To be scared of running alone

[Allyoli]

I'm training for a half marathon. Even though it's very nice, I'm getting a bit bored of doing 5k laps of my local park. Ideally I'd run along a beautiful, but fairly isolated river path near where I live, and through a wildlife reserve. Not a lot of people use the path, maybe an odd cyclist or dog walker, and once you're on it, there's nowhere to exit until you're at the end. It takes maybe 20-30 minutes to run along.

But I don't feel safe running alone there. Am I being overly anxious? I'm struggling to find long running routes that don't involve isolated areas, and sticking to streets and busy main roads takes a lot of the enjoyment out of running for me. Tbh I'm sick of having to miss out on outdoorsy things I want to do alone (hiking, birdwatching, running) because of the risk of being attacked as a lone woman. How do you plan safe, long distance running routes?

I'd guess that statistically you are at greater risk of harm every time you get in your car. Stranger attacks on women out alone in daylight are very rare. I run alone through woods and countryside. It is great for the soul.

meh. I got jumped walking down a residential street in a naice neighbourhood at 6pm. I pushed him off & chased him down the road yelling at the guy. Didn't really want to catch him (what would I do if I did catch up?). Then I went to police.

There are a few other events like that in my life. I can't seem to react but with fury.

Maybe when I'm 85 I'll get fearful. Rather hoping to be like Dervla Murphy & still going everywhere as I please, though.

I run alone in the mornings around 8am. I always say hello to everyone l meet... for a couple of reasons.... it makes me clock them and what they look like... which means they know l have clocked them and could give a good description.... and it's nice!

Surely there must be other places to run other then the local park ... or the isolated area.

I prefer running alone in the countryside, it somehow feels safer to me than residential areas.

Maybe it's because I run early in the morning though and my logic is that there's less likely to be a weirdo in the middle of nowhere at 6.30am than there is in a town or city centre at that time of day?!

When l used to run l made sure l could run my way out of trouble, so l didn't run long distance but l could sprint fast. I have height on my side and l was a confident runner. I was always aware of my surroundings, and checked over my shoulder, never ran with headphones, changed my route and ran at different times.

I just go for it. I figure if I don't they've won anyway. I always take my phone, but obviously that doesn't offer much protection.

I run about 2000 miles a year. In the five years I've been running trail I've encountered a naked rambler (who didn't try and touch me/stop me, just walked past, but it scared me) a pig in a car who asked me to give him directions, was holding a map, and when I got near the car realised he was naked from the waist down under the map, and a car that passed me, late at night, did a turn in the road and drove back past me, did another u turn and then started crawling up behind me (There was a public footpath into a field nearby so I legged it into that and over the field). I wish these things didn't happen, but I gain so much from running trail that I do it anyway. I'm not sure there is a way to plan routes so that it is completely safe, to be honest, I think you just have to decide if its worth the risk to you or not.

I don't run but I feel the same about walking in isolated areas , much too nervous.

I used to run along an isolated route and someone got raped in broad day light after being kidnapped off the main road at 4pm! It was near here so I stopped. This thread is making my re consider though, we can’t live in fear Op.

I walk and run in rural, isolated spots during the day and at night. I generally feel safer in properly rural areas than in suburban / urban locations.

I refuse to allow men to have any more power or control over my life than they do by default.

It helps that I’m physically fairly fit, strong and have martial arts experience which means I can handle myself in most situations. Obviously that’s useless against a committed attacker who comes prepared with some form of weaponry, but there are limits to what I’m prepared to worry about in life.

I don’t run anymore but walk the dog by myself in the woods around where I live most days - normally for about an hour and a half.

sometimes I see no one sometimes I see other walkers /
dog walkers - usually men. It’s never occurred to me that I shouldn’t do this and I like the quiet and solitude.

I've voted YABU because I have happily always done this. Regardless if it's diff people etc, that's just my opinion.

Maybe it helps that I'm fat, so I generally tend to think I'm not going to be the usual woman a man would try to attack (unless he's buffalo bill). In reality I know IABU because this isn't the case as that's not what attacks perpetrated by men are about. However I do think my size would help a potential attacker think twice IYSWIM. Trying to consider all angles as why I may feel different to other posters.

It's just never felt like an issue to me. Mind I was attacked when I was left alone by a friend on a night out once, by a man. Which was frightening. I still don't really worry. I'm not sure why, because I worry about everything else. Perhaps I just don't think it's likely to happen again.

I also wonder how women walk their dogs if it stops them going on any routes off the beaten track. Do you never take your dogs for lone walks through quiet woodland etc? Big dogs are a bit different I know, as could be seen off putting by a perpetrator, but if you have small dogs, how does this impact you?

Anyone doing this should be extra cautious not just about men attacking you but also that ambulance times in some areas are very long. We recently found a lady who had a suspected broken ankle in the woods. She had phoned the hospital and was told would be a 2-3hour wait for them to come.

Laying on the floor alone in a secluded woods can really leave you rather vulnerable!

I dont either.

I didn’t notice it so much until I’d already trained for a marathon and my husband was training for it the following year. He’d go out at 6am and run along footpaths out in the middle of nowhere when it was often almost still dark. I would never dream of running along those places myself and when I questioned him going those routes he looked utterly confused. It made me quite sad how much of a difference there is between men and women in these situations.

I used to try to be brave and run along an isolated wooded area beside the river as it leads onto one of the best routes (back at a busy bit) and can’t be avoided. One day I overtook a man and his dog (on the lead), shortly after just as we got to the creepy bit the man had let his dog off and it ran past me. He then went running after it and I so nearly turned back as in my head I had it all worked out that this guy had planned this so he could get infront of me. I then couldn’t see him at all really quickly. I convinced myself he must be hiding behind a tree waiting to jump out on me 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’ve never ran so fast in my life to get to the end and he was nowhere to be seen! It made me realise its obviously not that safe to go along there though when I was that terrified just because someone was there 🙄

Yeah me too. I feel a bit better saying it's just a life rule I follow no matter what, no running alone, no walking back from anywhere alone at night or in a solitary place (always a cab even if I have to put money back for it in advance), etc. It's sensible.

I feel the same as you OP. I used to run very isolated routes (I can't run far now due to illness) but I have a huge dog. A huge dog who although friendly 99% of the time has unfortunately had to prove that she has an edge and will protect me (not while running, but while walking home at night). I'd not dare do it alone although I do admire the posters who weigh up risks and go for it. I wish we didn't have to be scared like this.

I was attacked by a dog while running recently so that would now be a huge concern for me.
Could you run with someone else if you're really concerned.

I run a few times a week, it's rural here, woods, farm tracks & narrow lanes.

I only run in daylight
I take off all jewellery
I carry a phone but in a belt under my tshirt
I tell ds my route
If you run regular routes, develop nodding acquaintances with regular dog walkers, other runners, farmers and gardeners along the way. Then if you do have an issue, you have someone to turn to for help.

I've been running on my own for 12 years. I've not had a problem but it's better to have a plan than be broadsided by something happening.

I run fairly remotely but do run only in daylight and early in the morning. Regularly see the same dogwalker. Take phone but also use the Garmin tracker so DH can see where I am at any time. I’ve also run when we’re staying elsewhere - mostly this is rural locations. As others have suggested look into running clubs or stick a note on your local FB page to see if you can find a running buddy of around the same pace.

Thanks everyone. It makes me so frustrated that we have to worry about this.

@Fairislefandango my partner is the same, doesn't even consider whether his route is 'safe' or not and goes out in the dark regularly. He does run with me now and again but he needs to train much faster than me.

Where I live is there are two local running clubs and I've tried both. Everyone is MUCH faster than me and a bit competitive, which isn't my vibe. I like running for fitness and wellbeing rather than to train for races. I'm doing the half marathon as more of an endurance challenge May put a post on FB though.

Definitely worth popping a post on local social media. My running group is a social group just for women. It was started by a small number of like minded women who wanted non-competitive company for running and is now a huge community of women who do everything from C25k to ultra marathons. Wednesday evening they have a group trail run planned for around one of the local forestry areas - it's so much better having company for trail runs like that.

There will definitely be someone in your area who would like to buddy up with someone who isn't trying to race them.

It sucks that we can't just lace up and enjoy quiet areas without added stress, but if having company means you'd be more comfortable off the beaten track it'll be worth it.

Statistically attacks of female runners are rare. It’s probably more dangerous to drive your car. Not actually compared stats mind.

I totally get the fear, but you can’t let it stop you living your life to the full.

Have you seen the other thread about the weirdo feigning injury and approaching the female OP out running?
So many weirdos out there that reinforces my anxiety about lone running in rural areas!

To edit, not rural per se, more isolated/quiet areas

Why not put up an add for female buddy to run with you? Lots of local Facebook sites you can ask on. There must be others who feel similarly.