Anyone carry pepper spray?

[Wines Not Whines]

There's been another attack (rape) on a female runner here, so I'm starting to get uncomfortable with my solo weekday runs. (Local peeps, this happened around 4:15 pm yesterday in Silver Spring. I'll try to link to the police report when I'm on my computer instead of my phone.)

Does anyone run with pepper spray or similar? Where did you get it? How large is it?

I'm open to other suggestions, too.

[pixy0stix]

Take a self defense course. So much more worth it than pepper spray. Most people are apt to spray themselves before spraying an attacker with pepper spray. It's nothing more than a placebo.

[bostonmichelle]

My friend got me some pepper spray actually 2 weeks ago for this reason. I am going to start carrying it when I run solo mainly because in my neighborhood I run early-ish or late-ish and I'm more worried of coyotes and wildlife than a human attack. It is definitely a handheld thing. It has a key chain loop and I'll probably somehow attach it to my running belt thing or water bottle somewhere. There is a safety lock though so I can't just accidentally spray myself.

ETA - I agree with pixy0stix that a self defense course is good as well. I have my black belt in karate from years ago and would be more apt to use those skills over the pepper spray in a situation like that.

[pixy0stix]

May 6, 2014 15:42:12 GMT -5 bostonmichelle said:

My friend got me some pepper spray actually 2 weeks ago for this reason. I am going to start carrying it when I run solo mainly because in my neighborhood I run early-ish or late-ish and I'm more worried of coyotes and wildlife than a human attack. It is definitely a handheld thing. It has a key chain loop and I'll probably somehow attach it to my running belt thing or water bottle somewhere. There is a safety lock though so I can't just accidentally spray myself.

I can tell you right now that unless you run with it in your hand you're never going to be able to unclip it, and then pop the safety lock before whatever it is gets you. You have 1-2 seconds max to decide what to do, not the 5-10 to unclip it.

[Wines Not Whines]

May 6, 2014 15:42:12 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Take a self defense course. So much more worth it than pepper spray. Most people are apt to spray themselves before spraying an attacker with pepper spray. It's nothing more than a placebo.

Do you think a basic self defense class teaches useful skills? Or do I need something like martial arts training? I've heard mixed things about those self defense classes. I have doubts about my ability to take down someone who is twice my size.

[Kore]

If it's after sunset, I run with it in hand, safety off. I need to take pixy's advice, though. My fight or flight instinct is "I'm going to rip this motherfucker's arms off." Since I've never been in an actual fight in my life, I should probably learn some skills to back up my adrenaline-fueled bloodlust.

[finallykrisb]

I have pepper spray with a hand strap made specifically for running. I run with it unlocked and ready to use.

[pixy0stix]

May 6, 2014 16:09:12 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

May 6, 2014 15:42:12 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Take a self defense course. So much more worth it than pepper spray. Most people are apt to spray themselves before spraying an attacker with pepper spray. It's nothing more than a placebo.

Do you think a basic self defense class teaches useful skills? Or do I need something like martial arts training? I've heard mixed things about those self defense classes. I have doubts about my ability to take down someone who is twice my size.

Basic self defense is fine. They'll teach you more how to fight to get away than actual technique of a martial arts course. (Meaning, fight dirty.)

Once you get the technique down, you can take down anyone of any size.

[dragonfly08]

Back when I used to run on the trails, I went to buy pepper spray. The store manager, who was ex-Army Ranger and taught self defense courses for airline flight attendants, told me that short of a self defense course my best bet was a high decibel electronic whistle. Pepper spray is too often used against you, rather than the attacker, even a bad wind can be a problem. But a whistle right next to an attacker's ear will stun enough for you to get away.

[Deleted]

Wow - this is a real eye opener for me - it has never occurred to me that someone would attack me out running so I haven't ever thought about carrying anything to defend myself. I only run during the daylight hours, but I run on quiet roads, although there are cars that pass occasionally. Actually, I see more cyclists than cars on some parts of my routes.
Should I carry something?

[Kore]

May 6, 2014 16:32:08 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Wow - this is a real eye opener for me - it has never occurred to me that someone would attack me out running so I haven't ever thought about carrying anything to defend myself. I only run during the daylight hours, but I run on quiet roads, although there are cars that pass occasionally. Actually, I see more cyclists than cars on some parts of my routes.
Should I carry something?

Quiet/isolated areas make me most nervous, even in daylight. Someone is more likely to risk it if nobody is around to see them.

[Mushe]

My husband got me some that hooks on my hand, but honestly I'm more worried about wildlife where I am. That's probably not a good attitude! Self defense classes sound like a good idea.

[pixy0stix]

May 6, 2014 16:32:08 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Should I carry something?

If you don't know how to use it, then no. Again, take a self defense class.

The other part of it is this: Never ever run with both earbuds in. Always have one ear uncovered so you can hear what is going on around you. Keep your eyes on the area around you, don't just focus on the area in front of your feet. If you appear to be paying attention, you're less likely to be attacked.

[mrshandy]

It's definitely starting to freak me out. There was an attempted abduction of a female runner Sunday morning in my old hood in Fairlington! It's terrible.

[joy2611]

I was spit on one day while I was running. It scared me. I asked a friend of mine who is a cop about carrying pepper spray. He had some tips:

He recommended oleorescin capsicum or Fox Labs. He says that there are also other sprays that aren't oleorescin capsicum but act on the person's sinuses to make them feel like they are suffocating. He says OC is really the most effective, though. Eyes, mouth, nose, and crotch.

He also needed to remind that there will be spray back on you. You will get burned too and need to fight through it.

He did say that self defense would be more worth it, but didn't disagree with carrying it.

Good luck.

[Deleted]

May 6, 2014 16:39:50 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

May 6, 2014 16:32:08 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Should I carry something?

If you don't know how to use it, then no. Again, take a self defense class.

The other part of it is this: Never ever run with both earbuds in. Always have one ear uncovered so you can hear what is going on around you. Keep your eyes on the area around you, don't just focus on the area in front of your feet. If you appear to be paying attention, you're less likely to be attacked.

OK, you're all starting to freak me out a bit. I run with both earbuds in. 
ETA: pepper spray is illegal in the UK, and most of Australia.

[Wines Not Whines]

May 6, 2014 16:52:49 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

May 6, 2014 16:39:50 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

If you don't know how to use it, then no. Again, take a self defense class.

The other part of it is this: Never ever run with both earbuds in. Always have one ear uncovered so you can hear what is going on around you. Keep your eyes on the area around you, don't just focus on the area in front of your feet. If you appear to be paying attention, you're less likely to be attacked.

OK, you're all starting to freak me out a bit. I run with both earbuds in. 
ETA: pepper spray is illegal in the UK, and most of Australia.

This may be less of an issue in the UK. I don't know.

[Deleted]

May 6, 2014 17:15:40 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

May 6, 2014 16:52:49 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

OK, you're all starting to freak me out a bit. I run with both earbuds in. 
ETA: pepper spray is illegal in the UK, and most of Australia.

This may be less of an issue in the UK. I don't know.

I have never heard of anyone who runs here and carries any kind of self defense. In fact I don't know anyone that even owns any item of self defense, let alone have it on them. I should clarify that I live in a sleepy village hundreds of miles from London. We once went to Ireland for the weekend and didn't realise we hadn't locked our car sitting in the driveway. Only noticed when we went to go somewhere when we got back. Oops!

[AAM2012]

I would be afraid that even if I was carrying spray I would likely drop it in a struggle. I would definitely 1) run in a different location 2) go to a treadmill or 3) taking a self defense class or some combination of that.

[Deleted]

May 6, 2014 17:33:27 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

I would be afraid that even if I was carrying spray I would likely drop it in a struggle. I would definitely 1) run in a different location 2) go to a treadmill or 3) taking a self defense class or some combination of that.

Me too. I can't even open a can of fizzy pop under pressure situations. I reckon a hand-stab to the throat or knee in the nuts would be my attack mode if I needed one.

[violetbaudelaire]

I run with pepper spray in the winter when the trails are really lonely. I run with it in my hand and my finger on the lock so I can unlock as soon as I feel nervous. That said, a self defense class is on my to do list and would make me feel much better than pepper spray.

Also, there have been some weird things that happened recently on the trail I run on often and it bothered me so much I switched back to running loops in my neighborhood or by work, also in a populated neighborhood. I try to go with a buddy when I can, too.

[kams]

Last year, one of our attacks was on a woman who was carrying pepper spray. He just grabbed it from her and sprayed her.

IDK, it's all just very scary. I agree that self defense classes is the best bet.

[ebeth]

I used to carry pepper spray on my keychain. Not for running though. Just for walking late at night in college. I pepper sprayed myself twice.

It sucks, but I don't do a whole lot of trail running. Unless someone is with me or the trail is heavily trafficked (i.e. Mt Vernon on a Saturday), I stick to the city streets, talk to my neighbors and generally have an idea of where I can go for help if I need it around here.

[tuggyruns]

I run on city streets early in the morning and it's really started to freak me out lately. We're not in a super safe area ( I guess I feel this way b/c it's not as residential as I am used to since we are in temporary housing). I have to pep talk myself to go out and run but I'm fine once I get out there and see all of the other runners.Funny thing is- in our house we just sold (2 miles from where I am now)I had no problem busting out of my house at 4am to go run.

That being said, I carry pepper spray in my hand- well, I did, but I currently have no idea where it is. I also don't run with music. I try to stick to really main streets but at 5am they are still pretty deserted. I'm hoping that with the sun coming up earlier I can just push my runs back a little to run in more daylight.

[runblondie26]

I do. More so because I worry about dogs and others animals.

[texassmith]

I take it for dogs more than I do people. I've been chased one too many times to risk it anymore.

[lb2006]

I live a semi-retirement area (what? we love the old people!! ) - i run with my dogs in the mornings and on my long runs i usually have someone with me for part of it. I'm mostly worried about early morning runs with the dogs and things i *can't* see. The dogs are good deterrents of other critters, and feel they at least give me a chance to retaliate or flee with someone approaching me that isn't minding their own business.

I also use the RoadID app on my phone & I can't recommend that app highly enough. It tracks you and sends alerts to your selected contacts. If you are stationary for 5 minutes, it sends an email or text (or both) to your selected contacts and they can click on the link and see exactly where you are.

When my H is at work and unable to get to a phone, it makes us both feel better to put my parents on the ecrumb tracking.

It's a free app - and so worth it.

[katyintx]

I do.  Like others, I worry about animals more than anything since I had a coyote join me on my run.  But I do use it whenever I'm running alone.  I know I should take a self defense class, but at least this gives me a shot vs not carrying anything at all.  I run with my thumb on the safety, and if I see anyone I switch the safety off, just in case.  I can't make the picture work, but here's the one I have:  www.academy.com/shop/pdp/sabre-pink-jogger-pepper-spray/pid-501851?N=917550160

[Deleted]

Well my mind is officially blown. I don't know whether I am just incredibly naive about the dangers or whether I just live somewhere safer. I feel sad that any of you feel any possibility of a threat while doing something as innocent as running.

My husband is a bit of a worrier. The only time he has advised me was when I was running in Belfast before dawn on Christmas Day. He checked my route and ran the first few miles with me, but then there are certain places a strange face would attract trouble there. His house was blown in by IRA terrorists when he was growing up, so I get his concern. His only worry here is traffic, cars go very fast on tiny roads. I wear a lot of neon.

[Wines Not Whines]

I wouldn't say I live in a particularly unsafe area, but it's an urban area, so there's crime. The trail I run on is popular and not incredibly secluded (it runs right next to a road for the most part), and there are always other people on it, but there are quieter stretches where it goes into the woods and farther from the road. I guess someone only needs a few minutes where there's no one else around.