self defense/personal protection while you run

misssuperstitious

I think women esp could benefit from hearing what others use/do. I'm a worrier/over-packer, so I'm always prepared. What do you do??? :glasses:

ickybella

I try and run really, really quickly. :flowerforyou:

Corinne_Bruce

Bump

DisneyMum

I always run with a partner. Not sure if that is an option for you.
If I have to run alone. I carry my cell phone. I have my house key too which I guess could be used as a weapon.

Enigmatica

German.Shepherd...

Enigmatica

By the way, the horses in your photo are GORGEOUS! I miss mine =(

LorinaLynn

A deceptively cute but completely psychotic Pekingese. :laugh:

NoAdditives

I go to the gym, so protection isn't an issue for me. But, I do carry pepper spray on my keys because I saw a woman get mugged in the Michael's parking lot just before Christmas, and my husband recently stopped a carjacker when he was at the gas station.

hollyyoung71

Carry a keychain pepper spray

Limeinthecoconut

If I have to run when it's dark I keep to the main/well lit roads. This way there are always many cars around. I'm really bad with having my music up loud when I'm working out so being in a populated area makes me feel safer. Also I tend to wear longer clothing (that could be controversial). But I find that while I don't mind attention at say 10am I really don't like it at 9pm.

Limeinthecoconut

A deceptively cute but completely psychotic Pekingese. :laugh:

Dayum, gotta get me one of those! :happy:

misssuperstitious

By the way, the horses in your photo are GORGEOUS! I miss mine =(

THANKS!

Mrs_McFadden

German.Shepherd...

Man I'm jealous! I want to get one..maybe when my kids are all ten and up.

I run on the treadmill..:)
I however, if running outside, prefer night and rain..I'd carry my cell phone, a knife and mace.
Yes- I said a knife. Even if it only works at very close range it *does* work and I would have zero qualms stabbing a criminal trying to take me down.

FearAnLoathing

If I run outside I have pepper Spray,a stun gun , and a knife. That way I can blind them,shock em,and poke em for good messure. I grew up in a bad area so at any given time I have a small arsenal on me.

Mrs_McFadden

Oh yeah..I forgot to say..I live in a very nice suburban environment. I don't really anticipate being attacked running through my neighborhood but you never know...I am a woman and in this world that's being #2 prey on the list of human prey. So I go prepared for Street Fighter.

CalorieNinja

I have pepper spray on my keys but if someone tried to grab me who knows if I would actually have enough time to get it. I am a black belt in tae-kwon-do I will take em down lol then pepper spray them just for trying to screw with me.

Mrs_McFadden

I have pepper spray on my keys but if someone tried to grab me who knows if I would actually have enough time to get it. I am a black belt in tae-kwon-do I will take em down lol then pepper spray them just for trying to screw with me.

*does a double take at "lil" in her name*
HAHA..you kick *kitten*, literally!
2 million points for you my friend *kisses*

rc630

I run down the Greek row and through campus at my college; I usually don't bring anything with me like pepper spray because there are always people around, mostly other students. I always tell someone that I've gone running and hat if I'm not back in 2 hours and they can't contact me, to call my parents, police, something.
When I'm running at home, which is a nice suburban area, I also tell someone where I'm going and when I'll be back. I always bring my ID too, although that's more for in case something does happen then to stop it from happening.

Atlantique

I run down the Greek row and through campus at my college; I usually don't bring anything with me like pepper spray because there are always people around, mostly other students. I always tell someone that I've gone running and hat if I'm not back in 2 hours and they can't contact me, to call my parents, police, something.
When I'm running at home, which is a nice suburban area, I also tell someone where I'm going and when I'll be back. I always bring my ID too, although that's more for in case something does happen then to stop it from happening.

I think it's VERY smart to let someone know you've headed out and when you expect to be back.

The only time I've really been frightened while running was in broad daylight (noon) in a fairly heavily trafficked area. I was really grateful that if I hadn't been back in a half hour, someone would have noticed. Best to tell someone when you expect to be back if you can't run with a partner.

darkrider42

For the record, next time I run, I want @lilmissgenius with me!

nsueflorence

I don't take anything with me but I never wear head phones when I am running. That way I am more aware of my surroundings. I just play my music on my iphone with that speaker.

glfprncs2

My biggest worry when running with my dog is that one of the stray (and aggressive) dogs in the area are going to run into us at the wrong time. : (

curlytop89

If I run outside I take my dog on our country road and my cell, or try to run in town in populated areas. Even so, one day at about 10am some creepy guy in an old van slowed down and asked me if I ran there everyday. I thought "Why, so you can knock me over my the head and pull me in to your van tomorrow?" I was right next to a church. Creeped me out, so needless to say I haven't been back there. I do try to vary my route, so I am not "expected" any certain day or time.

jtsmou

The headphones are a big thing, awareness and all that yada yada.

Look I used to teach courses on this, and the sad fact is, if someone really wants to do you harm they will and there isn't much you can do about it. The majority of the time you aren't going to see them coming so you wont have time to do much defense wise. If you do see them coming, chances are they are very practiced at appearing non-threatening, and can have a very disarming personality depending on the situation. Many times it's not even the random attack while jogging, it's the casual encounter that you have to look out for.

But anyways, Marc MacYoung is a good resource for this if you can get past the corny url:
http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/


As for dogs.... there are enough items on the market for this with varrying degrees of effectiveness, take your pick.

CarolHudson11

My pitt bull, Tate. She's been socialized to the nines and is about as ferocious as a daisy and she's more likely to knock you down and lick you to death than actually hurt you. But she looks scary and it tends to make others "jog" to the opposite side of the road.

CalorieNinja

For the record, next time I run, I want @lilmissgenius with me!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

TrainingWithTonya

I don't run, but I do live 2 hours from school and drive there before and after dark depending on the day. With a trip that long, I do have to stop for gas and bathroom breaks on occasion after dark. If I'm approached, I look at the person and decide if I can whip their @$$ or not to decide if I need to run. Then if I felt in danger, I'd kick their @$$ just for making me think I had to run! I studied Kenpo and am a former professional wrestler. The largest person I've knocked out was 6 feet 8 inches and 330 pounds, so I don't scare easily. For my female clients, I've actually taught self defense classes and highly recommend the things mentioned above (workout partner, pepper spray, dog, etc.) but I don't recommend a weapon like a knife or gun just in case the criminal gets control of it. I'll be glad to teach you how to take one away from a criminal, though.

miovlb6

I've been wondering about this lately myself. I really think I need to change my habits. I run or walk the same route, at about the same time every night, wearing headphones, alone (unless you count my Miniature Schnauzer, who I'm sure would be of no use to me in a fight). It's a safe neighborhood and I feel comfortable going out at night, but I know it's probably not a great idea. I've thought about getting some pepper spray, but I don't know that I'd actually have the presence of mind to use it if something really did happen.

mark996

If you're gonna use pepper spray you better get ready for some back lash and be prepared to fight through it. If it's a decent mix you WILL be effected by the spray, shortness of breath, watery eyes, temporary blindness, coughing, gagging, the whole 10 yards. Many people think pepper spray is effective, and in reality, it'll probably do the trick for some teenage thug, but we've sprayed many people on the streets with no effect, they just keep coming. I run with a gun, there's no other way around it. The way it goes, if someone pulls a gun on you, and you've got pepper spray? good luck. If you're carrying pepper spray, take it off the keychain for the love of pete. Run with it clasped in your hand, ready to be deployed. When it comes down to it, there's no absolutel to self defense. i've challenged black belt females (legit) and won everytime due to strength and size and surprise. Don't run in compromised areas, you're asking for trouble. Find well lit places to run, find occupied places, or go with a friend. FIND a friend to run with.

emmaleigh47

Run with a gun? Wow....

Ok I live in small town USA, and I am about as naive as they come, seriously.

I run with my Ipod.... and some gatorade.... and an inhaler and my house key.
I have a road ID on my shoe... but I have never run with my cellphone... hmmm

winterjade

I only run alone in the daylight hours, I also have a pressure point stabber that I carry....although I dont really carry it for protection, it helps me relax my hands so I dont waste energy making fists I also tell my hubby the route and approx how long I will be.