self defense/personal protection while you run

p.s. beretta has some really nice holsters. a little more pricey but worth.

also, i think all women need to take a handgun class and re-think their "im scared of guns" mentality. I know not everyone likes guns. I used to be one of them. I now have my CHL.

If anyone would like any info i would be more than happy to tell you what I know or direct you to someone that knows more than I do. There are tons of organizations out there geared for women. Its not just a mans thing anymore.

heck yeah! i have the xd 45 but not what i carry if i run

I only wear 1 headphone in with the sound down low so I can hear EVERYTHING around us while still enjoying the music ( I run with DH, or my kids in a double jogger).
I carry pepper spray, and have my cell phone with me.
While I am concerned about strangers, I've had wayyyy more trouble with dogs on the lose charging us.

Glad to see some women are packin'.

I think one thing is to avoid bad situations. For example, some towns have trails you can run down that are away from streets typically under bridges and just completely out of site. If you want to run those try and run with a friend and avoid them at night. Early morning / Nighttime jogging, stay by main well lit roads, avoid dark side streets.

I have my house key which could be used as a weapon I suppose, but I only run when it's light out, keep to populated areas and always tell my partner when I am going and when I expect to be back with the instruction that if I am not back soon after - come looking for me/call the police - though that's more because I am a clumsy git and always anticipate that sooner or later I am going to take a fall and break my leg lol

I took up kickboxing years ago before I started running and at 5.30am there's nobody around

I was in the Marine Corps... you'd think that would be 'nuff said. Nope, that was 5 years ago. I took a free self-defense seminar at the local Krav Maga center and it is darn near exactly how they taught us in the Marines. They get you exhausted first, then you fight tooth and nail. It is REACTION based, not preset choreography/muscle memory based. You can't go wrong.

"He who gets most violent the quickest wins".

Woe be the guy who has the balls to attack me from the front, for he'll have my thumb buried to the hilt in his eye socket.

Gun laws vary drastically and the idea of people packin' is looked at very differently in different areas. I am from mid-Missouri, small town, lots (and I mean lots) of people have CCW permits and carry regularly day to day. You don't have to register firearm purchases in this state, just a background check. You do have to pass a course and buy a permit to carry concealed. To some people the thought of how attainable guns are is scary, to others its the norm and a basic right. Its debated in every state supreme court constantly. Having a CCW permit comes with a lot of responsibility, its not for everyone.

I was asking about the different types of and styles holsters designed specifically for running because I am interested in getting one. Again, I live in the country 15 miles from town, basically the ozark mountain woods, and want to be able to have a defense against wild dogs and other animals. I wouldn't think about carrying one of my guns when running through my town's neighborhoods, there wouldn't be any more significant threat than what you would encounter in the walmart parking lot 24/7. But running early mornings or evenings on backroads in the country you never know what you will come across.

I have a fanny pack but wearing a fanny pack while running screams only one thing "this guys got a gun." Plus I have never found such packs fashionable or comfortable, even if I am alone in the woods I don't wanna wear one. For those that have posted holster ideas, thanks, I am going to look into them and shop around online. Local gun stores don't carry running holsters (again a small town, small market).

I never wear headphones, and if someone stops to ask for directions, I answer from a safe distance (the other side of the street, even if it's a woman). I also took 3 years of Brazilian jiu jitsu and can choke anyone unconsious or break their arm or leg. I am certainly not going down without a fight. I always tell someone where I am running, how far I am running, and when I expect to be back. I had one scary thing happen where a guy in a truck drove by me, pulled over and took out a map and started reading it. May have been perfectly innocent, but it scared me. I crossed to the other side of the road and kept running. I live in the country, and run after dark a lot in the winter, and I always bring my dog, night or day. She looks scary (a boxer) but she wouldn't hurt a fly. At the very least she would show up at home without me and someone would know I was missing.

I live in Northern California and I am not sure that i could go out packing heat here. I would probably shot off my own foot though! Right now in my area we have a man pantsing women while they run. So I run with only one headphone in and I hold onto my pants when I pass by any man. LOL.

Last summer, while I was biking back from work, a car closed me in and someone slapped my butt. It was the scariest thing, until I saw that it was two effing teenagers laughing their *kitten* off. I got so mad, I sped up -because I knew there was a traffic light ahead- and I was seriously going to kick their *kitten* if they were stopped there. They were not, and I'm actually glad because I would have been the one getting hurt, for sure. The thing is, if you had asked me before how I'd react to something like that, I would have said I'd freeze...

Anyway, after that I considered buying pepper spray but then realized that carrying that thing would put me in a horrible state of mind, as if I had to be alert at all times and ready to fight. Just thinking about it, makes me sick to my stomach. I read about some of you, Americans, carrying guns and can't imagine how you do it.

I just choose to be aware of my surroundings, and project an attitude. So far, I've only screamed at an old pervert who told me dirty things. It felt good!

As someone who lives in the UK this thread is really quite odd to me! Most the things mentioned on this thread for protection are illegal in the UK. You can't carry a gun, and pepper spray and knives are classed as offensive weapons, so it is illegal to carry those too. Even some of the breeds of dog mentioned on this thread are illegal in the UK

I run with my phone, but only in case I fall over. I'd never be able to get it out my pocket if I were attacked.

Also from the UK and thinking the same things, but American culture is very different to ours. I just know if I was out running and saw someone else packing a gun I'd be the one calling the police on them and running in the opposite direction!

I think in the UK as long as you let someone know where you are going and have access to a phone, you'll be alright (or at least VERY unlucky to have anyone attack you!).

As someone who lives in the UK this thread is really quite odd to me! Most the things mentioned on this thread for protection are illegal in the UK. You can't carry a gun, and pepper spray and knives are classed as offensive weapons, so it is illegal to carry those too. Even some of the breeds of dog mentioned on this thread are illegal in the UK

I run with my phone, but only in case I fall over. I'd never be able to get it out my pocket if I were attacked.

Hehe, I was just thinking the same thing! I let my boyfriend know where I'm going and for how long - plus I run with my keys, I figure a good jab in the groin with a sharp key is going to buy me a little time - although I very much doubt anyone would bother with me, looking like I do while I'm running :blushing:

I come from a very middle-class and well-to-do city, but you'll still get trouble from time to time. There was a string of serial rapes on my estate when I was 15 which really made me think about my safety while I'm out and about.

Around here, mostly it's just idiots beeping and wolf-whistling. A year or so ago, when my 50 year old mum was out training for a half marathon with 3 of her friends, some blokes wound down their van window and shouted "Come on you fat slags!!" as they passed them. Luckily my mum and her friends of the kind of ladies to take this in their stride - they almost cried laughing at these idiots, and have now taken "The Fat Slags" as their unofficial running group name, it's an ongoing in-joke between them! :laugh:

I was asking about the different types of and styles holsters designed specifically for running because I am interested in getting one. Again, I live in the country 15 miles from town, basically the ozark mountain woods, and want to be able to have a defense against wild dogs and other animals. I wouldn't think about carrying one of my guns when running through my town's neighborhoods, there wouldn't be any more significant threat than what you would encounter in the walmart parking lot 24/7. But running early mornings or evenings on backroads in the country you never know what you will come across.

I wear a SpiBelt and mine fits perfectly in it, it's right at my waist, you can't tell the difference between it and a celphone. Had I bought the Taurus in the same model, I would have gotten a belt case for carrying it, not sure it would have worked with running, but was about the size of a cell phone case. I've considered a leg strap, but wanted it closer to me for access. I also have seen arm straps, which they sell at any police equipment location.

As someone who lives in the UK this thread is really quite odd to me! Most the things mentioned on this thread for protection are illegal in the UK. You can't carry a gun, and pepper spray and knives are classed as offensive weapons, so it is illegal to carry those too. Even some of the breeds of dog mentioned on this thread are illegal in the UK

I run with my phone, but only in case I fall over. I'd never be able to get it out my pocket if I were attacked.

Another reason why I am so happy to live in the Great State of Texas.
But let it be known that I do NOT ever want to have to use my gun EVER!

Im hoping that the open carry laws pass in texas one day. Then I will just carry mine loud and proud. No need to conceal. However, i do believe that i have no idea how i will react in a situation like that. TRAINING TRAINING AND MORE TRAINING IS THE KEY TO ANYTHING.

P.S. The beretta PX 4 storm is a nice little weapon.

Totally agree. The last thing I want to do is point a loaded gun at another human being, but if I feel like my safety is being threatened, I'll do it. If you know the laws pertaining to when deadly force is justified and you know how to load, aim, and shoot a gun (which ANYONE can be trained to do), there is nothing to be afraid of. It's only "extreme" or "dangerous" if you don't know what you're doing.