Women- do you run alone?

I run alone and sometimes I wonder if that's a dumb idea. I am a firm believer in trusting my gut and if something feels off or weird.. I get out of there.

I believe running alone is no different than any other thing women do solo, whether its world travel or driving dark and isolated roads at night, etc. I don't like to be told how to behave, either. I still do these things, I just try to be smart about it.

I am grateful to live in a town where stranger crimes are virtually nonexistent. In the dark winter months I prefer to stay on the main, lighted streets. I avoid trails and unlit areas of neighborhoods. In the daylight I run wherever I want to. I used to take pepper spray with me (yes even in my 'safe' town). I adopted a dog a few years ago and he is my bodyguard now. Trust your gut; if you feel sketched out using headphones, then don't.

mltrades wrote: »

I'm more afraid of getting hit by a car than attacked. The reality vs what the media sensationalizes are quite different.

Me too. If I didn't do A LOT of things alone (with or without a dog or two), I would lead a very sheltered life. I live and run on a quiet, rural road. My neighbors know me, my landlord often sees me go out on my runs or walks with the dogs and often checks in if he doesn't see me return (and doesn't notice I'm home). I am far more concerned about the people who drive like idiots than anything else. Maybe if I lived in a area with more crime I'd be concerned, but I'm not at the moment.

I live in a mid-sized city of approximately 1 million and I do run alone, but I do it during the day as much as possible and I don't go anywhere secluded. I mostly just run through nearby neighbourhoods, no quiet trails, nothing without sidewalks or paths. I do wear headphones but they allow ambient noise in (not noise-cancelling) and I keep my music at a moderate volume.

I don't typically run outside at night unless it's somewhere with lots of people, and I do have one of those apps on my phone that texts my husband if I stop moving and don't pause it which I use if I'm going out early or late or somewhere where no one would hear me if I needed help.

I'm not paranoid but I'm a city girl and I've had enough bad experiences to be cautious, and I choose not to take unnecessary risks. I don't walk outside alone at night in quiet places either and stick to more major roads and that kind of thing.

ETA: we also just got a puppy this week and I hope that by this time next year I can be training him to be a good running buddy, which would make me feel more confident about running in parks/trails.

I spent a whole summer's worth of very long morning walks and it was fantastic. Once it started getting dark and I still wished to continue, I finally caved into friends/ family/ boyfriend's requests to start using cardio equipment at my gym instead.

Plus side? No longer walking and challenging myself to 5k's on a crosstrainer to get fitter and stronger a few times a week. Downside? Not nearly as engaging as being outside and sweaty gym-goers lol.

I would absolutely never walk or run alone on a trail. Nope. On busy. lighted streets or parks (there are a couple here that are a sidewalk around a lake and there are always lots of people) and during the day on streets or in those parks, sure. And I wear headphones, but also keep them low enough I can hear things and am aware of my surroundings.

But no way, no how on a trail unless maybe I had a large dog. I don't need the media to tell me that's a bad idea.

It sucks, but there will always be bad people in the world looking for victims and I don't intend to be one if I can help it. I'm not risking my life for spite.

I will not run alone. I know there is a 95% chance that I would be safe if I went alone.... But I am not willing to take that 5% chance that it's not safe. If I had a dog with me, I would feel more safe. However, that is not an option. It's quite boring but I instead choose to do at home exercises/cardio by using work out DVDs or the treadmill. I personally feel safer that way. Totally unfair for us women!

I run alone, in the dark, with headphones. I pay attention to my surroundings but refuse to live in fear.

I run alone, in the dark, with headphones. Mine do not block sounds much at all because they don't fit in my ears. I am fortunate that where I run has a few people no matter what time of day or night. It's a well-known and -populated trail and there are houses on one side or the other for much of the way, so if I were to be injured or chased I can probably get to shelter quickly.

However, there's always the potential for crime wherever and whenever you go. This past summer a former college football player had some kind of breakdown and stormed down to a portion of the trail that's north of where I run with a machete. Killed a jogger in front of witnesses in broad daylight. I mean, what are you going to do to avoid that kind of random thing? Nothing.

Be prepared as best you can (whatever precautions you are comfortable taking) and go about your business. I wouldn't avoid doing something unless there's a good chance (not a rare chance) that there will be trouble.

I run in my neighborhood alone at 0400-ish, but I try to vary time/route, I avoid the main drag, I listen to audio books, I leave a note, and am aware of my surroundings. I also take note of what houses have lights on as I go (i.e., someone's awake in there), just on case.

mgalovic01 wrote: »

There's this GPS based cell phone app called Lifeline Response where, once you set it, if you take your thumb off the screen for something like 20 seconds without entering your disarm code, it alerts a response center.

OMG, I would accidently set that thing off 20 times on an average run... I'd just have to have muffins at the ready for the daily LE response...