Runners- do you feel safe?

[carrottopper]

I'm not having much luck with a treadmill. One of the reasons I've avoided running outside is fear of others- bumping into people I know and security reasons. I'm thinking I could run in places I wouldn't see people but then maybe that wouldn't be safe. Do you always choose a route you know you will be safe?

I live quite rurally. When I go for a run, I do a 4-mile loop on footpaths around my house and, although I always see around half a dozen people in total, there will be stretches when I don't see anyone for a few minutes at a time.

Personally I don't feel unsafe. Do you live in a high crime area?

I feel safe, yeah. I generally use canal tow paths, cycle tracks etc. I only run on the pavement in the winter when it's dark.

I live in a city but near green areas, a wood and a river. I do go running through them but I wouldn’t do it really early or really late as I’d feel abbot vulnerable. Sometimes don’t see anyone for minutes at a time. But I HATE the fact that I feel like this and even have to take it into consideration at all

What do you mean about not wanting to bump into people you know?

I have lived both rurally and in the suburbs, I feel OK to go for a run on my own, after all it’s not much different from going for a walk alone? Obviously use the same caution you would anywhere else, but if you live in an OK area it’s likely to be fine.

I live in a village so not high crime area. Bumping into people- I'd rather not see people when I'm a sweaty not able to breathe mess

Ah don't worry about that OP. I go bright red when I run! It shows you're trying your best!

The other thing I find is that my nose steams constantly! It's hard to breathe when you need to blow your nose so have to keep stopping

I am a glorious beetroot and it keeps people away.

For social distancing, I've been more choosy about my routes but that's eased off gradually as people got bored of walking and others RTW.

If I go off out of my neighbourhood, I wear a wrist attack alarm as there have been incidents within a few miles of where I live.

Overall I feel safe though.

Who cares if you’re all sweaty? Isn’t that the point?
They’ll only see you for a couple of seconds anyway as you’ll be running past them. I find it makes me run faster if I see someone I know cos I’m so desperate to get past

Health and enjoying exercise are much more important than what your local friends/acquaintances might think, so to tweak self-help author Susan Jeffers’ phrase, feel the discomfort and do it anyway!

If your concern is the risk of being a crime victim, take a look at the local stats.

Imagine that road safety / tripping over if “trail running” are the biggest risks.

um, safe against what threat?

I'm not afraid of falls, sweating, bad hair days, sunshine, wolf-whistlers, traffic, cyclists, wind, rain, unfriendly dogs, buggy-pushers, dozey teenagers all over the path, ice underfoot, slippy leaves underfoot, drunks, gropers, tree roots, mud, puddles, gossip, muggers, creeps, plague ridden, zombies or sex pests. One way or another, I've dealt with all and am still fine.

I don't like hail, though. I will admit to pausing to avoid Efen hail.

Oh, and barb wire. Avoid that shit for sure. I had lucky escape catching my foot on some barb wire yesterday but no damage, phew.

I don’t feel safe when I run or walk in an area that has no one around I admit, and I hate feeling like that. I know statistically it’s very unlikely someone will jump out at me, but many years ago a man followed me, ran at me and punched me in the face full force and ran off. I think I’d be less likely to think about attacks if that hadn’t happened.

I live in a very small town, and so I can run 3 routes pretty much - and as I run with my dogs it seems like everyone sees me. Universally, people are lovely though, and if I see people I know, I just wave at them and run on

I’m pretty fit (personal trainer) and I go bright red when I run. Can’t help it so I just get on with it. The way I look at it is, if an attacker is waiting to attack you in a rural location, they would be there for ages waiting - with it being quiet!! Also, I’m so hot and sweaty it would be pretty gross for them to attack!
I only saw about 10 people doing my 8 mile route today at lunchtime. However, I do always run a variety of routes and times rather than keeping a routine.

Ok, I live in a city so never bump into anyone I know. Well, I did once and was all sweaty. Just said I’m doing C25k and I’m a beginner as I ran past.

Yes absolutely, I've been a regular runner for over a decade and have never had a problem. I've been out at 5am before now and love the stillness.

6am runner here for 20 years not once have I had an issue. No one looks OP, you just think they do but don't stress. Just run & relax. I love running in the peace & quiet and at the moment it is the coolest time of the day and I see so much wildlife when out and come back 7am with my run done and feeling ready for the day.

I see lots of people I know on my runs - often stop and have a chat! It's been nice in lock down when I've not got another adult to talk to.

I don't mind who sees me and given that I run like Phoebe from Friends, I'm pretty sure you can do the same!

Always feel safe, but don't run in the large park near my house after dark.

Safety does cross my mind sometimes tbh. I run through a really beautiful wood that I love because it is so quiet and peaceful. I pass a handful of walkers on my 6 mile route.

I know the risk is tiny however, so push those thoughts out of my head. I'd rather take the tiny risk, so I can run somewhere so lovely.

I run down the canal it's lovely and at the minute can be busy but occasionally nobody about so you do have to keep your wits about you .
I'm not bothered about seeing anyone I know . I don't go on roads so much in the summer in the winter I do.
Like anything just be careful if on your own especially if you have headphones on . I like to think if anyone approached me I'd be able to shout/run away get someone's attention fairly quickly just keep that in mind .

I feel safer cycling. No real idea why as any attacker could easily run faster than I cycle!

I don't run off road on my own, I don't think I could outrun any potential attackers! I stick to residential streets as they tend to be quietish but I feel safe.

I run rurally, lanes, footpaths and fields, rarely seeing anyone else or any cars. I also run in the town on pavements. I don't really give my safety a thought, I do make sure I take my phone if I'm going particularly rurally tho, just in case of being stranded with injury.

One of the countries we visit frequently yes, I get up at 6 and go, feel far safer with their locals than mine.

I prefer running when it’s more busy, I don’t feel safe in my area particularly, although nothing has ever happened. I change my days and routes incase a weirdo is watching haha,

I tend to go out about 7.30, normally go straight from school drop off.