self defense/personal protection while you run

boomboom011

a springfield XD .40 subcompact is my preferred self defense weapon. fanny pack and my pistol. doesnt look cute but I aint tryin to look cute while getting raped or mugged or worse.

boomboom011

p.s. beretta has some really nice holsters. a little more pricey but worth.

also, i think all women need to take a handgun class and re-think their "im scared of guns" mentality. I know not everyone likes guns. I used to be one of them. I now have my CHL.

If anyone would like any info i would be more than happy to tell you what I know or direct you to someone that knows more than I do. There are tons of organizations out there geared for women. Its not just a mans thing anymore.

EE0710

My husband says if I don't take our Doberman (Moose) I have to wear a bellyband, with a concealed carry permit. Also they make really small pepper spray that will clip on your shorts so you can still be hands free.

EE0710

heck yeah! i have the xd 45 but not what i carry if i run

FearAnLoathing

I have a stun gun,pepper spray and a knife i keep in my cleveage.

maddymama

I only wear 1 headphone in with the sound down low so I can hear EVERYTHING around us while still enjoying the music ( I run with DH, or my kids in a double jogger).
I carry pepper spray, and have my cell phone with me.
While I am concerned about strangers, I've had wayyyy more trouble with dogs on the lose charging us.

boomboom011

i think its very important to remember to always keep DISTANCE. Even if the attacker can get within 21 feet of you, the amount of time to pull anything out and make a direct hit gets very difficult. Unless you are highly trained and even the highly trained make mistakes.

Just be smart and be aware of your surroundings. Its not rocket science. Dont be texting and walking. Keep your head up, let them know you are taking inventory. The easier the target the better for the attacker. (spoken like a true attacker huh?) lol im not i just have a fear of being attacked so this is something i like to invest any time i have in getting as much knowledge as possible.

I will do my best to NOT be a victim.

Sorry i get a little worked up with this subject.

P.S. guns dont kill people. its just a tool. Take a letter opener if you dont want to use a gun. Or a hammer. They can kill too.

JNick77

Glad to see some women are packin'.

I think one thing is to avoid bad situations. For example, some towns have trails you can run down that are away from streets typically under bridges and just completely out of site. If you want to run those try and run with a friend and avoid them at night. Early morning / Nighttime jogging, stay by main well lit roads, avoid dark side streets.

ilookthetype

Protective Pittbull. She wouldn't harm a fly, but she certainly does look tough. I've had hilarious encounters late at night with her where huge guys have crossed the street and just moved far away from my docile pittie. No barking, pulling. or lunging - people are just scared of the breed, it's sad but hey, it works for me when i run!!

And, one ear phone only. I've also stopped running on my favorite little trail because I realized it looked like something straight out of SVU and I wasn't really feeling that.

I think its interesting the a few guys mentioned they hadn't thought about safety while running, we, as women, are always told to think about it. I think for a lot of us we spend more time than we know assessing our surroundings. A friend in the military once commented that I was constantly looking around and sizing up people when we were out. I hadn't known I was doing but I answered all the questions he asked about people in other booths without looking.

Girl gets hurt once and she doesn't let it happen again.

swaymyway

I have my house key which could be used as a weapon I suppose, but I only run when it's light out, keep to populated areas and always tell my partner when I am going and when I expect to be back with the instruction that if I am not back soon after - come looking for me/call the police - though that's more because I am a clumsy git and always anticipate that sooner or later I am going to take a fall and break my leg lol

44isthenew29

I needed to read this - I'm new to running, and have been running my neighbourhood at night, though there is one road in particular that is dark and there are few houses. I never wear headphones if I run at night, and I carry my cellphone. I also try to avoid running by a parked car - someone could be hiding behind it waiting for me to run past. I will usually cross the road and run on the other side. I don't tell anyone that I am going running, though, and that's silly. It would be hours before anyone knew I hadn't returned. I'm going to make sure I do something about that. I will try to find a running partner, too.

Gun laws in Canada are very tight - so no firearm for me. My Dad suggested carrying spray paint some years back, so that the would-be attacker was marked if he tried to attack. But, this is making the assumption that I was able to escape and/or that I was able to get to the paint in time.

Some years ago, A girl I know was running during the day along a trail that's fairly well traveled. She wore headphones and got 'clotheslined' by a guy as she ran past him. She was sexually assaulted though managed to eventually free herself and flag down a passing vehicle.

falconpriestess

I took up kickboxing years ago before I started running and at 5.30am there's nobody around

End6ame

Guns are all well and good (I love guns) but if you are not trained to use them under high stress situations, they are useless to you and can be used against you (same with all weapons for that matter). Shooting in a range is completely different than shooting at a person that is moving towards you and your adrenalin is pumping.

I would recommend had-to-hand combat training to anyone before I would recommend a gun.

Swimgoddess

I was in the Marine Corps... you'd think that would be 'nuff said. Nope, that was 5 years ago. I took a free self-defense seminar at the local Krav Maga center and it is darn near exactly how they taught us in the Marines. They get you exhausted first, then you fight tooth and nail. It is REACTION based, not preset choreography/muscle memory based. You can't go wrong.

"He who gets most violent the quickest wins".

Woe be the guy who has the balls to attack me from the front, for he'll have my thumb buried to the hilt in his eye socket.

End6ame

I was in the Marine Corps... you'd think that would be 'nuff said. Nope, that was 5 years ago. I took a free self-defense seminar at the local Krav Maga center and it is darn near exactly how they taught us in the Marines. They get you exhausted first, then you fight tooth and nail. It is REACTION based, not preset choreography/muscle memory based. You can't go wrong.

"He who gets most violent the quickest wins".

Woe be the guy who has the balls to attack me from the front, for he'll have my thumb buried to the hilt in his eye socket.

Krav is fantastic stuff.

To those weary of it, it is not technically a martial art and does not take years to master. You could be proficient in about 3-6 months. And there is no restrictions on where you can "carry" it.

27strange

Gun laws vary drastically and the idea of people packin' is looked at very differently in different areas. I am from mid-Missouri, small town, lots (and I mean lots) of people have CCW permits and carry regularly day to day. You don't have to register firearm purchases in this state, just a background check. You do have to pass a course and buy a permit to carry concealed. To some people the thought of how attainable guns are is scary, to others its the norm and a basic right. Its debated in every state supreme court constantly. Having a CCW permit comes with a lot of responsibility, its not for everyone.

I was asking about the different types of and styles holsters designed specifically for running because I am interested in getting one. Again, I live in the country 15 miles from town, basically the ozark mountain woods, and want to be able to have a defense against wild dogs and other animals. I wouldn't think about carrying one of my guns when running through my town's neighborhoods, there wouldn't be any more significant threat than what you would encounter in the walmart parking lot 24/7. But running early mornings or evenings on backroads in the country you never know what you will come across.

I have a fanny pack but wearing a fanny pack while running screams only one thing "this guys got a gun." Plus I have never found such packs fashionable or comfortable, even if I am alone in the woods I don't wanna wear one. For those that have posted holster ideas, thanks, I am going to look into them and shop around online. Local gun stores don't carry running holsters (again a small town, small market).

FearAnLoathing

I grew up in a very very bad neighbourhood,add to that years spent in the drug culture you learn how to be street smart and protect yourself

tabbydog

I never wear headphones, and if someone stops to ask for directions, I answer from a safe distance (the other side of the street, even if it's a woman). I also took 3 years of Brazilian jiu jitsu and can choke anyone unconsious or break their arm or leg. I am certainly not going down without a fight. I always tell someone where I am running, how far I am running, and when I expect to be back. I had one scary thing happen where a guy in a truck drove by me, pulled over and took out a map and started reading it. May have been perfectly innocent, but it scared me. I crossed to the other side of the road and kept running. I live in the country, and run after dark a lot in the winter, and I always bring my dog, night or day. She looks scary (a boxer) but she wouldn't hurt a fly. At the very least she would show up at home without me and someone would know I was missing.

ItsCasey

When I run outside (too hot to do in Texas this time of year), I carry a Ruger .380. I also carry common sense and am constantly on the look-out for other people in front of, behind, and on either side of me. I never underestimate anyone, even cute old ladies. If my gut tells me something is up, I take myself out of the situation immediately.

california_peach

I live in Northern California and I am not sure that i could go out packing heat here. I would probably shot off my own foot though! Right now in my area we have a man pantsing women while they run. So I run with only one headphone in and I hold onto my pants when I pass by any man. LOL.

erikazj

As someone who lives in the UK this thread is really quite odd to me! Most the things mentioned on this thread for protection are illegal in the UK. You can't carry a gun, and pepper spray and knives are classed as offensive weapons, so it is illegal to carry those too. Even some of the breeds of dog mentioned on this thread are illegal in the UK

I run with my phone, but only in case I fall over. I'd never be able to get it out my pocket if I were attacked.

Papillon22

Last summer, while I was biking back from work, a car closed me in and someone slapped my butt. It was the scariest thing, until I saw that it was two effing teenagers laughing their *kitten* off. I got so mad, I sped up -because I knew there was a traffic light ahead- and I was seriously going to kick their *kitten* if they were stopped there. They were not, and I'm actually glad because I would have been the one getting hurt, for sure. The thing is, if you had asked me before how I'd react to something like that, I would have said I'd freeze...

Anyway, after that I considered buying pepper spray but then realized that carrying that thing would put me in a horrible state of mind, as if I had to be alert at all times and ready to fight. Just thinking about it, makes me sick to my stomach. I read about some of you, Americans, carrying guns and can't imagine how you do it.

I just choose to be aware of my surroundings, and project an attitude. So far, I've only screamed at an old pervert who told me dirty things. It felt good!

Papillon22

Last summer, while I was biking back from work, a car closed me in and someone slapped my butt. It was the scariest thing, until I saw that it was two effing teenagers laughing their *kitten* off. I got so mad, I sped up -because I knew there was a traffic light ahead- and I was seriously going to kick their *kitten* if they were stopped there. They were not, and I'm actually glad because I would have been the one getting hurt, for sure. The thing is, if you had asked me before how I'd react to something like that, I would have said I'd freeze...

Anyway, after that I considered buying pepper spray but then realized that carrying that thing would put me in a horrible state of mind, as if I had to be alert at all times and ready to fight. Just thinking about it, makes me sick to my stomach. I read about some of you, Americans, carrying guns and can't imagine how you do it.

I just choose to be aware of my surroundings, and project an attitude. So far, I've only screamed at an old pervert who told me dirty things. It felt good!

swaymyway

As someone who lives in the UK this thread is really quite odd to me! Most the things mentioned on this thread for protection are illegal in the UK. You can't carry a gun, and pepper spray and knives are classed as offensive weapons, so it is illegal to carry those too. Even some of the breeds of dog mentioned on this thread are illegal in the UK

I run with my phone, but only in case I fall over. I'd never be able to get it out my pocket if I were attacked.

Also from the UK and thinking the same things, but American culture is very different to ours. I just know if I was out running and saw someone else packing a gun I'd be the one calling the police on them and running in the opposite direction!

I think in the UK as long as you let someone know where you are going and have access to a phone, you'll be alright (or at least VERY unlucky to have anyone attack you!).

boomboom011

As someone who lives in the UK this thread is really quite odd to me! Most the things mentioned on this thread for protection are illegal in the UK. You can't carry a gun, and pepper spray and knives are classed as offensive weapons, so it is illegal to carry those too. Even some of the breeds of dog mentioned on this thread are illegal in the UK

I run with my phone, but only in case I fall over. I'd never be able to get it out my pocket if I were attacked.

Another reason why I am so happy to live in the Great State of Texas.
But let it be known that I do NOT ever want to have to use my gun EVER!

Im hoping that the open carry laws pass in texas one day. Then I will just carry mine loud and proud. No need to conceal. However, i do believe that i have no idea how i will react in a situation like that. TRAINING TRAINING AND MORE TRAINING IS THE KEY TO ANYTHING.

P.S. The beretta PX 4 storm is a nice little weapon.

CatClark

As someone who lives in the UK this thread is really quite odd to me! Most the things mentioned on this thread for protection are illegal in the UK. You can't carry a gun, and pepper spray and knives are classed as offensive weapons, so it is illegal to carry those too. Even some of the breeds of dog mentioned on this thread are illegal in the UK

I run with my phone, but only in case I fall over. I'd never be able to get it out my pocket if I were attacked.

Hehe, I was just thinking the same thing! I let my boyfriend know where I'm going and for how long - plus I run with my keys, I figure a good jab in the groin with a sharp key is going to buy me a little time - although I very much doubt anyone would bother with me, looking like I do while I'm running :blushing:

I come from a very middle-class and well-to-do city, but you'll still get trouble from time to time. There was a string of serial rapes on my estate when I was 15 which really made me think about my safety while I'm out and about.

Around here, mostly it's just idiots beeping and wolf-whistling. A year or so ago, when my 50 year old mum was out training for a half marathon with 3 of her friends, some blokes wound down their van window and shouted "Come on you fat slags!!" as they passed them. Luckily my mum and her friends of the kind of ladies to take this in their stride - they almost cried laughing at these idiots, and have now taken "The Fat Slags" as their unofficial running group name, it's an ongoing in-joke between them! :laugh:

Troll

One Pitbull (my profile pic-don't let the gangsta hat fool you.) and two German Shepard/Siberian Husky mixes, one of which is completely neurotic.

You'd be out of your mind to approach me with my fluffermuffins...i mean...attack dogs....with me. Ahem.

I'm also known for carrying a knife.

And possibly a handgun.

And a big sign that says 'F YOU" on my forehead.

So there's that.

mlb929

I was asking about the different types of and styles holsters designed specifically for running because I am interested in getting one. Again, I live in the country 15 miles from town, basically the ozark mountain woods, and want to be able to have a defense against wild dogs and other animals. I wouldn't think about carrying one of my guns when running through my town's neighborhoods, there wouldn't be any more significant threat than what you would encounter in the walmart parking lot 24/7. But running early mornings or evenings on backroads in the country you never know what you will come across.

I wear a SpiBelt and mine fits perfectly in it, it's right at my waist, you can't tell the difference between it and a celphone. Had I bought the Taurus in the same model, I would have gotten a belt case for carrying it, not sure it would have worked with running, but was about the size of a cell phone case. I've considered a leg strap, but wanted it closer to me for access. I also have seen arm straps, which they sell at any police equipment location.

curlytop89

very interesting. I didn't know they had such things to wear running. I have been threatened by dogs a few times. Usually I drive a route I am interested in a couple of times trying to scope out dogs, but sometimes you just don't know until you are out there. I would hate to shoot someone's pet, but if it is trying to attack me, then we're both on our own. I do find that most dogs just bark and snarl until you are past their "territory", but still scary at times. My husband has suggested that I carry a small gun just in case. That seems extreme to me though. I don't know.

ItsCasey

As someone who lives in the UK this thread is really quite odd to me! Most the things mentioned on this thread for protection are illegal in the UK. You can't carry a gun, and pepper spray and knives are classed as offensive weapons, so it is illegal to carry those too. Even some of the breeds of dog mentioned on this thread are illegal in the UK

I run with my phone, but only in case I fall over. I'd never be able to get it out my pocket if I were attacked.

Another reason why I am so happy to live in the Great State of Texas.
But let it be known that I do NOT ever want to have to use my gun EVER!

Im hoping that the open carry laws pass in texas one day. Then I will just carry mine loud and proud. No need to conceal. However, i do believe that i have no idea how i will react in a situation like that. TRAINING TRAINING AND MORE TRAINING IS THE KEY TO ANYTHING.

P.S. The beretta PX 4 storm is a nice little weapon.

Totally agree. The last thing I want to do is point a loaded gun at another human being, but if I feel like my safety is being threatened, I'll do it. If you know the laws pertaining to when deadly force is justified and you know how to load, aim, and shoot a gun (which ANYONE can be trained to do), there is nothing to be afraid of. It's only "extreme" or "dangerous" if you don't know what you're doing.