How do you stay safe when running?

StiginaGrump Ah. That would be disconcerting...

Hat. Hair tucked away - no swishy ponytail.
Hi viz or reflective clothing.
No t-shirt with your name on.
I like tracky bottoms or shorts if I'm on my own.
Shapeless tops.
(Not that I could possibly look sexy with a red face, struggling and panting.)
Proper sports bra so there is no jiggle.
No headphones.

No cash. Normally don't take a phone. Housekey in hand or in easily accessible but secure pocket.

Stick to a lit route you know.

In the south east and I get heckled. (Usually by smug smoking teenagers who if female are in shoes they can't walk in or some ugly unfit fecker imitating my gait. They do it because they don't realise that I am old enough to be their gran/wouldn't piss on em if they were on fire)

Deeply disturbed at the idea that nutters were hunting people at 6-8am. I had always hoped for some reason that rapists slept in (which is absurd).
I will buy a whistle!

I always run in the countryside and have never felt unsafe. Until the other day, when I got attacked by a bastard buzzard...

I bought an attack alarm to wear on my wrist earlier this year due to a localised threat of a repeat sex attacker. The bastard is awaiting sentencing at present, but prior to his arrest, he was operating in in areas 2-3 miles away and lived on the opposite side of the next neighbourhood. The risks of these kind of stranger danger crimes is very, very low.

My most realistic concerns are an injury, traffic and cows. I take my phone to call for help if necessary and do use headphones for music/ podcasts- 2 hour training runs for a HM would be very dry on, nothing but birdsong and my own panting I keep the volume low anyway and struggle to hear it over the volume of traffic, and pull them out if crossing a busy road.

I feel safe in the countryside on remote footpaths. There's sections where I've never seen another person out walking/ running so a predator would need a huge amount of patience hanging around there for a victim. (I avoid fields with cows where possible and keep a wide berth around the field having checked escape routes if not)

I feel more concerned about "known" places that are quiet but with a steady drip of people, particularly places known beyond their immediate locality. I feel safe in my dozy suburb which tends to have small open gardens.

At night I wear high vis and reflectors and stick to well lit parts of suburbia.

Running is one of the most popular sports and the numbers of people coming to harm from anything other than trips or wear and tear injuries is very, very low compared to the number of participants.

I wear one headphone in and tuck the other one away in my bra strap so I am hear what's going on.
When I started C25K I'd go out dead early in the morning so no one would see me 😁 I've had no problems at all, I just run around populated areas,on pavement rather than down country lanes because I do worry about a driver not seeing me in time

My biggest fear is being hit by a car (rural) so I 'stay safe' under neon yellow kit when I can't avoid running on roads. Join your local running club if you feel uneasy going out alone, if you can't make their official training meets you might find people to run with at other times.

When I run I use wireless headphones and only ever have one in, I have a head torch when I run in winter/once it's dark, wear hi vis clothes, I would never dream of leaving my phone behind as if anything were to happen I'd have no means of contacting anyone or calling 999. Cannot understand the mentality of leaving it behind!
I often run in the dark and I do run through rural areas, both lit and dark, but my dog often comes with me and secondly I'm 6' and taller than many blokes.
I have also run around inner city dumps and have never been mugged or felt intimidated. Only one time some weird bloke pulled along side me as asked me if I'd sell my dog!

I'm a member of an international running club so speak to American runners a lot and they're often running with weapons. Knives, tasers, guns...! Some of them run trails so they're to scare wild animals away... but everytime they talk about it I'm blown away. I hate carrying my keys and phone I'd be so annoyed lugging a gun around with me too!

It must depend where you live. I am in a small town. I always wear wireless headphones; I listen to podcasts not music and can always hear what is going on around me. I have run in town, on the river oath and around country lanes, never been heckled and never had any unpleasant incidents.. I guess don't run where you wouldn't walk on your own, let someone know where you are - in fact I think there is an app you can get that you can be tracked on.

I don't take the dog since the tripping incident - the cast came off eventually...

Warm up and wear good shoes. I run in the dark in parks or over fields in an area where I pass dodgy geezers with Staffies, men lamping and the odd shagger. I have never had a moments bother - get heckled in daylight though usually good natured

I take dogs with me. The only issue I tend to have then is knowing they're laughing behind their paws at my sad attempts at running

I also think some of these concerns are a bit OTT. I did c25k in Feb and now running 5-10K two or three times a week. Usually in the evening and often in woods, trails. I take my phone but mostly so I could call someone if I twisted my ankle on a remote path. Yes it's important to be aware of your surroundings so headphones can be an issue but the chance of a random lying in wait so they can strangle you with them has got to be vanishingly remote.

Wear proper shoes, you really are far more likely to twist your ankle than be attacked. Watch out for Zombies

OP don't give up! Just avoid anywhere you don't feel safe and/or get a running buddy. Better still join a running club - guaranteed company, motivation and support. Most clubs will have a beginners/slow group if you're worried about it all being super duper athletic types.

I wasn't recommending running with a flick knife. I'm just hyper anxieous about being attacked.

I downloaded the zombies run app when it first came out, I thought it would be fun, but apparently I'm a terrible wuss at dusk and I didn't enjoy it at all

The c25k vibrated when you are to start rubbing and stop running too, so you don't actually need headphones! I didn't use any sound when I did it!

Also, remember it's supposed it be fun and active, not a scary - run for your life morning out.
Be vigilant, listen to your surroundings and know where you want to start and finish. You'll be fine OP, good luck.

Who said anything about women's safety? Running guidelines are for all runners at our club, not just women. Club is about 50:50 split these days. Same rules apply for both. They just don't have the bra to stuff their keys in! :-)

OP - running is bloody brilliant for your fitness, health and mental well-being. You will meet the best people at clubs, races etc and the social life is awesome. You will go to amazing places and find places that you never knew existed. I've heard that C25K is really good as a basis for short runs so stick at it and you'll be doing ultras by Christmas! :-)

There's a couch to 5k group that's affiliated with my local park run, if you fancied joining in the park run then it might be worth asking on their fb page to see if there's anything similar near you?

I'm a podcast fan myself . Nothing like a nice trail run and a Freakonomics podcast!

I always run with headphones, it's one of the only times I get to listen to music. I grind to a halt without it. But I stick to public places.

Fgs. You take a risk every time you drive a car or walk down your own stairs. Lose some years of your life due to sedentary lifestyle or go running, get fit and risk a teensy weensy chance that you'll meet a nutcase on your run. I've had to quit running due to injuries, but before that I used to run alone in woods, on fells and on roads. Never had the slightest problem.