How do you stay safe when running?

[Fantastictwistsand]

I've started C25K and my preferred route is a river bank near my home. It's pretty secluded though and I'm worried if I make it a habit to run the same route I could be putting myself at risk.

Am I being over cautious? There's other routes I can take but they are all really busy and I'm really worried about being heckled.

For me much of this advice on thread is OTT. I suppose it makes sense in some places. Also, I have had people tried to jump me & I pushed them off & chased them off down the street. I don't want trouble but I'm not worried about it, either.

I sometimes remember to bring a phone, Fantastic. Or tell DH where I went. That's in case I come across someone having a heart attack, or might then be back late, not for my own safety. I don't do any of the rest of the safety advice posted here.

I'm at an age where the hecklers would be repulsed if I blew them a kiss, though.

I've run for years. I go at about 6 in the morning, always run the same route and say 'morning' to the same people out walking their dogs. I wear headphones and have my phone with me. I always run in suburban areas. My mother has also run for about 25 years in very isolated rural areas and has never had a problem.
I am no more concerned than I would be if I were walking to work. Yes I have my phone with my but I don't have my bag with my purse, far more likely to mugged for my bag.

Yes be sensible but don't feel you have to run carrying knives.

It's not really a lot of effort OP. These are standard running club etiquette that are for safety of self and others.

With regard to headphones - you can't race with them or you face banning from events, so what purpose do they serve on your training/leisure/fartlek runs?

No, don't give up! I run and walk in secluded areas a lot and I don't wear headphones because I like to be able to hear what's going on around me as well as for safety. I'm in outer London and I have been catcalled, which is annoying, but as long as you're aware of what's going on around you, you should be fine.

ps: should elaborate: I got jumped when I was walking down a road on an errand, nothing to do with running! Who is going to jump a runner? A runner is obviously fit, strong & highly alert. Not a good target for creeps.

Ooh please don't let this thread put you off running. You just need to make a reasonable assessment of the risk based on your route and the environment and then put some sensible plans in place. Absolutely no need to not go running. If you life live on that basis you won't ever leave the house to do anything!

Do the people who advise telling people your route, varying times, carrying weapons, being tracked etc take these precautions when walking to work, doing the School run or taking the kids to the park?

I don't understand why people assume that going out of your house suddenly becomes more dangerous when you are exercising.

Undercover I'm doing couch to 5k so the purpose they serve is to tell me when I need to run and when I need to walk. Without that I'd be pretty lost. I'm more than willing to accept that they're just not safe and that has led me to the conclusion that running and me aren't going to be compatible. I am going to look into the bone conducting ones though and see if that could be a solution.

Well said Hatie.
OP, please don't give up. Runners don't carry money, credit cards, valuables etc (other than phones), so why the assumption that somehow running is dangerous?

I tend not to go out on my own at night, bit other than that if you'd walk somewhere I don't see running as higher risk and as a PP pointed out I'd expect a runner to be less of a target.
In regards to headphones, from a safety perspective only having one in is a good choice, you should be aware of your surroundings whether that be traffic or someone coming up behind you.

Don't get put off, I've been running for 2 years now and I love it, feel like it's genuinely changed my life..

I have bone conduction headphones for exactly this reason, DH bought them for me for Christmas as they're not cheap BUT it means I'm able to hear people around me.

As for the advice to run very early morning; I studied Criminology at uni and read several qualitative studies into rapist's habits where they specifically said they 'hunted' around 6-8 am as few people would be about. It's always stuck with me.

Fuck me, way to put women off exercising.

In fact, way to put women off leaving the house.

I loathe all this emphasis on 'safety' for women's running/cycling/walking etc. Just get out there and live like men do. Free as birds.

I've been running and walking alone for 22 years. Favourite routes are in countryside. Never a problem. I don't wear headphones so aware of what's going on. Never felt threatened. wouldn't tend to go at night but have walked at night alone and with other people.

Im surprised by the amount of dont wear earphones advice Im seeing on here. I thought most runners wore earphones. I dont, but I am wierd and its just what Im used to.

Please dont be put off. Running is awesome. Definately my favourite form of exercise (I also do weights and bootcamp/circuits)

I take my phone because I use Runkeeper, but instead of having it in an armband, I keep it in a pouch with my keys. I work out routes ahead of time so I know where I'm going. You could also try one earphone which would help.

I'm sorry if anything I've said has put you off - that was totally not my intention. It is good to be aware, but please don't let it stop you. I only started running a couple of years ago but I really enjoy it.

Don't give up!!

You'll get such a lot out of it - that is certain. It's very, very likely that you'll do so safely, with no real problems encountered.

It's like anything else in life - work out the best/safest/most comfortable way to do it. Please don't cut out something that will give you huge physical and mental health benefits just because of remote "what ifs".

And to the PP putting down the idea of varying your route - why is it a bad thing to vary your route? You'd soon get bored running the same miles several times a week, over and over again... the variety is important to maintain interest, not to mention different types of terrain and training... I always mix it up.

Fantastic

Whilst I get your concerns please reconsider.

I did C25K and it was one of the greatest achievements of my life. at the time I lived in suburban N London. Always ran first thing; got it out the way and was nice to be amongst early morning commuter human traffic, but not too busy.

Please do this.

And for fucks sakes, scaremongering about headphones...put yourself in the position of the OP UndercoverBanana.

A policeman friend of mine recommends wearing a referee's whistle on a lanyard. That's all I've got.

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.

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.

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

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?

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! :-)

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.

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