Obstacle to Running

SallyGirl523

Last spring I started running. I had been trying to form a running habit for a couple of years, both to help me lose weight, and honestly, because I can and we never know when we're going to lose our mobility (after my mom had a knee replacement and couldn't get around well, it really showed me how lucky I am). Well, last spring, I was finally successful and by mid-summer I could jog about 3 miles with only a couple of walking breaks. I felt great, had lost a bit of weight, and felt super proud. Well, then in August last year, two women got raped while out for their runs, in two different locations, at two different times of the day. My town is not big, and crime is generally not an issue, but that curtailed my running pretty significantly. I don't really have anyone I can run with, I hate running on the treadmill, so I haven't really run since last August when that happened and I no longer felt safe running outside alone, even in a fairly populated area.

Any advice that might help me get over this obstacle? I'm moving in a few months, but I'd hate to just wait until then to begin running again. Its going to be hard enough after such a long hiatus.

Runningirl7284

I used to say I hated running on a treadmill too! I used to run around the neighborhood and carry mase with me just in case. However, I had a scare with a guy waiting for me to run by him on a motorcycle at night and since then have not run outside alone. You have 2 Choices the way I see it. #1 Run with a friend for safety. #2 Get over your hatred of the treadmill.

I have changed my thinking completely about the treadmill. It keeps you on pace so you are less likely to slow down or even stop like you might outside. You know your improvement because you can gradually increase your speed on it. It is easy to set up speed workouts and inclines and you are less prone to roll an ankle or hurt yourself like you might by running outside on uneven ground/trails.

You can run in front of a tv and watch a show so your mind is not bored from running in place or you can do my fav which I am constantly getting new music for my IPOD and run to the beat and "get in the moment" It is great I Love it and I believe you can too if you give it a fair shot.

paul_draper

There are websites that can match you up with jogging pals, you try one of those even though it might take a while to find someone. Or, how about joining a running class or club?

Nicola0000

I have changed my thinking completely about the treadmill. It keeps you on pace so you are less likely to slow down or even stop like you might outside. You know your improvement because you can gradually increase your speed on it. It is easy to set up speed workouts and inclines and you are less prone to roll an ankle or hurt yourself like you might by running outside on uneven ground/trails.

You can run in front of a tv and watch a show so your mind is not bored from running in place or you can do my fav which I am constantly getting new music for my IPOD and run to the beat and "get in the moment" It is great I Love it and I believe you can too if you give it a fair shot.

Agree. I find running on a treadmill is good as I know how fast/far Im running to keep a good pace.
Could you run with a friend? Or find a running partner on a running website? Can you run in the middle of the day? (dont know what time the attacks happened)

therealangd

You have 2 Choices the way I see it. #1 Run with a friend for safety. #2 Get over your hatred of the treadmill.

Those were my thoughts. Exactly.

You could check to see if there are any local running groups in your area.

You could also look into a self defense class. I took one. It was great. It was exactly what I needed. I'm no match for a weapon, but I'm not so worried about running in the dark in populated areas.

theoneandonlybrookie

It is very scary and traumatic when there is an attack on a path or route that you run frequently. Growing up, I swam year around, and part of my cross-training was to run. I was in middle school when a guy reached out of a car parked on the street (out of a line of many cars parked on a city street) and tried to pull me in. I pulled away, ran as fast as I could from him, my heart in my stomach the whole time. Needless to say, it scared the crap out of me and to this day has made me cautious.

The first thing that I did was start running with Mace. They actually make some very portable mace dispensers just for runners. The nice thing about mace is that it works on errant dogs as well, which was a big problem in the last town where I lived. (I have never had to use Mace on a run, just to be clear.) I guess some women are even carrying stun-guns made for runners. I haven't seen one of those, but have heard about them.

I stick to well-traveled sidewalks where there are cars and people frequently coming by.

I would like to say that I run only during daylight hours. I don't, but I also live really close to downtown where there is pretty much a steady flow of cars and people. Anyway, the safest thing is to run in daylight.

That being said, there is always a danger of being attacked while running outside. There's also danger in leaving the grocery store parking lot at night. There's a risk of getting robbed every time you stop for gas. There are potential dangers everywhere, but we can do our best to mitigate them and still enjoy our outdoor runs, shop safely, and generally live our lives.

In terms of your specific situation... have the police caught the attacker or attackers of the two women? Was it the same person? If they haven't caught the culprit, I would personally go with the others' recommendation of using a treadmill until they do find the rapist. If the attackers have been caught, I would say to go back to running outside but take some protection with you.

Best of luck. I hope that you find a way to run again, indoors or out.

SallyGirl523

Thanks everyone for the input! Perhaps I should re-give the treadmill the old college try. Beats not running at all, right?

JustBeckyV

I would look for a running group in your area. I couldnt imagine not being able to run outside! Maybe look for areas that there are more people and you may have to do loops in that area to get more miles but its still outside!

momof3and3

Most people hate the treadmill, but utulize it any way...so, either run outside with a friend or get a big dog...or treadmill it is!