Ladies-How do you stay safe while jogging alone?

This is the ultimate pepper spray. It sprays kind of like silly string so there is very little chance of getting the residue on yourself. http://www.coldsteel.com/Inferno-Pepper-Spray.aspx

Compression shorts with a holster built in.

This. Definitely this. And if anyone so much as looks at you sideways, murder them where they stand. Horn honkers get blasted too. Anybody running clockwise on the path when it's counter clockwise day gets kneecapped.

Maybe they were just trying to let me know my keys fell out of my pocket, but hey, I'm not taking any chances. I'm blasting everybody. Better them than me, right?

Many courses in self denfense helps a great deal. All my kids are black belts in Taekwondo. I know some women that carried a blade. Carrying a concealed weapon is a plus too.
Always be very aware of your surroundings. Cut the headphones down to make sure you still hear EVERYTHING around you. You don't want to be surprised.

I would rather be happy to walk around, knowing that people don't have guns on their person.

This isn't possible. Anybody could be armed at any time. And if they are and you're not then you're not really going to have any line of defense against a potential attacker.

I couldn't live with such paranoia. its true that anyone could be armed (much lower chance where I live) but I couldn't walk out the door every day thinking that everyone is a potential murder/rapist. I take sensible precautions when I go out alone, like keep to well populated areas, get cabs home late at night etc.

I use the underground and buses most days, and someone could potentially attempt another 7/7 terrorist attack but I don't stop using public transport. You remain vigilant and get on with life.

I don't walk around assuming everybody I meet is considering raping me and I'm far from paranoid. You SHOULD be aware that it is possible though, and have a plan in place for how you would meet certain attackers IF it ever happened. If you plan a fire escape route you're not paranoid that your building will burst into flames, and if you carry a gun you're not walking around hoping you get to use it one day.

No disrespect meant to anybody who disagrees with carrying a weapon, but it's definitely in your best interest to have a better plan than blowing a whistle and hoping somebody stops to help before it's too late.

I understand being aware and taking precautions. For me that means keeping to well populated areas, telling people when I plan to be home, taking cabs late at night instead of walking. I don't want to arm myself because apart from the fact its illegal here I think the weapon could easily be turned on me.

I didn't mean any offence with the paranoia line, its just how it comes across to me, but we have grown up in different cultures. I have never even seen a gun, I wouldn't want to live in a country where they are readily available.

Definitely a cultural thing where I live we take our right to bear arms seriously and prefer to rely on ourselves for protection rather than hoping other people don't have poor intentions.

A gun could only be turned on you if you're not well versed with it or you're open carrying and they can clearly see you're armed (possibly making it easier for them to take control of it). A weapon can be drawn and fired in a second easily if you're dealing with an attacker that is very close to you. Should everybody carry a gun? DEFINITELY not. It requires a lot of studying, training, practice, knowledge etc.

Regardless though, a plan should be in place for how to deal with any attacker and in my opinion a gun is the last line of defense. I'd be more afraid to live in a country/state that banned guns.

Very true.

Here is a good option for ladies: http://flashbangholsters.publishpath.com/
And a video regarding the use of the option: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8r6CY5UZyw

Compression shorts with a holster built in.

This. Definitely this. And if anyone so much as looks at you sideways, murder them where they stand. Horn honkers get blasted too. Anybody running clockwise on the path when it's counter clockwise day gets kneecapped.

Maybe they were just trying to let me know my keys fell out of my pocket, but hey, I'm not taking any chances. I'm blasting everybody. Better them than me, right?

^^^ Unequivocally LOVE that! I mean.. what Dave said.. I mean that gal's butt is great too but mostly, what Dave said.

I would rather be happy to walk around, knowing that people don't have guns on their person.

This isn't possible. Anybody could be armed at any time. And if they are and you're not then you're not really going to have any line of defense against a potential attacker.

I couldn't live with such paranoia. its true that anyone could be armed (much lower chance where I live) but I couldn't walk out the door every day thinking that everyone is a potential murder/rapist. I take sensible precautions when I go out alone, like keep to well populated areas, get cabs home late at night etc.

I use the underground and buses most days, and someone could potentially attempt another 7/7 terrorist attack but I don't stop using public transport. You remain vigilant and get on with life.

It really isn't being paranoid to understand that there is evil and evil people in the world that would harm others simply to get a kick out of their distress.

I sympathize with those who cannot carry weapons in self defense. Your government has done you a great disservice. For those who can carry weapons, learn to use them and carry them. A 120 pound woman is no match for a 220 pound man, but a small pocket pistol and knowing how and WHEN to use it will make up for a lot of muscle and few brains.

If you can use weapons, practice with them and use them. If you cannot, get into martial arts, pray for safety, keep to well lit areas with people around, and keep the headphones OFF.

I think the only thing my government has done right is not allow most people to bear arms without appropriate training and license.. our crime rate and population compared to that of the US is much different and it would be unnecessary for everyone to walk around with a gun. Why not train people martial arts instead of carrying arms? Just curious.. I want to hear other reasons aside from the right to bare arms.

My sons have provided me and their sister with a variety of self defense weapons. A couple of the weapons are small, but they will cause a great of damage. It all depends on what time of day and how far I'm going to run what I take with me.

I have several of what you'll on the pages in the link below. Yes, I do know how to use them.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_4?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=self+defense+weapons&sprefix=self,aps,250

It really isn't being paranoid to understand that there is evil and evil people in the world that would harm others simply to get a kick out of their distress.

Nope, that doesn't sound paranoid at all.

I would rather be happy to walk around, knowing that people don't have guns on their person.

This isn't possible. Anybody could be armed at any time. And if they are and you're not then you're not really going to have any line of defense against a potential attacker.

I couldn't live with such paranoia. its true that anyone could be armed (much lower chance where I live) but I couldn't walk out the door every day thinking that everyone is a potential murder/rapist. I take sensible precautions when I go out alone, like keep to well populated areas, get cabs home late at night etc.

I use the underground and buses most days, and someone could potentially attempt another 7/7 terrorist attack but I don't stop using public transport. You remain vigilant and get on with life.

It really isn't being paranoid to understand that there is evil and evil people in the world that would harm others simply to get a kick out of their distress.

I sympathize with those who cannot carry weapons in self defense. Your government has done you a great disservice. For those who can carry weapons, learn to use them and carry them. A 120 pound woman is no match for a 220 pound man, but a small pocket pistol and knowing how and WHEN to use it will make up for a lot of muscle and few brains.

If you can use weapons, practice with them and use them. If you cannot, get into martial arts, pray for safety, keep to well lit areas with people around, and keep the headphones OFF.

I think the only thing my government has done right is not allow most people to bear arms without appropriate training and license.. our crime rate and population compared to that of the US is much different and it would be unnecessary for everyone to walk around with a gun. Why not train people martial arts instead of carrying arms? Just curious.. I want to hear other reasons aside from the right to bare arms.

In the US we can't carry concealed without proper training and a license either. We don't just stick guns in our pants and start walking around.
Martial arts isn't a complete alternative. Carrying a weapon should NOT be anybody's first line of defense, so being prepared to get away from the situation is key. A firearm should only be used in an extreme case where you're physically not capable of getting out of the situation without serious injury/death. When martial arts fails, you draw your weapon.

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I choose not to carry any type of weapon with me, most are not legal here anyway.

This. I guess the people recommending pepper spray etc are posting from the USA? TBH, if it's available and legal, then great, go for it. In the UK things are a bit different. I run by myself - when I lived in a city I would go out at 8pm latest and stick to well lit footpaths by main roads to make sure there were lots of people about and I could keep aware of my surroundings. Now I live in a very rural area and over the winter I wasn't able to go as often as I wanted because of how dark it was and the lack of footpaths. I only run when it's light, I tell my boyfriend when I'm going, my route and when I'll be back, and I always carry my phone and my door key. Probably over-cautious, but I work in the emergency services and I have seen first hand how devastating it can be on the very rare occasions when things go wrong, so I prefer not to take a chance.

You aren't allowed to carry anything made, adapted or intended as an offensive weapon, and you're not allowed to carry firearms (pepper spray canisters in the UK are classified as firearms) or any bladed articles! HOWEVER, you are allowed to instinctively react and defend yourself. So stay aware of your surroundings and how you may be able to use them to your advantage, take your phone, don't have your MP3 player so loud you can't hear who or what is behind you, and resist the urge to get involved in a personality conflict with the occasional f***wit who decides to "compliment" you from their passing vehicle! Most of all, stay safe, and this is a really good website giving personal safety tips for women:

http://www.suzylamplugh.org/personal-safety-tips/free-personal-safety-tips/

I can't do karate anymore because of a shoulder injury but I used to train, and it's excellent for teaching balance, improving reaction time and defensive instincts, and all round fitness - and it's also the best weight loss of any type of exercise I've ever done, so loads of benefits! Sign up if you have a local group, you will probably find more men than women in any given class but it is getting more popular amongst women, and the atmosphere of most groups is extremely supportive and welcoming, regardless of gender balance.

Stay safe xx