self defense/personal protection while you run

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German.Shepherd...

A deceptively cute but completely psychotic Pekingese. :laugh:

Carry a keychain pepper spray

A deceptively cute but completely psychotic Pekingese. :laugh:

Dayum, gotta get me one of those! :happy:

German.Shepherd...

Man I'm jealous! I want to get one..maybe when my kids are all ten and up.

I run on the treadmill..:)
I however, if running outside, prefer night and rain..I'd carry my cell phone, a knife and mace.
Yes- I said a knife. Even if it only works at very close range it *does* work and I would have zero qualms stabbing a criminal trying to take me down.

Oh yeah..I forgot to say..I live in a very nice suburban environment. I don't really anticipate being attacked running through my neighborhood but you never know...I am a woman and in this world that's being #2 prey on the list of human prey. So I go prepared for Street Fighter.

I have pepper spray on my keys but if someone tried to grab me who knows if I would actually have enough time to get it. I am a black belt in tae-kwon-do I will take em down lol then pepper spray them just for trying to screw with me.

*does a double take at "lil" in her name*
HAHA..you kick *kitten*, literally!
2 million points for you my friend *kisses*

I run down the Greek row and through campus at my college; I usually don't bring anything with me like pepper spray because there are always people around, mostly other students. I always tell someone that I've gone running and hat if I'm not back in 2 hours and they can't contact me, to call my parents, police, something.
When I'm running at home, which is a nice suburban area, I also tell someone where I'm going and when I'll be back. I always bring my ID too, although that's more for in case something does happen then to stop it from happening.

I think it's VERY smart to let someone know you've headed out and when you expect to be back.

The only time I've really been frightened while running was in broad daylight (noon) in a fairly heavily trafficked area. I was really grateful that if I hadn't been back in a half hour, someone would have noticed. Best to tell someone when you expect to be back if you can't run with a partner.

I don't take anything with me but I never wear head phones when I am running. That way I am more aware of my surroundings. I just play my music on my iphone with that speaker.

If I run outside I take my dog on our country road and my cell, or try to run in town in populated areas. Even so, one day at about 10am some creepy guy in an old van slowed down and asked me if I ran there everyday. I thought "Why, so you can knock me over my the head and pull me in to your van tomorrow?" I was right next to a church. Creeped me out, so needless to say I haven't been back there. I do try to vary my route, so I am not "expected" any certain day or time.

My pitt bull, Tate. She's been socialized to the nines and is about as ferocious as a daisy and she's more likely to knock you down and lick you to death than actually hurt you. But she looks scary and it tends to make others "jog" to the opposite side of the road.

I don't run, but I do live 2 hours from school and drive there before and after dark depending on the day. With a trip that long, I do have to stop for gas and bathroom breaks on occasion after dark. If I'm approached, I look at the person and decide if I can whip their @$$ or not to decide if I need to run. Then if I felt in danger, I'd kick their @$$ just for making me think I had to run! I studied Kenpo and am a former professional wrestler. The largest person I've knocked out was 6 feet 8 inches and 330 pounds, so I don't scare easily. For my female clients, I've actually taught self defense classes and highly recommend the things mentioned above (workout partner, pepper spray, dog, etc.) but I don't recommend a weapon like a knife or gun just in case the criminal gets control of it. I'll be glad to teach you how to take one away from a criminal, though.

If you're gonna use pepper spray you better get ready for some back lash and be prepared to fight through it. If it's a decent mix you WILL be effected by the spray, shortness of breath, watery eyes, temporary blindness, coughing, gagging, the whole 10 yards. Many people think pepper spray is effective, and in reality, it'll probably do the trick for some teenage thug, but we've sprayed many people on the streets with no effect, they just keep coming. I run with a gun, there's no other way around it. The way it goes, if someone pulls a gun on you, and you've got pepper spray? good luck. If you're carrying pepper spray, take it off the keychain for the love of pete. Run with it clasped in your hand, ready to be deployed. When it comes down to it, there's no absolutel to self defense. i've challenged black belt females (legit) and won everytime due to strength and size and surprise. Don't run in compromised areas, you're asking for trouble. Find well lit places to run, find occupied places, or go with a friend. FIND a friend to run with.

I only run alone in the daylight hours, I also have a pressure point stabber that I carry....although I dont really carry it for protection, it helps me relax my hands so I dont waste energy making fists I also tell my hubby the route and approx how long I will be.