Personal Safety while Fitnessing

[wawa]

there's been a rash of assaults on women walking/hiking/running in my general area lately.  (3...but that's the first 3 I remember hearing about in several years.  We had a flasher a while ago, and a man jacking it in his car at a trailhead,  but that's been it for ages. So 3 counts as a rash.)

The alarmed chatter in my local running group is challenging my general "I run at 5 AM.  The bad guys are asleep at 5 AM" stance. 
Options seem to be pepper spray/gel, a handheld stabby tool of some sort, or an alarm.  And/or self defense classes.

I'm afraid of stabbing myself if I fall down, or smack a bug or violently wipe my nose or eyes, or spraying myself if I carry a stabby tool or pepper spray.  Considering an alarm, but I think it would need to be in my pocket because every time I fall down or come close to falling down with my handheld waterbottle it goes flying (I trip while trail running regularly), strap or no strap.  And how useful is that actually if I'm scrambling to get it out of my pocket?  When I wear my hydration vest I can attach it to that, but I only wear that over 10 miles typically.

I do always have a phone and somebody always knows where I am and when i ought to be home. 

And MOST of my runs are with company  - but not always.  

What do you do?  do you carry anything?  Do you worry about it?  

My proven emergency response is ABSOLUTELY fight rather than flight or freeze, as I've smacked and punched loved ones who surprised me from behind before.  My brain does choose violence in the moment, I'm just not actually good at it. So self defense classes might be good? 

[sadlebred]

I carry pepper spray. I know some cyclists (not anyone I ride with) that carry a small firearm in their jersey pocket or a knife. Unfortunately unless it's in your hand, it would be hard to use it. Maybe some self defense classes. See if your local PD offers them; mine does a few times/year for a nominal fee. I think it's $30 for about 6 hours of classes. Brazilian Jujitsu places also might. Feeling safe is a real problem for women.

[jane6672]

I have an extendable metal baton with an elastic strap so it sits snugly in the palm of my hand, for when I run at off hours. Even if I didn’t have time to extend it, it would act like brass knuckles or a bludgeon in its compact form.

Check your local laws, because I think there was a limit on how many inches extended was allowed here, legally.

I wanted something that would already be in my hand, that I didn’t have to actively hold on to, and that it would be difficult to injure myself with accidentally.

[minzy]

I’ve heard about the two attacks on the C&O canal from a few of my running friends around here, ugh. I don’t have much to add except maybe not just tell someone where you are, but also enable tracking for them on your phone. I have it enabled for several family members and it is super useful but could be helpful too if something were to happen.

[Susie]

I almost always run alone, and I admit I don't carry anything useful except my phone, with MH able to 'find my iPhone' specifically for this reason.  

I tend to run on neighborhood streets and fairly well trafficked routes around town, so I don't usually feel too vulnerable.  It's pretty 'public.'  Although I do sometimes use the rail trail that's a few miles from my house, which can be more sparse.

If I were feeling uncomfortable about this, and I have gone through periods where I have, I'd drop the bone conduction headphones that I usually run with so I have a little more awareness of my surroundings.  Self defense classes would be a better option for me than anything I have to remember to carry each time.

[scm1011]

Mar 13, 2024 8:09:58 GMT -5 Susie said:

I almost always run alone, and I admit I don't carry anything useful except my phone, with MH able to 'find my iPhone' specifically for this reason.  

I tend to run on neighborhood streets and fairly well trafficked routes around town, so I don't usually feel too vulnerable.  It's pretty 'public.'  Although I do sometimes use the rail trail that's a few miles from my house, which can be more sparse.

Same. And this is kind of timely because I recently found out some disturbing news about an acquaintance who attacked early morning joggers and sexually assaulted them in my urban neighborhood (see my ML posts about it). It has made me think differently about my lack of precautions running. It also makes me angry because I like to check-out and tune in to my audiobooks or music while running. Why are men so awful? 

[breezy8407]

I don't have any advice other than what's mentioned above. I don't do distance running right now, but when I run its on paved pedestrian paths that are adjacent busy streets. I also worry about getting hit by cars, so I tend to avoid running on streets.

I go outdoor biking in an area that is fairly remote but generally feel safer on a bike than on foot. I always tell my family where I am and when I expect to be back. My phone always has find my enabled, but I recognize that has its flaws.

[wawa]

Mar 13, 2024 8:09:58 GMT -5 Susie said:

I almost always run alone, and I admit I don't carry anything useful except my phone, with MH able to 'find my iPhone' specifically for this reason.  

I tend to run on neighborhood streets and fairly well trafficked routes around town, so I don't usually feel too vulnerable.  It's pretty 'public.'  Although I do sometimes use the rail trail that's a few miles from my house, which can be more sparse.

If I were feeling uncomfortable about this, and I have gone through periods where I have, I'd drop the bone conduction headphones that I usually run with so I have a little more awareness of my surroundings.  Self defense classes would be a better option for me than anything I have to remember to carry each time.

I think this is where I'm at. I was taught that if you're going to carry a weapon you don't really know how to use, you're just delivering a weapon to an attacker. So even if I did carry something I'd want some training.  And I struggle enough remembering to grab my headlamp, watch and water bottle. I don't need to add to my list. 

I've always kinda wanted to do some sort of martial arts training anyway. 

[campermom]

There are only 2 trails I’ll go on nearby that I feel safe to go alone bc Inknow how to get to houses from each one easily. I carry a knife clipped in my vest and is in a sheath. I took a self defense class for runners and always remember “hard things on soft things” so elbow to nose, etc.

Another thing to note for general safety for running at night on roads- Always use. Noxgear vest as opposed to reflectors. It interupts the OODA loop for drivers, calling more attention to you than the latter.