Women: do you walk/run at night?

allroundthesun

I'm kind of a night owl; my internal clock is just set a bit later than normal, I think. 11:00 AM - 2:00 AM is pretty much my day, and I usually feel most like walking at around 8-10ish PM. In June/July/some of August that's no big deal because it stays light so late, but until then and after that, I'm usually walking in the dark. Three of the streets on my "circuit" (more of a rectangle) are major city streets and still lit up and busy at that time, but the fourth is a quiet residential street; there are houses and a bit of streetlighting, but it's pretty dark, there's rarely anyone outside and there's a lot of greenery/fences/etc. which makes me a bit nervous. I try to do this leg of the walk first, so it's as early as possible, but it's often still dark and I worry a bit. However, my close friend/roommate and my mom worry a LOT and act as if certain death awaits, so I'm concerned that maybe I'm not worried enough (how's that for neurotic? :laugh: ). For various reasons, there's no easy/good way to alter my route and it works really well for me, so honestly I wouldn't want to even if it was simple. Oh, and I live in a nice, "low crime" area of the city, which I guess is relevant.

So, wondering: do other women walk/run alone at night? Does it worry you/do you feel afraid? Am I taking a huge risk? I'm not sure how to gauge if this is really a big deal/dangerous or not. If you do walk/run at night, is there anything you do to increase your safety (besides the old myths about not wearing a ponytail, carrying your keys, pretending to be on the phone, etc.)? Concealed carry, mace and pepper spray are all illegal in Canada unfurtunately so those aren't options.

Any input is appreciated!

-- Juliet

fteale

No, absolutely not. I live in the countryside and it is pitch black at night. I'd sprain an ankle within 2 minutes in the fields.

Val_from_OH

I don't think its a good idea to go walking in the dark by yourself. Creeps are everywhere, and the really crazy ones like nice neighborhoods. It seems like every week I hear about a jogger getting abducted and assaulted, and oftentimes that is during the day. Get a walking partner if you can, there is safety in numbers!

jataijah

Well I've only been out running at night with my husband. But would feel comfortable running in my neighborhood alone. My neighbor walks at 1am. I would carry a small can of mace if possible just to be on the safe side

malabaugh

I walk at night too, but I have my dog with me. I did walk alone at night before the dog with little worry. My advice is to stick with well lit areas and vary your routes often. Don't be seen alone in the same place at the same time. Also, as much as it may stink, don't listen to music at night, that will help you be more aware of what it going on around you. Can you recruit a walling buddy? Stay safe!

stanvoodoo

yes, walk at night, sometimes alone, no problem but I have lived in the area a long time even though it isn't a "A" neighborhood.

red01angel

I don't either. I live in a pretty nice neighborhood, but It's still Los Angeles....so if you go a few blocks in any direction, it's a totally different type of area and it's not worth the risk to me. I run with my dog, but he's all of 10 lbs, so my sweet little guy isn't something I can really count on for protection besides maybe a warning that something's amiss.
I have a treadmill that I use when I get the urge to run at midnight/1 AM.

If you really really want to walk/run at night, you could always try to find a friend who will go with you. Safety in numbers, and all that.

SaraBrown12

I do most of my excercise at night as i work evenings, when i return home at 9.45pm my dogs are like coiled springs.. So we go and walk for at least 1 hour sometimes 2 in nice weather. Foolishly maybe... no i have no fear whatsoever about walking around at night as if any1 was to attack me my dogs would lick them to death! Maybe u should try to borrow a dog from a neighbor or friend to put minds at rest.

JennsLosing

we live on a military base, i do sometimes. not lately because its still cold at night, but maybe this summer ill do it again. i feel pretty secure on post

bjshields

Well, I guess I'm one of the few, because, yes, I do walk at night, and my mom (shocker!) and my neighbor/friend give me a hard time about it. I try to be aware of my surroundings. As for creeps, yes, they're everywhere, but you probably have a MUCH greater chance of being killed in a car accident than by some psycho in your neighborhood! Hopefully I have not jinxed us!:laugh:

Enigmatica

I do go out at night quite a bit but I'm to the teeth even though I'm in a "nice" area. I have a stun gun, pepper spray, AND a German Shepherd who would absolutely love to sink her fangs into some foolio who'd be stupid enough to mess with us. Oh, and I usually have a hidden video camera on me too, lol.

Really, being a woman out alone at night is a serious consideration, no matter where you live. Too much bad stuff happens =(

SpartanHard

Juliet...Please Please Please be careful...if oyu cant go earlier and dont have a budy to go with can you get a dog? Or get some serious self defense classes somethign that will train you how to maim or kill your assailant

GreenTeaForDays

I often run on a bike path that follows a river (really more like a treated sewage to ocean type channel) and even though there are a few people on it at night, i still get creeped out. especially on the underpasses that go under streets and a major freeway. i often imagine finding a dead body or someone jumping out at me...

my solution has just been to go with a friend or my boyfriend if i decide to run at night, or i run in more populated areas. get a friend to go with you? or change your route?

i can't believe mace is illegal? even the tiny ones that come on key chains?? if those aren't an option you could also carry a whistle.

Key chain pepper spray:
http://www.amazon.com/SABRE-Compact-Pepper-Spray-Pink/dp/B001CZ9MRY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1301693211&sr=8-2

Whistle:
http://www.amazon.com/Fox-40-Classic-Cushioned-Silver/dp/B000WZOSSS/ref=sr_1_6?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1301693379&sr=1-6

jesseBYAH

That is really a bummer that you can't carry mace in Canada... are you allowed to carry a pocket knife? I like to carry a knife with me when I am alone. Also, a whistle is always good to have around. It draws attention and scares creeps away. Also, each time you go out, you should tell someone that you're going so that there's someone expecting you back at a certain time. I hope these suggestions help!

wolfchild59

Only at 24 Hour Fitness.

But yeah, no, not a chance. I would never go running outside at night.

DeBlue

Well it is kind of creepy to be out running at night - if you've ever been harassed by guys out "having fun" then you know what I mean. The thing about running is you can end up pretty far away from the safety of home or neighbors who know you well. I do like to run under the cover of semi-darkness though and feel it is much safer in the pre-dawn hours. Trouble-makers are more likely to have stumbled into bed by the time I'm out and around at 5 AM. At 10 PM or later they are just getting started.

Walking on the other hand I do at any hour. You aren't ranging so far from the relative safety of your neighborhood when you are walking. You know best if this is a good choice for where you live. It only takes one bad experience to ruin a good thing so be safe first.

kent4j

The other thing to keep in mind is that "creeps" monitor your routine. So if you are doing the same route on the same days at the same time you're more at risk. Be careful!

aeckels616

No, but that's because I'm more concerned about running into a moose or a bear than a stalker. But in the city, I don't think I would go after dark unless I had a nice-sized dog.

ashleighlvschris

I walk/jog at night & my area has alot of crime, not so much on the block I live at but a few blocks down is bad. I take one of my pit bulls with me, I'm not scared cuz they will fight till the death for me.

myboysmomx2

My husband is a police officer in a major college city...we've had it all, murders, rapes, shootings, stabbings, and even a serial killer several years back. Until the killer was caught, the whole city was on edge. Students went back home, and people would get a friend to go with them anywhere. It was bad! It frustrates my husband to no end that women run or walk alone at night. It does not matter if you live in a bad neighborhood or a supposedly low-crime/high class neighborhood. Creeps are everywhere and they know where to find women who are all too trusting and comfortable in their surroundings. If you only knew the stories that he comes home with! If I were you, I'd run before dark and even still, be aware of your surroundings. Call me a little paranoid, but we are not a "normal" family due to his law enforcement background. This makes us more cautious than the average Joe out there. We are a conceal carry state, but since you can't carry, I'd run with a giant German Shepherd named Adolf! It's better to be safe than dead

Atlantique

I do, but not with headphones. You need to be able to hear when it's dark just to be safe.

The last several years, I've had my dog with me when it's dark, which is a fairly decent deterrent to any ne'erdowells.

The only time I ever really felt threatened was in broad daylight, actually. Some idiot in a pickup truck passed me twice and slowed down. I picked up some rocks and started throwing them when he came by the 3rd time. And that was the end of that, although he did scream something about my sanity out the window as he left.

Kimbie500

The only time I ever really felt threatened was in broad daylight, actually. Some idiot in a pickup truck passed me twice and slowed down. I picked up some rocks and started throwing them when he came by the 3rd time. And that was the end of that, although he did scream something about my sanity out the window as he left.

LOVE!!! WTG!

allroundthesun

Okay, I guess I really am being a little more reckless than I thought. :frown:

Thinking about it, I've been assaulted by strangers twice at night and that might be part of why I'm less scared than I should be, paradoxically.

Once I was walking downtown, I forget why, actually, I wouldn't typically be walking downtown alone...might have been going from one friend's place to a pub to hang out with some other friends, but anyway, whatever, some jerk tried to mug me for my iPhone. And BTW, this incident totally speaks to what some people said about a nice neighbourhood not making a difference and really debunked some classist concepts people have of predators (I think, subconciously, I may have thought that way myself before this, but I certainly don't now) because the guy looked like he could be a businessman working on Bay St. and dressed like it (and his clothes and haircut probably cost more than I pay for a month's rent). He followed me for a couple of minutes, trying to subtly get closer, and getting very close, and I stopped and turned and faced him (somebody told me that was the thing to do in that situation, might be a myth in retrospect )and he told me to give him my phone, really nonchalantly, like he was asking me the time or something, it was so bizarre! He didn't have a weapon (ohhhhh Canada) or threaten me and like I said, he was speaking to me like we were having a normal conversation so I said, "Pssshht, NO!", stuffed the phone in my right pocket, rolled my eyes and stepped back (didn't want to run in case he chased me, I was walking on side roads - stupid! - which are still relatively populated wtith stores and such, but nothing that was open,and I wasn't very close to a major one). He didn't even try for my bag, incidentally; I wear it diagonally across my body so that the middle of the strap is on my shoulder and the bag is on my hip, if that description makes any sense, so maybe he thought it would be too much trouble to get from me without a weapon, whereas my iPhone was in my hand. He jumped at me and grabbed me by the left sleeve of my coat - I pulled back as far as I could go, and he held me taught but didn't try to drag me closer - and told me to give him the blanking phone or he'd choke me until I was dead. I know people will think I'm a total idiot - and probably, yeah - but I love that phone, I need it, and I could never afford to replace it, so I reached into my pocket with my right hand and carefully unlocked it while it was in there, and then tapped the camera app open (fortunately it was the first app on the bottom row, so easy to feel for) hoping he wouldn't see the motion (he didnt), took it out and lifted it up toward him like I was going to hand it to him, then jerked it up fast and took his picture, and then flung it as fast as possible across the sidewalk into a snow bank. He *freaked*, naturally, grabbing me at the top of my arms (so much for choking me, the coward ) and shaking me, screaming that I was a bunch of obscene things. I tried pulling away and when that didn't work I started hitting him in the chest/neck/arms, trying to grab *his throat* and he ended up dragging me along hitting and shaking me while I struggled, hitting, squeezing and trying desperately to kick or smack him in the testicles* and also to pull back as hard as I could, since he was headed for the phone (I'm sure he was more worried about his picture than the phone's value by then). Let me take this moment to note that two cabs were idling at the curb across the street (I have no idea why, and I remember thinking, why is he doing this in front of people?! but I found out why) and the entire time I was screaming at the top of my lungs for help, originally looking at them and neither of them so much as called the cops, never mind intervened. One had the minimal decency to look away; the other watched, looking bored. Unbelieveable. Anyway, at this point I realised we were directly in front of a bank with an outdoor ATM, which of course = camera! Soooooooo lucky! I started screaming, "We're in front of a blanking bank, we're in front of a blanking ATM, you're on camera, you stupid blanker!" I screamed the part about being on camera a few more times, he must have seen it and realised I was telling the truth (he didn't look initially, likely thought I was trying to distract him) because he dropped me onto the sidewalk instantly (guess he thought it was better to cut his losses at simple assault rather than going for assault causing bodily harm or aggravated assault and theft - I never called the police, anyway) and - get this - bolted to one of the cabs, got in, and drove off! I retrieved the iPhone (not so much as a scratch on it!) and the second cab driver had the nerve to pull up and asked me if I need a cab. :sick: Seriously. I think I hated those cab drivers more than the mugger himself. I hope karma is real (suspect it's not, though). Anyway, I was bruised up on my arms/collar bone area/ legs/hips, and my legs and knees were a kind of scraped up, but there wasn't so much as a scratch on my face, and no problematic injuries anywhere.

The other time was on the subway coming home from a friend's. When I originally got on, several other people were on the car as well. A few got off as we went (it's like a half hour subway ride) and the last of the other passengers exited at the same station a group of 7 or 8 drunk jerks got on. Bad luck, and I didn't have time to get off the car before I realised what had happened. They were screwing around, swinging from the upper hand rails, throwing stuff at each other, generally acting like morons and still hadn't noticed me until shortly before we get to the next station (when I'd have got off and waited for the next train, more bad luck) and then one of them saw me trying to be inconspicuous halfway down the train and staggered down and threw himself next to me asking me what was up, addressing me as baby girl, and leaning against me. I told him to get off and leave me alone, and he kept leaning and put his arm over my shoulders, too, making sexual comments. His *kitten* buddies had wandered down to watch and laugh by now, standing across from us a metre or so away. I raised my voice and told him to blank off, and he laughed and leaned in and whispered more sexual stuff into my ear. I jerked my head away and told him to get away from me again, and he leaned back in and stuck his tongue in my ear. By this point we'd passed the station I was originally hoping to get off at, the next station, and were about halfway to my station. I weighed the possibility (not very carefully I suppose, I was scared and things were happening very quickly) of not making it to my station in time to make a run for it if I attacked in self-defense, since they'd all be on me if I attacked their "bro" and I obviously didn't have a chance against all of them (or one of them, for that matter, I'm 5'2" and I weighed 114 lbs. and aside from the previous incident, I'd never been in a fight - if you can even call the above a fight - so no clue what I was doing) but the whole thing was clearly building, and I thought the sexual assault would escalate, which seemed worse at that moment, so I jumped up kind of across him, sideways, so I was facing him -he didn't even react at first, too drunk - and clawed the hell hell out of his face - like blood smeared all over it clawed up - and initially he still wasn't reacting physically because he was too drunk, so just screaming and swearing, while I'm gouging him in the face, must have taken him a good 15 seconds to start flailing his arms and kicking, and to kick me in the shin and get me away. The bros were actually slow to react, too, they were also way drunk and seemed kind of confused, dude had kicked me away before any of them moved to grab me (jerk was still just yelling and swearing and rubbing his face, idiotically, because he was just smearing blood around, not even getting up) and I got so, so lucky because we hit my stop about 5 seconds after he kicked me, and I bolted before any of them could grab me. None of them even tried to come after me. :huh:

Sorry, I guess that got a bit long/detailed, I think writing it out helped scare me a bit by recalling how afraid I was in those situations, plus I'm just kind of long-winded. :embarassed: But my point in recounting all of that (aside from the aforementioned) is that coming out of both of those situations relatively unscathed has maybe made me a bit too cocky and probably left me a little less fearful than I should be. Reading this thread and writing this out has been a good wake-up call to be more cautious; I'm just going to have to start walking/running before dark. Thank you all!

* Oh, my asterisk - I'm no self-defense expert, so you should probably take this with a grain of salt, but I've always been advised to attempt to hit a man in the testicles in an assault. However, in these two situations and the third and only other time I've been involved in a physical assault - I have never been in a mutual fight, I swear I'm not violent or trashy the way this makes me sound, I'm actually shy and hate confrontation and violence (third assault was when my ex-boyfriend beat me - and I feel the need to state for the record that it was the first time in our three year relationship he'd laid a hand on me and that I have not had contact with him since it happened last October, nor will I ever have any contact with him again; he was arrested and charged and signed an order not to contact me directly or indirectly, come to my address, or be present in any place I am in lieu of bail, anyway; moron called the cops on *himself* out of some demented idea that beating me to the punch would give him a legal advantage - blanking sucker, I would never have called the cops, and he'd have got away with it - possibly the neighbours called too, but without him in contact with the cops I would have atempted to brush them off and failed to cooperate as much as legally possible, and they probably wouldn't have pursued it) I've found it nearly impossible to get anywhere in terms of hitting/kicking a man in the testicles, and just waste energy, and end up getting the worst of it. The only time I was totally unscathed besides a bruise on the shin was when I went for the face with drunken subway *kitten*, and the assult by my ex ended when I grabbed his hair and pulled so hard I was ripping it out to get him to unlatch his teeth which he'd sunk into my hand, biting me, and wouldn't unclamp while I was trying desperately to shake him - he unlatched and finally left me alone and went after the hair ripping. So with the caveat that again, I have no expertise, my advice is forget about the testicles and go for the face/head if you're assaulted.

Anyway, sorry again for this being so long, and thank you again for your responses, I really appreciate it!

-- Juliet

calliope_music

yes, but only in the summer when it stays light out later. i live in an area where there's ALWAYS PEOPLE so i'm not too afraid. i still prefer to go with my hubby though!

MGleason2010

Ok so i'm one of those "crazies" that would go at night (9-10 ish) but I always have pepper spray with me. (Live in US/Michiga) I also always go where there are street lights. And I also always have my cell phone.

I guess I feel indifferent about it and was going to suggest you take Pepper Spray, but since that's illegal, then I'd get a dog If that's even possible for you.

allroundthesun

Ok so i'm one of those "crazies" that would go at night (9-10 ish) but I always have pepper spray with me. (Live in US/Michiga) I also always go where there are street lights. And I also always have my cell phone.

I guess I feel indifferent about it and was going to suggest you take Pepper Spray, but since that's illegal, then I'd get a dog If that's even possible for you.

Ha, nope, I have 7 cats, wouldn't go well! :laugh: I did put an add on Craigslist offering to walk someone's dog for free, so we'll see how that pans out.

-- Juliet

atomiclauren

Goodness! My first reaction is to err on the side of caution and only go with someone at night, but of course do as I say, not as I do (I'm much better than I used to be though!) :blushing:

The couple times I have been worried about someone near me (hell, might have been daylight IIRC) I immediately got on my phone and started talking to "someone" about where I was - no one wants their victim to have someone on the other end knowing what's going on and where.

I also used to..ahem...trespass a lot (in the name of historic building preservation!) and would run in to some interesting folks, mostly just camping out and wasted, and walking briskly and with "purpose" (that's the only way I know to describe it...lol) seemed to work out (plus I had a backpack with tools and a huge Maglite).

Nowadays, since Maglites and pipe wrenches are quite heavy and cumbersome ( ) I just make sure to have mace and my phone with me - I also carry a knife in my bag but that's more for practical things (there's NO WAY I could stab someone).
...and pepper spray is outlawed? So is assault - let me know and I'll smuggle some mace to you

Atlantique

The only time I ever really felt threatened was in broad daylight, actually. Some idiot in a pickup truck passed me twice and slowed down. I picked up some rocks and started throwing them when he came by the 3rd time. And that was the end of that, although he did scream something about my sanity out the window as he left.

LOVE!!! WTG!

Well, it did work. But I was REALLY scared. I'm not one to act out violently unless truly threatened.

I thought about running up into the woods, but figured it was worse as there would be fewer passersby. I was less than a mile from a state park Welcome Center, so I figured my best bet was to keep heading towards it--lots of people. I was on a main road. I had no phone with me. I was alone. I was really f*ng scared. Luckily, I wasn't too tired as I was only about 40% into the run(the Welcome Center was my usual turnaround point). There were no businesses I could run into on that leg of the run, which I did every day at lunch. But it wasn't a totally deserted road, and I was headed toward a heavily traveled intersection, so I figured creating an incident was my best bet. It wasn't courage on my part. It was making the best of a very scary situation.

Anger and hostility is FAR more effective in women than in men in this sort of scenario--you're just too much trouble. It's unexpected.

So I got by, yes. But it could have gone very badly. If 'pickup truck ahole' had been more determined, or armed (not unusual in the South, laughingly named the Bible Belt when these people are the farthest from anything resembling a Christian God that I have ever seen) I could have been raped, beaten, killed. A few rocks in my hands wouldn't have made the slightest bit of difference. I GOT LUCKY. This a*hole didn't know what he was looking for or what he wanted to do, hence the 3 passes by me. So my feeble efforts scared him off. He was NEW at this idea of abducting and torturing women. But someone more determined? Yeah, I would put up a fight. They'd be bloodied and beaten, but they'd probably have won. I'd be raped. I'd be beaten. I'd not be a runner.

Our society marginalizes women, every minute of every day. Ask your male frinds what they think about before heading out on a run. Being raped is NOT EVER on their list. And when we women get raped, well, we had it coming. Our society has a lot to learn and lot to explain.

I used to fly 100K a year for work. I didn't venture out much. My father said I was the world's worst coward because I lived in hotel rooms. He meant it when he said it. He meant to cut me to the bone, and he succeeded-he said I'd never amount to anything because life scared me.

Having dealt with his **** for 35 years at that point, I knew how to go back at his IGNORANCE.

I CALMLY asked him when was the last time he had to worry for his physical safety. He sputtered.

I asked him when the last time that he was the only single, much younger woman in a room full of drunken, successful men. He sputtered.

I asked him when was the last time his employer asked him to find a hooker, basically, for his clients. And if he couldn't find them one, was he expected to sleep with them? He nearly vomited.

Yeah, it's all fun and games for the men until they think their daughters live in this world. We do live here. Every f*ng day. Where women are toilet tissue--worthless commodites that can be replaced for a DOLLAR OR LESS. Yes, we live in a totally different world. We live in a society where we are not whole persons--no, we're 30% human on a GOOD DAY. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF_ NO ONE ELSE WILL>