*Serious subject* - Protection while walk/jog/running in you

lwhitman4

By the way it's supposed to say "in your neighborhood" but I ran out of room...

:noway: ***DISCLAIMER***!!!!!!! :noway:

PLEASE!!! If you are one of those people who feel so confident enough to w/j/r (walk/jog/run) in your neighborhood or around where you live WITHOUT any sort of personal protection, DO NOT POST SO HERE. It's not because I don't want to hear your side of the story, or I'm a big meany booger head. It's because whether you believe it or not, there's predators who could have access to these boards and could seek out those of us who are unprepared to defend ourselves. SO FOR YOUR SAFETY, if your comment would be along those lines, feel free to keep it to yourself.

Now...

With that being said, I am a firm believer in protection and self-defense. I have studied self-defense and I have used it in at least one situation. (He ended up with a broken nose and two black eyes.) When I go w/j/r, I generally have 1 to 3 weapons on me at any given time. My favorite is my trusty 26" ASP (for... ahem... "whacking away at loose dogs" - something my cop husband has drilled into my head in case another cop should see me and question me for carrying something... questionable) and I have two knives as backups. I don't always have all 3, but at least 2 keep me comfortable. I have also been told I am getting something for Christmas that comes in a small package and makes loud pops, yay for me!

The point of this is: if you are going to be putting yourself out there, regardless of the time of day, you need to have some sense of self-preservation and bring along a friend who whacks, zaps, cuts, and/or bangs and you need to have the proper training and certification/licensing to carry those friends. I'm not preaching, but I just read an article about a guy charged with 15 murders who lived 5 miles from my neighborhood. Linkage: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Security-guard-called-predator-charged-in-2227974.php

I wanted to put this thread out there not only as a warning to those who might be naive enough to go without, but also to get ideas and input from others about defense items we love or love to hate. I'm just soooooooo looking forward to my Christmas present.

Happy cardio-ing.

Jorra

Very informative post! I'm glad to hear you are safe. I have never gone out walking alone before, but I know if I did I would not go unprotected, especially after hearing this. You never know who's lurking in your neighborhood.

jillybeanruns

Are you really encouraging people to go run with guns and knives?

Athena413

Very interesting post. In a good way!!

I'll be interested to see some of the responses. My husband has his CCW, but he doesn't carry when he runs, mainly because he doesn't have a good holster he could run with. I usually don't carry anything, just because I don't know what I'd carry or where I'd put it, and I know I'm not trained to use any sort of weapon, so it would probably just get used on me if I ever tried. I never run in the dark by myself, and I always run in the safer parts of town. If it is dark, I'm always with at least one other person.

Thanks for posting!! Maybe I can get some good ideas!!

glockster972

This is a goo topic that should be reviewed. I personally carry my .40 Cal every where I go. I learned how to jog with it concealed.

ansonrinesmith

Glock 27, always goes with me.

ilookthetype

Mace and a big dog, people cross the street when they see us, including the guys with MS13 neck tattoos.

Athena413

Are you really encouraging people to go run with guns and knives?

Why not??

jillybeanruns

And apparently, I'm naive as I run without a gun or a knife. GASP. I have pepper spray but seldom bring it along. Maybe you just need to work on your speed so you can get away?

wbgolden

Are you really encouraging people to go run with guns and knives?

Are you naive enough in these days to think that's a bad idea?

OK. You redeemed yourself a lil with pepper spray.

Contrarian

I run during daylight.

lwhitman4

Are you really encouraging people to go run with guns and knives?

I'm encouraging people to be safe. I wouldn't advise doing anything that anyone is unprepared for, but I carry what I have been trained with. My prerogative. I just know that there's been a ton of cases of abductions/injuries/assaults/rapes/murders in my area and I don't want to be a victim.

Lleldiranne

Don't forget the best defense - being aware of your surroundings!!! (Not saying any of you aren't, just reminding people to pay attention, it can prevent a lot of mayhem.)

DrBorkBork

They make very small, travel size cans of mace/bear repellant these days. I don't see the harm in carrying one in your (I mean anyone reading this) running belt. I mean you're running, right? Spray & run like HELL! Making lots of noise along the way.

ilookthetype

Are you really encouraging people to go run with guns and knives?

I'm encouraging people to be safe. I wouldn't advise doing anything that anyone is unprepared for, but I carry what I have been trained with. My prerogative. I just know that there's been a ton of cases of abductions/injuries/assaults/rapes/murders in my area and I don't want to be a victim.

Yeah, I live in an area with a lot of gang activity, a SERIOUS gang that has the FBI up their hiney. They've killed federal witnesses and they kidnap women and sell them.

lwhitman4

Don't forget the best defense - being aware of your surroundings!!! (Not saying any of you aren't, just reminding people to pay attention, it can prevent a lot of mayhem.)

Thank you - that's probably your best line of defense. Dang wish I thought to mention that. I can't recall how many times I've jogged past a parked car and crossed the road to be on the other side in case there was a lurker.

FireMama_24

It is so true. I am a dispatcher for my hometown police dept and they guys always making sure we even walk out of the back of the police dept to our cars okay. I think that personal protection is key if you are going to be workout outside (even if it is in your neighborhood). This is a great post and hopefully everyone takes it to heart.

IronmanPanda

I think it would more important to be aware of your surrounding while you run. No use in carrying anything if you don't hear the person running up on you from behind.

MissFit0101

Good post!

jillybeanruns

Are you really encouraging people to go run with guns and knives?

I'm encouraging people to be safe. I wouldn't advise doing anything that anyone is unprepared for, but I carry what I have been trained with. My prerogative. I just know that there's been a ton of cases of abductions/injuries/assaults/rapes/murders in my area and I don't want to be a victim.

Yeah, I live in an area with a lot of gang activity, a SERIOUS gang that has the FBI up their hiney. They've killed federal witnesses and they kidnap women and sell them.

Then it's probably advisable for you to move or not run in your neighborhood. Running with a gun is probably not going to help you if they're that organized and high profile, just saying.

california_peach

A 26" ASP? Am I only one picturing you running with a large snake?

AZTrailRunner

I live in Reality, and not Fantasyland. Bad guys exist everywhere, and look for easy targets. A woman running is a fairly easy target, and are violated every day. And you are absolutely naive if you think for one second ANY of them women thought they would run into trouble.

Being prepared is smart, regardless of the situation. I used to carry a gun in my pack while I rode my bike in training for Triathlons. Why? Because douche-bags look for easy targets, and after having a few unsolicited encounters, I decided I would rather prepare myself instead of giving up my sport or becoming a victim. Some people might say, choose another place to r/w/j, but you need to remember that the bad guys aren't just in the slums, they are everywhere.

When SECONDS count, the police are only MINUTES away. I've noticed a trend from taking hundreds of hours of self defense and firearms training classes, is that that average person is completely naive to the real threats around them every day; head-in-sand if you will.

It is NEVER a bad idea to be prepared (regardless of the form you choose: weapon, awareness, combat skills, etc. It can be fatal to not be prepared!

lwhitman4

A 26" ASP? Am I only one picturing you running with a large snake?

I giggled at that.

Picture a 6" metal baton that extends to 26". I just always have called it an ASP.

love22step

I also carry an old ASP, probably 24". My husband brought it home years ago, and I've never actually measured it. I carry my cell phone, and, if I'm not moving too fast, I take my German Shepherd Dog along. During times of the year when I'm worried about snakes, I carry a cane with prongs on the bottom that my mother-in-law used when walking on icy sidewalks in MA. She doesn't need it here in TX, so I claimed it as my snake stick. My jaunts are along country roads.

Deathwithab

i live in a small town in canada and tho i dont have to take protection from people i do take protection from bears which could easly work on a person ( bear banger, bearspray)

ilookthetype

Are you really encouraging people to go run with guns and knives?

I'm encouraging people to be safe. I wouldn't advise doing anything that anyone is unprepared for, but I carry what I have been trained with. My prerogative. I just know that there's been a ton of cases of abductions/injuries/assaults/rapes/murders in my area and I don't want to be a victim.

Yeah, I live in an area with a lot of gang activity, a SERIOUS gang that has the FBI up their hiney. They've killed federal witnesses and they kidnap women and sell them.

Then it's probably advisable for you to move or not run in your neighborhood. Running with a gun is probably not going to help you if they're that organized and high profile, just saying.

Or I could run with protection (not a gun because I'm not *that* good with a gun). I can't move, money is a factor. I'm smart when I run, though. I think I've spend enough of my life cowering from danger, I'm not going to live in fear now.

AZTrailRunner

I think it would more important to be aware of your surrounding while you run. No use in carrying anything if you don't hear the person running up on you from behind.

Who says that is going to be the outcome? It could be 3 dirtbags stop her from the front and get in her space. Your advice leaves her vulnerable to rape or worse.

wbgolden

I live in Reality, and not Fantasyland. Bad guys exist everywhere, and look for easy targets. A woman running is a fairly easy target, and are violated every day. And you are absolutely naive if you think for one second ANY of them women thought they would run into trouble.

Being prepared is smart, regardless of the situation. I used to carry a gun in my pack while I rode my bike in training for Triathlons. Why? Because douche-bags look for easy targets, and after having a few unsolicited encounters, I decided I would rather prepare myself instead of giving up my sport or becoming a victim. Some people might say, choose another place to r/w/j, but you need to remember that the bad guys aren't just in the slums, they are everywhere.

When SECONDS count, the police are only MINUTES away. I've noticed a trend from taking hundreds of hours of self defense and firearms training classes, is that that average person is completely naive to the real threats around them every day; head-in-sand if you will.

It is NEVER a bad idea to be prepared (regardless of the form you choose: weapon, awareness, combat skills, etc. It can be fatal to not be prepared!

I wish I had said this.

ansonrinesmith

A 26" ASP? Am I only one picturing you running with a large snake?

Collapsible Baton.

elysecea

I have 2 big furry 4 legged friends that tend to steer folks to the other side of the road

glockster972

Are you really encouraging people to go run with guns and knives?

I'm encouraging people to be safe. I wouldn't advise doing anything that anyone is unprepared for, but I carry what I have been trained with. My prerogative. I just know that there's been a ton of cases of abductions/injuries/assaults/rapes/murders in my area and I don't want to be a victim.

Yeah, I live in an area with a lot of gang activity, a SERIOUS gang that has the FBI up their hiney. They've killed federal witnesses and they kidnap women and sell them.

Then it's probably advisable for you to move or not run in your neighborhood. Running with a gun is probably not going to help you if they're that organized and high profile, just saying.

For many people that is not an option. I think too many are taking this far beyond the intent. The OP is trying to make you aware of what COULD go wrong while out and about, daylight or dark.