Running Safety

Barneystinson
Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hm, you may have opened this thread up thinking it was going to be a discussion about not getting whacked by cars while running.

Nope, sorry. This is a thread about how to defend yourself from the crazies and other unsavory people of society while running (or walking/hiking/cycling) outdoors.

What steps do YOU do to stay safe? Do you carry a canister of mace, a baton, a knife, a firearm? Do you run with a buddy? Are you versed in the art of krav maga?

Replies

  • cjtrogers06
    cjtrogers06 Posts: 2
    I carry a can of mace, but scarry incident that I had was not with people but wild life (racoon). :laugh:
  • MoooveOverFluffy
    MoooveOverFluffy Posts: 398 Member
    bump
  • sharonsjones
    sharonsjones Posts: 574 Member
    I run with my husband and he keeps all the crazys away!
  • Pisc2749
    Pisc2749 Posts: 61 Member
    Always carry a cell phone! I know a friend who runs long distances without one, I think she's nuts! She once had someone throw someone at her from a moving car that could have injured her. She had no phone to call the police.

    Always let someone know where you are going to be running, give them your route or approximate area you'll be in. If you live alone, text it to a family member or friend "8am, going for a run in the neighborhood, should be back in _______". And text them when you're done. Better safe than sorry and it only takes a minute.

    Have some kind of ID on you in case, God forbid, you are get hit or attacked and are too hurt to communicate.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,050 Member
    I'm not a small guy, so I'm confident when I run. I live in a very nice area and stay within it. But if someone were to try to attack, sans weapon, I'm versed in Brazilian Juijitsu and kickboxing with enough sparring to put up a decent fight.
  • suzycreamcheese
    suzycreamcheese Posts: 1,766 Member
    i only run in daylight and not in dodgy areas, but apart from that i dont take any precautions. I dont take a phone or anything. If i felt scared i wouldnt go
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    I don't carry anything except my phone but I did encounter a crazy old man once. I just ran away as fast as I could. Turns out I can run pretty fast when I am scared. I don't run in unfamiliar places anymore. This happened in a park away from a road, which is where I ran to when he confronted me. Now I always stay near the roads.
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    I have found that a well used toilet brush keeps the wackos at bay.
  • jamie31
    jamie31 Posts: 568 Member
    I carry mace ( I was attacked by a dog in feb.) and a flashlight is my run is later in the day and I might get caught finishing my run when its dark
  • NiciS72
    NiciS72 Posts: 1,043 Member
    I run with my 18 month old male Sheltie who while a lover to me would chew the crap out of someone who tried to mess with me. He thinks he's a 120 pound Rotweiler! That said, I do carry pepper spray as we have some stupid dog owners in my area and I've been attacked twice with my other Sheltie.
  • running_mom
    running_mom Posts: 204 Member
    As of now I don't run with anything. I hate carrying things in my hand (including phone, water bottle, etc) I know I should but don't. I've actually been thinking of starting to carry mace around but never got further than thinking!
  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    I carry a knife whenever I'm outdoors. I've had a couple run-ins with drunk homeless guys outside of Allentown, so I stopped running there.
  • sharonus
    sharonus Posts: 102
    I only run in well populated areas and I don't wear headphones. I know it's hard, but if you're wearing headphones, you're distracted. You need to be able to hear people, cars, and be aware of what's around you.
  • gemco
    gemco Posts: 129
    I carry a knife whenever I'm outdoors. I've had a couple run-ins with drunk homeless guys outside of Allentown, so I stopped running there.

    you carry a knife?? is that legal where you live?
  • demonNIИ
    demonNIИ Posts: 187
    I carry a knife whenever I'm outdoors. I've had a couple run-ins with drunk homeless guys outside of Allentown, so I stopped running there.

    Yeah this area can be scary ,I once saw this scary looking homeless guy loitering outside of a nice clean Target in the daylight one day on a Sunday... I ran to my car in daylight!!! He was right near the entrance. I refuse to run daytime, night, anytime outside . I only run indoors.
  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    I carry a knife whenever I'm outdoors. I've had a couple run-ins with drunk homeless guys outside of Allentown, so I stopped running there.

    you carry a knife?? is that legal where you live?

    Yes. Keep in mind it's basically a hunting / camping knife that serves several other purposes. Legalities of "carrying" are typically associated with firearms - I live in PA. It's legal to openly carry a firearm (i.e. on a holster visible to others) and a permit obtainable through your county of residence is required to carry a firearm concealed under clothing.
  • jecka31
    jecka31 Posts: 284
    First, as stated before, I run with my cell phone and ID. I also let someone know when I'm going, a general route and when I should be back. I run in my neighbor hood and I know just about everyone here. We have a very good neighborhood watch and I actually had the cops called on me when I first started running when I moved here because it was out of the norm!!

    Second, I never wear both of my ear buds. I always have the one that is closest to traffic out and I am very aware of my surroundings. I usually give wide berth to anyone I'm not sure of (changing the side of road if I can).

    Back home, the "scariest" moment I had was one early morning I was running by my house (we lived in the country) and a small buck decided to dart out in front of me. It startled me more than anything. I've also had to avoid some pretty large snakes (which I have a crazy phobia of!!) but thankfully no crazy people. When I lived at home, I had a 130 lb Rottweiler that I ran with so, even though she was a big baby, most people stayed clear of me. Now I have an American Pit Bull Terrier and again, big baby (she is laying on the couch snoring as I right this!!) but people tend to avoid me.
  • gemco
    gemco Posts: 129
    I carry a knife whenever I'm outdoors. I've had a couple run-ins with drunk homeless guys outside of Allentown, so I stopped running there.

    you carry a knife?? is that legal where you live?

    Yes. Keep in mind it's basically a hunting / camping knife that serves several other purposes. Legalities of "carrying" are typically associated with firearms - I live in PA. It's legal to openly carry a firearm (i.e. on a holster visible to others) and a permit obtainable through your county of residence is required to carry a firearm concealed under clothing.

    yikes! my husband is a chef and he needs to be careful just taking his knives to work and back :laugh: he's had bus drivers refuse to take him before. its difficult to imagine people freely walking around with guns.
  • jecka31
    jecka31 Posts: 284
    I carry a knife whenever I'm outdoors. I've had a couple run-ins with drunk homeless guys outside of Allentown, so I stopped running there.

    you carry a knife?? is that legal where you live?

    Yes. Keep in mind it's basically a hunting / camping knife that serves several other purposes. Legalities of "carrying" are typically associated with firearms - I live in PA. It's legal to openly carry a firearm (i.e. on a holster visible to others) and a permit obtainable through your county of residence is required to carry a firearm concealed under clothing.

    yikes! my husband is a chef and he needs to be careful just taking his knives to work and back :laugh: he's had bus drivers refuse to take him before. its difficult to imagine people freely walking around with guns.

    Come to Texas!! Everyone has guns here. I'm in the minority because I don't have my concealed handgun license.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    I'm considering starting running on my lunch hour and have been trying to figure out a way to carry my gun. I carry everywhere I go and I just feel weird if I don't have it. I haven't been able to come up with a satisfactory method so I'll probably just leave it at the office. I'm not really worried about anything and can generally handle myself but it's just a weird feeling not to have it on me. My phone has my music on it so that will go with me. I walk now at the time and place I plan on running and nothing's happened yet so......
  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    I'm considering starting running on my lunch hour and have been trying to figure out a way to carry my gun. I carry everywhere I go and I just feel weird if I don't have it. I haven't been able to come up with a satisfactory method so I'll probably just leave it at the office. I'm not really worried about anything and can generally handle myself but it's just a weird feeling not to have it on me. My phone has my music on it so that will go with me. I walk now at the time and place I plan on running and nothing's happened yet so......

    I know they look really dorky, but a fitted running "fanny pack" may be a good solution to conceal a sub-compact.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    I've considered the fanny pack but I just don't think I can do it. I saw a guy running with one the other day and he was fiddling with it so much that it drew a whole lot of attention to it. Looked like a huge hassle. Looked like a huge dork too.
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