personal safety while running

Good question. I don't really have an answer. I too live in a rural-ish area. We don't have mountain lions, but do have packs of coyotes. It's very disconcerting to hear them howling while I run at dawn. That being said, they aren't as big a threat as mountain lions. I've never considered running with a gun more for the weight and bulk issue than anything else. I'll be interested to see what responses you get.

Where I ran, there were lots of cougars. They were mostly lonely and looking for young male companionship while their husbands were toiling away at the office with younger secretaries. I would never think of harming one.

We have alligators, snakes, BIG frogs (that don't move) turtles, racoons, armadillos and the ever mean possum. We also supposedly have bobcats (never seen one) and just recently they say we have aggressive foxes.

My honey and I run before dark and into the sunrise.

I've never seen an animal do anythin but run away. Except a possum! They will stand off- we go around.

But- due to feeling skidish we run in the middle of the road, snakes hang in the grassy edges (in my mind anyway)

Oh, and Gidget always wears her i-phone with the light going forward, so they see us coming for sure.


WE, and you, are lucky!

Enjoy it!

I have a tazer that's a little less bulky than a firearm, though it's still added weight and a bit cumbersome. I keep that with me at all times. I suspect it would get a mountain lion to think twice about a second attempt at making me lunch.

I'm thinking if you were going to carry a firearm, caliber wouldn't really matter too much. It would be more about your confidence and familiarity with the weapon, and how you're carrying it, the speed with which you could draw and fire, etc. (I'm in the process of getting my CCW, so these are considerations I'm currently contemplating, but for urban protection.)

I would second the bear spray, but the down side to that is the canister size. It's going to be cumbersome for running. If you are thinking of packing heat, my husband suggests a small handgun like the S&W Bodyguard 380. It's literally the size of his palm and would be light and discreet. Good luck!

If you decide to carry, they make bellyband holsters that would probably be more comfortable than a belt holster. There are also fanny packs as well. How fast you can draw from one of those holsters is a potential issue (and largely comes down to practice), but that's an issue for any spray or weapon - especially against a large predatory cat.

I would second the bear spray, but the down side to that is the canister size. It's going to be cumbersome for running. If you are thinking of packing heat, my husband suggests a small handgun like the Bodyguard. It's literally the size of his palm and would be light and discreet. Good luck!

Bodyguard is great against hypothetical muggers, but I sure wouldn't want to use a .380 against a mountain lion. Better than a rock though.

You could be right. Luckily, we've never had to use it. We are backpackers and opt for the lightest weight gear when we can. It's certainly better than a rock.. haha.

Where I ran, there were lots of cougars. They were mostly lonely and looking for young male companionship while their husbands were toiling away at the office with younger secretaries. I would never think of harming one.

This cracked me up!

In all honesty, you're not going to be able to do much in terms of personal safety if you continue to run outside in an area that has mountain lions. Even if you carried a pistol with you, odds are you'll not know there is a mountain lion nearby until it is too late. Mountain lions do typically hunt from dusk till dawn, and they're abilities to sneak up on prey is almost unparalleled.

If you insist on running that early get a good sized dog like the Dogo Argentino to run with you, and personally I'd carry a gun, too. (Though you'll likely not to be able to aim worth a darn if you're fatigued by running then suddenly with adrenaline pumping.) A lone mountain lion is not likely to go after two targets at once, but a good loyal dog would give its life to protect yours. Just search "Dogo saves girl from mountain lion" and you'll see why I recommend this specific breed.

In short, I just wouldn't recommend running at that hour when you know that mountain lions are in the area at that specific time. Late morning until early evening would be the safest time to run outdoors if you still choose to do so.

A mountain Lion is a predator attracted by motion. The are stealthy in their attacks. I do not think a gun would help.

Cant you run in town? Highschool track?

There must be somewhere safer.

If a dog or big cat is your concern then I wouldn't hesitate to conceal and carry. A quick front draw belly band holster is key. Bullets can weigh a lot. Decide on more than just weight and size. Luger and other such models have designs that are smooth and conceal and carry well. If I felt unsafe due to a black bear or dog pack for example, I would use a 9mm though .45 caliber has more impact. Actually a .22 is better than not carrying anything. Spray might work.

I run with an asp. It is a collapsable club that police use. I prefer this over spray since my club never expires or malfunctions. The other factor is that the weapon of choice gives you a feeling of security and confidence. That is worth something even if you never need it.

Guns present a liability. Also, if you wear a gun while running then sweat can affect your gun. Keep is clean, oiled and free of rust. If you decide to actually carry it then you should practice using it often. That means more than firing it. Assemble, disassemble, clear a jam, cleaning, changing magazines, drawing and holstering your gun. Practice aiming, site picture and breathing over and over. The consistent practice will give you confidence, accuracy, safety and ultimately/possibly save your life. I have heard that mountain lions will ambush its prey so drawing on a critter lunging at the back of your head is a challenge. Good luck.

In the stories I've read of mountain lion attacks, the person is unaware of the attack until the cat hits them. I hope you're PMing the ranger.