Any girls go by themselves ?

24

Replies

  • theologynerd
    theologynerd Posts: 264 Member
    I just got received my black belt in taekwondo after being in it for 6 years, and I still don't think I should work out alone outside, especially at night. It's just not smart. If I run at night, I take my Rottweiler. If I run during the day, I stick to where I will be seen by neighbors. Men are just plain stronger than women, and the element of surprise is nothing to scoff at. By the way, I live in a town of 600 people. Size has nothing to do with creepers being around.
  • MaggiePuccini
    MaggiePuccini Posts: 248 Member
    Is somebody seriously suggesting that you run with a gun??? I run alone but I would run along the seafront where there are loads of people. I wouldn't run in a park now. Although I have done it in the past.
  • k900
    k900 Posts: 140 Member
    Get a conceal carry permit, no reason to be afraid.

    Guns make me very nervous even though allot of my family members have one. I would be even more nervous running around with that on my hip.
  • denisebme
    denisebme Posts: 103 Member
    I go out by myself all the time, and I live in a city of 150,000. I tend to walk early in the day, and pick areas that are well traveled. We have a downtown shopping area that has a loop that is exactly a mile, so I end up there a lot.
    Here's the great part, after walking alone for a while, and passing the same people everyday, friendships have formed and I no longer walk alone when I go downtown.
  • k900
    k900 Posts: 140 Member
    I usually run by myself in the evening but in well lit areas. Still makes me nervous sometimes. I'd say...be careful! Does anyone have a dog you could borrow to run with?

    Nope. I would like to get a dog but we have a cat and she doesn't get along with dogs at all. When we got her they even told us if we had dogs we couldn't take her. My grandparents have a few large dogs but they live a good 40 min away. I would love to take one of them with me though. Her name is roxy and she weighs about 110 pounds and she is protective. I wouldn't be too scared if i had her around.
  • k900
    k900 Posts: 140 Member
    I just got received my black belt in taekwondo after being in it for 6 years, and I still don't think I should work out alone outside, especially at night. It's just not smart. If I run at night, I take my Rottweiler. If I run during the day, I stick to where I will be seen by neighbors. Men are just plain stronger than women, and the element of surprise is nothing to scoff at. By the way, I live in a town of 600 people. Size has nothing to do with creepers being around.

    I would love to have a dog like that.
  • felicia8604
    felicia8604 Posts: 274 Member
    My town is tiny and everyone knows everyone but i would go walking or running by myself. Still do and now i live in the country. I would suggest taking a dog with you if you have one. Or just carry pepper spray. Good luck.
  • isweatglitter
    isweatglitter Posts: 134
    I wouldn't. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
  • k900
    k900 Posts: 140 Member
    I go out hiking, running, and biking (sometimes 50+ miles) on trails alone or around my neighborhood, routinely! I live about 25 minutes outside of Philadelphia which has a pretty high crime rate. I also have two smaller cities to the west and east of where I live, each about 15 minutes away, and I can't recall ever having an issue or a scare. Although it does happen, but pretty infrequently.

    However, why not stop into your local police department that is responsible for that park. Ask them about the crime rate and any criminal activity they may be aware of in that park and see what they say about your partaking in an activity there by yourself. They may offer ideas or suggestions. Depending on the size of the city you're in and how busy the policie are, you may even be able to ask them if you could check in/out with them or see if anyone patrols that area and see if you can schedule your workouts there during that time.

    I am in law enforcement and have to take defense tactics training each year as a job requirement. Thankfully I have NEVER had to use those skills on the job or off, even in my known "bad areas" while I am seeing my probationers/parolees let alone while I am off duty and exercising. In fact, I get hit on and harasses more at my gym than on the trails! Lol

    Be mindful, don't wear ear phones, look alert, keep your eyes up and make eye contact with everyone you see. That will deter anyone from doing anything if there were plans for that kind of thing. Bring your cell phone and try to relax!

    Be safe and enjoy yourself and the pretty scenery!

    The guy i am seeing is a police officer so i though about asking him to show me some of those moves you learn in defensive tactics.
  • annie7hudds
    annie7hudds Posts: 199 Member
    I run alone most of the time.

    From reading the replies it seems quite different from USA to UK replies.

    I run around the local area - usually mid morning - so there are plenty of people about. My route does take me out in to the countryside which is quiet, but I don't feel uneasy there. That said there is one particular route which I love to run on, but will only do with a buddy - as it is too quiet and concealed from the road. Which is a shame, as I don't believe that we should have to be afraid to go outdoors.

    Can't get away with carrying a gun/pepper spray over in the UK - it isn't allowed.
  • lythiam
    lythiam Posts: 32
    I go running by myself. I carry bear mace. As you might have guessed, it's effective against bears. Don't wanna know what it'd do to a human.
  • beattie1
    beattie1 Posts: 1,012 Member
    I live in a medium sized town. It's about 50,000 people. I don't really have anyone to work out with.

    SURELY in a town that big you can find people to work out with?! There must be several running clubs/ fitness classes in parks or other resources you could join in with. If you can't find an existing group I'm sure you could find people you don't know YET to jog with, do circuits in a park, get together to do exercise to DVD's - whatever exercise you want to do.
  • giggles7706
    giggles7706 Posts: 1,491 Member
    I do run through my neighborhood in the morning by myself and even when I first started doing it I was a bit paranoid. I definitely would not go to a trail that's wooded by myself. Better safe than sorry.
  • dorkusmalorkus
    dorkusmalorkus Posts: 61
    ive been trailed a few times. thats why i joined a gym. that and cluster migraines and not wanting to deal with that 5 miles away from home with no car. but yes safety is a huge concern hun!
  • shannonperry13
    shannonperry13 Posts: 99
    we have a biking/walking trail that goes through wooded areas but also crosses a main road in the middle. i do go by myself alot, never even thought twice about it, until i went once at dusk. nothing happened, didn't even pass another person, but i was so afraid of the dark i was looking over my shoulder constantly.
  • bumbledust
    bumbledust Posts: 22
    I'm not afraid to go anywhere alone, really. But then, I work in law enforcement and have some self-defense training (and I always carry a weapon, but honestly more as a defense against wildlife than people). I try to be very, very conscious of my surroundings, and my intuition, at all times. If something feels wrong/dangerous, I avoid it.
  • maryjaquiss
    maryjaquiss Posts: 307 Member
    I live in a small town and go running on my own. However, I wouldn't run in the park or down by the canal in hours of darkness. I stick to well-lit roads where I know there will be people and cars about, keep my wits about me and wear reflective clothing. My one bad habit is having my headphones on, which I know isn't ideal but I've never had a problem, touch wood!
  • iceqieen
    iceqieen Posts: 862 Member
    a friend of mine pointed out to me a few alternatives, for those that are not allowed to carry pepperspray, guns or knifes (yes, those things are illegal in Iceland :angry: I dont mind the guns, but I would like to own a knife or two... )

    The ones I liked best were:
    A small hairspray bottle
    A mixture of strong spices (jallepeno, chilli) in a spray bottle... peperspray is illegal, but your own mixture of herbs that you're gonna use on that steak when you get home (honest!) is not... :tongue:

    Sadly, Iceland also has a weird lawset when it comes to who was "in the right" after a fight - who ever got the greater injuries is usually the one in the right. So running is definately a valid self defense move, after getting free of any grabbing.


    Living in Norway now, Bergen is a town of 250-300.000 people. I feel fine running alone in the park near the student apartments.. but I wouldn't go running in the park in the center, where a worse crowd hangs.

    As far as your area, I would first go there with someone. Scout it out and if I was really concerned talk to someone.. but probably just assume it would be fine and run. Just keep your eyes and ears open.
  • bert16
    bert16 Posts: 726 Member
    I run by myself almost every day, mostly in the wee hours of the morning. I run with this if I don't have the benefit of daylight: https://www.runsafety.com/buy-pepper-spray/
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I go to the gym by myself all the time and I ride my bicycle by myself all the time. When I'm out riding, I always bring a backpack with a patch kit, a pump, my cell phone and a copy of my ID. I try to be as careful as possible and ride in the safest areas I can. Just watch for cars because people drive like real jerks.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    One of my favorite places to run is a fairly deserted wooded trail. I'm not worried in the least.

    The way I look at it, there's a much greater chance of someone following me home from the mall or grocery store and lurking in the shadows near my door, than meeting up with someone with criminal intent who just happens to be on a wooded trail when I just happen to be running along it. I've never seen anyone else on that trail, and it's not like I'm there on any kind of regular schedule or frequency.

    I had a much greater fear of taking a wrong step, tripping, falling, tumbling down the bank to the creek, banging my head on a rock, and drowning in six inches of water, and not being found until after feral cats eat my face.
  • mrsmark2010
    mrsmark2010 Posts: 220
    I will go around my subdivision by myself but other than that I don't. I'd love to go run at our Greenway but its very isolated and not used frequently so I won't go alone. I'm a girl who will try almost anything, but running alone especially early/late is risky, even in a safe community.

    This story is a girl who I went to school with. She was running with her sister, didn't feel well and was going back by herself:

    http://www.wtvq.com/content/localnews/story/Update-Man-Charged-With-Murdering-Russell-County/bL3ECislw0GylapxmUfI8w.cspx
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    We have a local lake by my house and thats where I go walking. There is a park that I cut through that is wooded, but I've never met anyone sinister. I've encountered random homeless person sleeping in the grass, but for the most part they don't bother anyone.

    Just bring your keys, a cell phone and a bottle of water if you want.. if someone bothers you ignore them and try to head to a place where there is a lot of people around.
  • Goal_Seeker_1988
    Goal_Seeker_1988 Posts: 1,619 Member
    I go only on trails I know alone. I don't like to go alone on trails I don't know anything about or that are really long that would take a long time to do. Best advice I can give is get yourself some bear spray and carry it with you. That way even if a bear comes after you, you'll be able to defend yourself... Or if some creep comes after you, you'll be able to spray them then kick them while they're down. Also always carry a cell phone!!!
  • mcrowe1016
    mcrowe1016 Posts: 647 Member
    I will go to the gym and will go biking by myself. When I go walking I usually don't take any humans, but I do have my two pit bulls with me. I don't think they are very scary looking, personally (pics in my profile), but having any dog gives you a layer of protection.
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    I have always gone biking alone, in the daytime. I have no concerns about it, as I am on a bike, and usually there are cars about, and even in the country lanes, I am more afraid of a random car speeding than I am of getting attacked. I walk as well in the daytime, but only once did I walk somewhere that was pretty deserted. It was really, really muddy so I figured it was unlikely anyone else would be as insane to walk such a long path in those conditions. I never go out at night alone, however.
  • 42kgirl
    42kgirl Posts: 692 Member
    I just got back from a run by myself. I always have my cell with me and am aware of my surroundings. I mostly just see other runners and walkers. When I lived in a more unsavory area, I went with my American Staffordshire. Most people crossed the street before we approached. Funny thing is, he was the sweetest dog I've ever been owned by.
  • jerzypeach
    jerzypeach Posts: 176 Member
    I'll be going to tennis drills this morning, then dropping my DD at her dance lesson and heading over to the track for a nice run before I have to pick her up. I go running by myself all the time.
  • PinkAndSparkle
    PinkAndSparkle Posts: 324
    I live in a weird town that's surrounded by Boston on all sides, so it is quite urban here (albeit middle-upper class). I run on main roads during the day, and try to stick to well populated areas. I usually don't walk/jog anywhere at night, but I will walk up the street alone...but that's about it. Our city is super safe, but the surrounding neighborhoods are slightly less so.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    I used to run by myself in my neighbohood but a bunch of drug dealers suddenly decided my block was a great place to live so I workout inside now. I used to alwaysmake sure I was A. on a sidwak B. Facing oncoming traffic C.Very aware of my surroundings (music low/ constantly glancing around)

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