Womens safety while running alone
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there is now a free app called NOONLIGHT check it out...simple to install on your phone and easy to use.1
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kshama2001 wrote: »I did feel very safe when my husky was alive and walking with me.
Now I carry pepper spray and a phone, and told my OH I use MapMyHike - presumably if I didn't come back one day the police could get my last location from that? I'm not really worried about this, just thinking it out.
I usually have clippers for trail maintenance too.
While I do wear headphones, I don't play the music loud enough that I can't hear other people.
I have taken a self defense class in the past, but that was probably 20 years ago, so should take a refresher.
I am friendly when I encounter people on the trails, but reserved.
Beautiful dog0 -
resale3108 wrote: »monkeefan1974 wrote: »I mostly run alone, I take many of the reasonable precautions already mentioned in this thread. As long as for me personally, the benefits outweigh the risks, I will continue to run alone.
Wear those teeth when you go running. Bare them at anyone who comes near you and they'll sprint off in the opposite direction!
Those are my real teeth
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Get a taser gun.3
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monkeefan1974 wrote: »resale3108 wrote: »monkeefan1974 wrote: »I mostly run alone, I take many of the reasonable precautions already mentioned in this thread. As long as for me personally, the benefits outweigh the risks, I will continue to run alone.
Wear those teeth when you go running. Bare them at anyone who comes near you and they'll sprint off in the opposite direction!
Those are my real teeth
I can only imagine what your fingernails look like. (Wont contemplate yiur toenails, thats just too weird). And you have to practice looking more scary.4 -
There’s a lot to consider and a lot of good advice in this thread. One thing I typically do is only put one earbud in my ear to listen to music when I run outside. The other ear is open.
That way I can still have my music, but not be completely tuned out from the world. It doesn’t just help against potential crime, but also bad drivers, ambulances, dogs, and more.1 -
VioletRojo wrote: »Tacklewasher wrote: »Trying to figure out how to ask this.
As a guy, if I'm on the same trail as you, and I'm coming up behind you, what (if anything) can I do to make you feel more comfortable. Some of the trails I run on are not well traveled, but I still will see someone. Normally it's a couple walking a dog, but it could be someone running alone.
Yell, "Behind you!" from a good distance away. I can usually hear oncoming runners, but I appreciate when they give me a warning.
Not "HE'S" behind you or "I'M" behind you?
I think "on your left" is a good choice, it's like, I'm just doing my thing the same as you are doing your thing, all here for the same reason, carry on.1 -
I'll take sensible precautions against traffic etc. (I run mostly in a park) and I won't go out when it's pitch black just because I like to see where I'm going but I don't take any particular precautions running as a woman. I run alone, with headphones, no weapons (can't believe people actually do this), nobody tracking me. All these little "rules" you get from your mum or your granny or whatever I don't think they actually keep you safe. They're like superstitions. Yes as a woman you are more in danger of a certain kind of violent crime but man, woman, child if someone wants to hurt you and thinks they can get away with it then they probably will and living your life trying to find the rubix cube cheat code of how-not-to-be-raped doesn't work. If it did, nobody would be assaulted, we all know these things we're supposed to do and women do all the things and get attacked anyway.
The real issue is that when these crimes do happen they are underreported, under investigated and then these exact "well why were you out by yourself if you didn't want to be murdered?" myths are used to get criminals off the hook. I can't fight that by not wearing my hair in a ponytail.5 -
I carry pepper spray and use one ear bud. I have had a man run by me and cop a feel on my butt in the past. It was pretty creepy when it happened but no weapon or self defense would have prevented it. He was a LOT faster than I was.
I wear a lot of flashing lights when it's dark. I agree that there is more danger from neighborhood traffic backing out of driveways half asleep or loose dogs then a criminal. I actually got hit and run side swiped by a truck last year in a school zone in a cross walk. I dove out of the way, and it only glanced me but it was a huge wake up call. I am sure they never saw me. I was in their blind spot left front, but I am always hyper aware of traffic and realized they were going to turn into me giving me the opportunity to dive forward. I also checked my flashing lights and they had lost a lot of their battery power so not completely the driver's fault. CHECK YOUR LIGHTS OUT!
I don't run the same route every day at the same time. Not for safety specifically altho it is a good idea, but just because I like to vary my routine and see different neighborhoods.
It's a good topic for ALL runners not just women.2 -
I'll take sensible precautions against traffic etc. (I run mostly in a park) and I won't go out when it's pitch black just because I like to see where I'm going but I don't take any particular precautions running as a woman. I run alone, with headphones, no weapons (can't believe people actually do this), nobody tracking me. All these little "rules" you get from your mum or your granny or whatever I don't think they actually keep you safe. They're like superstitions. Yes as a woman you are more in danger of a certain kind of violent crime but man, woman, child if someone wants to hurt you and thinks they can get away with it then they probably will and living your life trying to find the rubix cube cheat code of how-not-to-be-raped doesn't work. If it did, nobody would be assaulted, we all know these things we're supposed to do and women do all the things and get attacked anyway.
The real issue is that when these crimes do happen they are underreported, under investigated and then these exact "well why were you out by yourself if you didn't want to be murdered?" myths are used to get criminals off the hook. I can't fight that by not wearing my hair in a ponytail.
I don't agree that the precautions mentioned in this thread are "like superstitions." I think they are risk mitigation. Sure, it doesn't mean you will be 100% safe, but you will be safer. Like you said, criminals want to get away with their criminal behavior, so they will chose what they perceive to be easier targets.
What would a car thief prefer, a car with windows down and keys in ignition, or one that is locked with no keys in sight and an obvious alarm?7 -
kshama2001 wrote: »I don't agree that the precautions mentioned in this thread are "like superstitions." I think they are risk mitigation. Sure, it doesn't mean you will be 100% safe, but you will be safer. Like you said, criminals want to get away with their criminal behavior, so they will chose what they perceive to be easier targets.
What would a car thief prefer, a car with windows down and keys in ignition, or one that is locked with no keys in sight and an obvious alarm?
See I'm not convinced they do make you any safer. At least not the tips specifically given to women. The ponytail thing, the pepper spray, having your partner track you on the internet, run with your keys between your fingers, carry a rape alarm but scream fire instead of rape so someone actually helps, fight back, don't fight back or they'll kill you instead, if you're attacked try and pee yourself, say you're pregnant, scratch them with your nails so when they murder you there's DNA, tell them about your family as they attack you so they maybe see you as a human person and change their mind.
A car thief is going to steal a car even if they're all locked. A predator is going to attack someone. Am I just trying to make as many of these mitigations as I can so that someone else gets attacked instead of me? How is that a win? If I don't do all of them is it then my fault if I am attacked?
My body is not a car, so I hate this analogy. But windows down, keys in ignition is not the equivalent of me just going on a run without being afraid. Maybe it's the equivalent of me heading down a dark alley, perhaps where they usually sell illicit things, with a sign saying "you could definitely get away with assaulting me right now".8 -
@smolmaus I agree with you. If I felt unsafe, perhaps I would do all the things to make myself feel safer. I'm not sure that many people truly recognize the difference between *feeling* safe and *being* safe. Many of these precautions seem designed to reinforce the idea that women are natural victims, and paying too much attention to all the ways I can make myself the less attractive target actually makes me feel LESS safe.
I don't feel like I'm admitting my own victimhood to provide a general map of where I intend to be, or tell someone how long they should wait before sending out the search party. Making myself visible to traffic is just plain sense. The level of commitment to ensure that a weapon stays in my control is way more effort than I'm willing to make to keep safe. Especially when the actual level of risk is really so low. Carrying a weapon that can easily be taken and used against me makes me feel least safe of all.
I am not a car, either. I leave that unlocked in the driveway. It hasn't been stolen, yet. Once, someone stole my energy drink and the DC converter for my phone charger (but not the cable) out of my unlocked car. I have no idea what sort of analogy that would make.
I'm probably safer on the treadmill at home, and it's easier - but I still miss the freedom of running at midnight and maybe seeing a skunk or coyote. But why would I do that, with the treadmill in the living room? It's so safe.4 -
autumnblade75 wrote: »@smolmaus I agree with you. If I felt unsafe, perhaps I would do all the things to make myself feel safer. I'm not sure that many people truly recognize the difference between *feeling* safe and *being* safe. Many of these precautions seem designed to reinforce the idea that women are natural victims, and paying too much attention to all the ways I can make myself the less attractive target actually makes me feel LESS safe.
Yes, well put. I can't live my life believing and following every tip anyone has ever given me. I'd never leave my house. Or let anyone in.2 -
You know, it never occurred to me that it might be unsafe to run on my own at night. It might be that I grew up and now live in fairly good areas, but I have never felt unsafe wherever I've lived. This shocked my female friends when I told them that while I was at uni, I used to walk home, alone, after a night out (drunk, in very stupidly high heels and it took about half an hour).
Of course I would say that part of this does come down to myself personally. As @autumnblade75 said above, I do not feel like I am going to be a victim, and so these kind of precautions seem unnecessary to me. I do martial arts and have done a lot of self defense stuff in the past, so I guess I am confident in myself and I honestly think that that shows.
I have, however, started running with my dog, nothing to do with safety though, it gives him a nice run around when I can't really let him off the lead when it's dark. He is a spaniel though, so not exactly fearsome but means my runs are now less lonely2 -
I run in the early morning hours too. Right now I carry a knife and pepper spray. I do have my license to carry and currently looking for a small hand gun to carry with me instead. Cant be too careful these days. Where I'm from I'm more worried about animals like coyotes than I am of people.4
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The more I learned about martial arts, the clearer it became in my mind that a physical conflict with someone larger and stronger was really, really a bad idea, with bad odds for me. (My late husband was a martial arts teacher, and I practiced moderately seriously, mostly with men, for around 8 years.)
I think no one (of either sex) should carry a weapon unless they practice with it, including practice against a friendly but firm/committed opponent if it's a close-quarters weapon like a knife or keys (use a soft/safe thing as a substitute weapon). If you're not willing to kill someone, don't carry a deadly weapon . . . not because you'll feel bad if you kill someone (you likely would; I know I would), but because if you're not that committed, it's going to be futile and probably dangerous to you.
I don't run, but I do walk/cycle. There have been women attacked on the trails where I go (including a close friend who was chased by a guy at a time when someone, probably him, was assaulting women in that area - but she outpaced him). However, it's pretty rare, so I'm not willing to let worry about it constrain me.
Still, it's good to be aware. Crime statistics are published in some localities; go to your local police web site and look, or ask. I worked on a major university campus for several decades, often going to/from at work in the dark, using near-empty parking structures, etc. While I was cautious and alert, I wasn't deeply worried: There were a virtual handful of stranger attacks reported annually, on a campus where 25,000+ women lived, worked, attended classes . . . not very scary odds.
If you wonder about specific trails or neighborhoods, you can even go to the closest police station, and ask. (You may be told paternalistic generalities, but it's worth a try.)5 -
A guy jumped out at me, and I ran away while running 20 years ago. I heard a scuffle in the leaves that warned me. Lessons learned? Avoid areas with wooded lots between houses. Listen while you run. Leave a margin of space around yourself so you will see anyone coming toward you. Carry mace. Now I never run at dusk or in the dark, I’m too scared. I also only run in open places that are well travelled with lots of cars. It does happen, I never thought it would tho. I was lucky and was completely unharmed except psychologically.3
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If you wonder about specific trails or neighborhoods, you can even go to the closest police station, and ask. (You may be told paternalistic generalities, but it's worth a try.)
My city publishes all incidents online on a map. In the last 6 months, there has been 600+ assaults. 50% happen Friday or Saturday night between 11 and 3 am. 30%+ happen domestically. The rest are crime related (drugs and prostitution). There has been about three dozen indecent exposure. Zero sexual assaults. And I live in one of the least safe cities in Massachusetts.4 -
Runaroundafieldx2 wrote: »I'm not sure "Looking good" is a good thing to say to a lone runner who may feel nervous.
A shout of "Evening passing on your left" (or right) I would prefer.
yeah - just a friendly sounding 'morning' would be better.
I was once walking home very late (and somewhat inebriated) with a guy behind me. He kept trying to reassure me that he was just walking home the same direction, telling me that he was crossing the road to not worry me. I found that worse than him just being there. Then, he stopped at the end of a street, and invited me back to his. Seriously.
I run alone, in the dark, in the mornings. Often I don’t even bother having any lights, hi vis, or phone. I go by the assumption that all the bad guys are still in bed (there are some statistics that show mornings are actually safer). I see very few people. I see the occasional fellow runner, a few dog walkers, an elderly gentleman on his daily walk, and the odd homeless guy or a few drunks. None of them are interested in me.
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The more I learned about martial arts, the clearer it became in my mind that a physical conflict with someone larger and stronger was really, really a bad idea, with bad odds for me. (My late husband was a martial arts teacher, and I practiced moderately seriously, mostly with men, for around 8 years.)
I'm just quoting this because it's such an important sentiment. Something I've come across time and time again with those who are very well practiced in different martial arts, is not that they can handle themselves, but more that they do not allow themselves to get into a position that that could happen. I think that there is an understanding once you've practiced martial arts for some time that you realise how random everything is, how all it takes is one person to do something you weren't expecting and everything you thought you knew goes out the window.
I've known many people who were once angry and aggressive people, those who were the first to get into a fight or lose their temper, become some of the calmest people in the world after taking up martial arts.I think no one (of either sex) should carry a weapon unless they practice with it, including practice against a friendly but firm/committed opponent if it's a close-quarters weapon like a knife or keys (use a soft/safe thing as a substitute weapon). If you're not willing to kill someone, don't carry a deadly weapon . . . not because you'll feel bad if you kill someone (you likely would; I know I would), but because if you're not that committed, it's going to be futile and probably dangerous to you.
Also this^^^ 100%
The best piece of self defense advise that I've ever heard was: "don't fight, run" Because at the end of the day, nobody can stab you if they're not next to you.3
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