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.

Oh and never ever carry a knife or other weapon.

Firstly because there's a good chance an attacker could turn it back on you and stab you with your own knife.

Secondly because if you do use it, UK law would deem it pre-meditated as you had taken it with you to use as a weapon. If however in the midst of an attack grabbed a stone or punched with you keys in your hand, etc, that is self defence.

So to be safer do not carry any form of weapon.

I wear pink running/gym gear and I'm not on the pull Mike!

I run on a river path, unfortunately there have been several incidents of runners, cyclists and walkers being attacked on the path. Therefore I always run with a friend and only in the light. if it's dark we use a completely different route in a built up area and wear lights. I also have a personal alarm that I wear on my wrist.

If I'm running alone I stick to built up areas, run in the light, wear my alarm. and won't wear headphones (I wouldn't wear headphones even if I was walking down the street, I like to be aware of my surroundings).

I don't think any of this is OTT, most of it is stuff I'd do anyway whether walking, running, cycling, whatever. It doesn't ruin the enjoyment

Where am I meant to have said that wearing pink when running meant you were on the pull? I didn't.

I'm doinf c25k and i have the lovely Sarah Millican as my pt. I don't wear headphones thought. I just carry my phone in my hand qith the volume up. I love when i pass dog walkers and Sarah's givin it " Yar doin really well pet"

I can't believe you always wear high viz jackets, have keys in your bra in case you need them as a weapon, or don't take a phone with you in case of mugging, @Glovebug.

I have a regular field to run thru with cows & Traveller ponies in it. I thought the ponies would be brutes but they couldn't give a toss about me. I avoid rear ends, mind. Have had to dash between mare & foal a few times.

I think this really depends where you live, I'm not aware of any walkers or runners having been attacked around here and see many women on their own when walking the dog or running. If didn't have music my legs wouldn't move and that would be the end of that but I only have one earphone in and the volume is quiet so I can hear things behind me, bikes mainly.

Bit worried about buzzards now. I went past a couple recently and felt closer than I would like but thought I was being ridiculous to be wary

Keep at it OP. There are risks to everything but the benefits of this hugely outweigh the risks and well worth it.

Unless you live in an area with unusually high crime rates, then your risk of getting attacked while running is tiny. I have certainly never heard of a runner getting attacked where I live. Surely your biggest risks come from cars, or trips/falls. I tend to run with one earphone in, so I can listen to music, and hear what is going on around me. I hope you don't let this thread put you off running OP. You are far more at risk from being unfit than you are from getting out there and having a go.

I'm doing c25k without headphones. My phone is o my pocket and every now and again I hear a little voice saying to stop or start running.
I also run with a massive lab so it helps .

Also remember that 99.9% of men would never dream of attacking anyone so whether they see you regularly or not is not going to make any difference.

How does that tally with 25% of women experiencing domestic violence?

can't that is totally different to stranger attacks, which is both what mogget was saying and the only relevant type of attack in this situation.

If you become a victim of DV then they'll usually hurt you at home where there are no witnesses.

Yes- I agree, it's different and attacks by random strangers are extremely rare, but the statement was 99.9% of men would never dream of attacking anyone which is inaccurate and should be dream of attacking a female stranger.

I actually stand on the side of "well you can't worry about it or you'd never leave the house" but at the same time I'm very reluctant to minimise what is a real fear for women, which is violence or death at the hands of a man. I don't think it's illogical for women to feel afraid in remote or dark places.

can't believe me I know the hell that is domestic violence, I am irrationally fearful of all men, outside my family. Ive done the freedom program and I'm on the ridiculously long waiting list for specialist counselling. But I cannot see mogget's comment as anything other than about random strangers, due to the context it was written in and I really can't see it as minimising my, or anyone elses, fear of men.

Jeez, I too think some of this is way over the top. I run in my local park and residential streets, normally during the day or early evening while it's still light. There are usually enough people around to allow me to feel safe, though I have headed out of the park if it felt a little isolated. I don't like to run in the dark or on quiet/hidden paths but I do use my phone and headphones. I use a trainer app and listen to podcasts. I can still hear what's going on around me though (cars, dogs, people talking as I pass etc) and look all around before I cross any roads. I live in the suburbs which is probably relevant - quite built up and populated, well lit, relatively low crime. I started running last year, love it.

Ps: this thread made me go out for a run this morning so thanks OP!

blue ( and moggy) sorry- I was a bit pissy. Had been reading a Facebook thread along the 'not all men' line/rape culture is a myth' lines so was a bit arghhh!

I really struggle with the conflict of the reality of the world vs not letting it control how i live my life. I know the risk is tiny but I also understand why women react disproportionately to the size of the risk.

I run off road all the time in woods, along towpaths, through fields, up hills. I am always alone apart from my dog and would never dream of stopping for fear of the infinitesimally small chance of meeting a rapist who was a) patient enough to wait for me and b) could run 7 minute miles.

Also I think risk is lower off road and properly remote than in parks where if a nutter did have a penchant for Lycra he would know there was a chance of someone going past.