headlamp, my first thought is "runner" and not "attacker", so that's fine with me.
  • autumnblade75
    autumnblade75 Posts: 1,661 Member
    _nikkiwolf_ wrote: »
    What I found interesting when reading this thread is that many people advocate letting other people know that noticed them. I attended a self-defence evening many years ago, but I seem to remember that the instructor had the opposite advice, stating that looking around at each small sound makes you look insecure and therefore a potential target?

    I think there's a difference between looking alert and looking startled. You shouldn't be looking around startled at the sound, because you've already noticed the source of the sound. Usually, for me, it turns out to have been an animal - most of which probably aren't assessing my victim qualities by how easily I startle.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Most of self defense is self awareness and avoidance. Really need to get out of the idea of safe areas. There are simply historical levels of risk.

    Criminals are opportunists and going to opt for the runner with ear buds, not paying attention, without a dog, without pepper spray, etc. They are going to avoid someone making eye contact, someone aware, someone with a cell phone at the ready, etc. If you see someone engaging in predator activity call the police and alert them.

    Do what you're comfortable with, but don't carry a weapon if don't commit to the training involved, even pepper spray.

    I highly recommend a solid defense course for everyone - one that is realistic and tailored to your needs. In this case it's simple. This can be drilled down to 3-4 moves which you can apply to any situation.
  • Binky_Muffin
    Binky_Muffin Posts: 191 Member
    Can you borrow a friends or family member's dog? I run with a Doberman and/or Rottweiler. Nobody gives me a hard time.
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