Although I have a treadmill, I much prefer outdoor running.
I live in a very rural area: lots of farmland and secluded spots, not much car traffic, no other foot traffic.
I could take my dog running with me for safety. On one hand, she would possibly deter human attackers (she's friendly, but you might not know that just by looking). On the other hand, she would also attract the wild dogs around here (which on rare occasions have attacked people).
Last year I was going to start walking on a bike trail near my home and I was wondering the same thing. I thought of taking my dog, pepper spray, a golf club, a small hand gun.
I decided to just stay at home
I suggest to run shorter distance (and near your house) and repeat as many rounds as you'd like ....rather than run longer distance and it may not be very safe.
Also, maybe do 1-2 times outside per week, the rest can be done on the treadmill.
Mix the day so it won't be the same as last week, Stick very close to your house, don't listen to loud music, wear noticeable clothes, make sure to tell someone you're going out for running, and tell them to expect what time you would return (just for safety), etc.....
I live in the suburbs and in a fairly nice neighborhood and I'm concerned about safety. I think as a female, it's natural to be a bit more cautious. I run with a fanny pack which has my cell phone (fully-charged), my license and house keys. I run a 3 mile loop around my neighborhood, very close to my house. I always run at like 5 or 6 a.m. when it's a little quieter. I also vary my route, going one direction one day and the other direction the next day. I also run on alternating days and I don't run with ear buds so I'm aware of traffic and my surroundings. I run against traffic as well. Hope this helps.
I run in a rural area. At first I was a little nervous bc of the thoughts of what could happen kept running thru my mind. I've been running the same route for 6 wks now and haven't had a single problem. I've had neighbor's dogs that would follow me, I've come up on strays, and done just fine. If you just keep going, the dog will leave you alone. Or carry a big stick with you and alternate which hand you carry it in to add some resistance and peace of mind. You'll do great
I run in a rural area. At first I was a little nervous bc of the thoughts of what could happen kept running thru my mind. I've been running the same route for 6 wks now and haven't had a single problem. I've had neighbor's dogs that would follow me, I've come up on strays, and done just fine. If you just keep going, the dog will leave you alone. Or carry a big stick with you and alternate which hand you carry it in to add some resistance and peace of mind. You'll do great
"Run softly and carry a big stick" - Your Quote for the Day
I wouldn't do it. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Criminal Minds or [even worse] I Survived, but the fact is, there are some evil people in this world. One of the things these people look for is routine. Not only do attackers get to know a person's routine, but they have the added advantage of the person not being as on-guard while doing that routine. My sister was just telling me yesterday that she saw an episode of I Survived in which a young girl was with her track team, jogging early in the a.m. (about 5:30 - 6:00). She got tired or needed to go back for some reason. She left the group to jog back. Some guy grabbed her, raped her, and shot her. It's a miracle that she survived (he left her for dead).
I know that such incidents do not happen frequently, but they DO happen and often enough for me not to want to be out in a secluded area alone.
It's a real shame, but it's just not safe to be out alone in a secluded area anymore.
I wouldn't do it. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Criminal Minds or [even worse] I Survived, but the fact is, there are some evil people in this world. One of the things these people look for is routine. Not only do attackers get to know a person's routine, but they have the added advantage of the person not being as on-guard while doing that routine. My sister was just telling me yesterday that she saw an episode of I Survived in which a young girl was with her track team, jogging early in the a.m. (about 5:30 - 6:00). She got tired or needed to go back for some reason. She left the group to jog back. Some guy grabbed her, raped her, and shot her. It's a miracle that she survived (he left her for dead).
I know that such incidents do not happen frequently, but they DO happen and often enough for me not to want to be out in a secluded area alone.
It's a real shame, but it's just not safe to be out alone in a secluded area anymore.
Not to discount what you said but if I worried about everything that could possibly happen to me on a daily basis, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed much less live my life. I don't live in a rundown area, lol. In fact, I know many of the walkers and joggers that I see when I'm out running. Many are my neighbors and casual acquaintances. BTW, you can get attacked in a gated community just as easily as you can in a rural area. I'm just saying but everyone's different, I guess.
Not to discount what you said but if I worried about everything that could possibly happen to me on a daily basis, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed much less live my life
I just knew someone would say this because someone always does when someone else brings up a common-sense safety point. I think it's a weak analogy, though. There's a major difference between being agoraphobic and running in a secluded area. It's all about level of risk vs. benefit. To me, the benefit of running in a secluded area is not worth the risk. To me, that's playing Russian Roulette. But, to each her own . . .
ETA: I don't know the statistics, but common sense tells me that a criminal is less likely to take the risk of attacking someone if he fears being stopped or identified. Those hinderances to attackers don't exist when there isn't anyone else around. Oddly enough, I think the risk is great in highly populated areas (where someone could blend into a crowd) and very sparsely populated areas (where no one is around to see).
Point well-taken lin43, although I wiil say that I generally consider myself to be a very aware person and extremely cautious. I'm just running not sky-diving, lol. At any rate, I think the benefit of me increasing my cardiovascular health and looking better at 39 than at I did at 29 far outweighs in my book at least, the slight risk of me being potentially attacked by a stranger.
On a side note, my late maternal grandmother was mugged in broad daylight right in front of her house. Go figure. *shrugs* It could happen anywhere at any time in any place IMO.
I too live in a rural area, and I can suggest what a couple others do - one woman has pepper spray. I always carry my cell, just in case, but for the most part (ESPECIALLY during hunting season) I go to the high school track, or the gym. To me, with all the risk of snakes, stupid drivers, dogs, etc, the drive to town is worth it. But its really what you're most comfortable with.
If you're worried about potential human attackers, one of the easiest things you can do is vary your routine. Map out a few different routes. Go the opposite direction. Vary your running time from day to day.
Also, don't run with headphones. When I'm on the street, I usually try to run without headphones so I can hear approaching cars, animals, cyclists, and just be more aware of my surroundings. Plus it can be kind of meditative to just listen to the sounds of nature.
You can also carry some pepper spray. Or find a running buddy. There's plenty of things you can do to be as safe as you can and still enjoy your runs.
Last edited by Tanna Banana; 08-02-2011 at 07:03 PM.
I carry a taser. It's small and fits in my running belt. A little bigger than a cell phone. It works on dogs too. It's not going to kill anyone, but I guarantee you, it will keep people/animals away from you.
Running Safety: What would you do?
