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 in London and try to go out early when it’s a lot quieter - but not too early. There’s a weird time between 6am and 8am when the only people who are out and about are runners and slightly dodgy characters - particularly now that the commuters have disappeared.

I usually feel safe but stick to main routes that I know, and avoid areas I know are a bit tougher. Generally there are a couple of cyclists, walkers or runners about so it’s ok.

I live semi rurally and my runs are mostly on quiet roads or trails/hills. Often I see no one at all. I don't feel unsafe but it has crossed my mind what I would do if attacked. I think the risk is pretty low - would have to be an opportunist who just happened to be in the same area at the same time - no point in lurking as it could be an hour between people passing. But I must admit I tend to avoid actual parks as I imagine if anyone had bad intentions they might lurk there. Feel safer in wide open countryside. Though have to watch out for cattle.
Re runny nose - I wipe mine on gloves in winter and running top in summer - I can do this as no one around to see me lift it up. Maybe a wrist sweatband would work?

I live rurally and run early morning. I often don't see anyone.

I feel perfectly safe though. I doubt any opportunists would want to hang about for hours to jump out at someone.

The only thing I am cautious of at this time of year is cows when the calves have just come out to graze. Otherwise, even cows don't bother me.

I live in a city and there's certain areas I wouldn't run in (I wouldn't even drive through some of them!) but i never feel unsafe when out running. I don't tend to run on the cycle paths on my own as they can be a bit isolated in places and there has been incidents of people being attacked in broad daylight. They're also really busy at the moment and for that reason i've also avoided the canal and river that i'd normally run along. I'd happily go up hills etc on my own but that's a distant dream at the moment.

I run rurally and can do myriad routes and terrain. I often run at 4.30am onwards and have never felt unsafe.

In the dark I wear a headtorch and something reflective and in the summer when it is light I wear high vis vests if I will be road running (side of A roads, no pavements for miles near me).

The only worry I ever have is traffic - and I am uber aware of the correct side to run on the road depending on bends etc.

In terms of attackers I have always rationalised that attackers only attack at night!

I trot up and down the streets of my small town. I feel complete safe and can nosey into peoples gardens. There are paths across country for walking/ cycling but i feel less safe around all the off-lead dogs

I am definitely someone who goes straight to bright red no matter how fit I am! I feel very safe running in my current area and run alone wherever I fancy (although since lockdown my husband has started running with me). My previous area was not as safe so I would use particular routes in daytime and others at night (better lit areas, more people about, less sketchy neighbourhoods).

In a rural village with few crime, most places will be safe to run. You should think more about what places have a pavement and making sure you can hear traffic.

For all runs (or hikes or cycles or anything) I'd recommend making sure someone knows where you are going and when you'll be back.

Yes the only thing that bothers me is loose dogs. Why do people allow there dogs off the lead if people are around and the dogs get giddy

It really fucks me off tbh. The owner is usually stood there with a gormless grin whilst the dog is running round your feet

I love running in the woods on my own, there's no better therapy. I have friends who think I'm mad and "brave" but honestly in 15 years, I've never felt threatened.

I don't run on my own after dark but that's more of a road safety issue than a fear of attack.

Bumping into someone I know on a run is a bonus! I don't care about anyone who's going to think less of me because I have beetroot face.

You do sometimes come across hecklers but I find that happens more often if I'm in a group. Weirdly, they tend to leave lone runners alone.

I don't use ear phones, so I'm aware of what's going on around me but that's mostly because I like being in tune with by breath and surroundings.

I live in a small town surrounded by countryside. I love exploring paths and footpaths, I never feel unsafe, lots of people have said they see me out running but often i dont notice - I'm not deliberately ignoring them!! At the moment I'm trying to choose quieter out of the way paths as the bigger more "well known" footpaths around the town are always busy and more difficult to distance yourself. I can go on a 6 mile run on more rural paths and not see a soul. I did a new run the other day of about 10 miles using country lanes and paths I'd not been on for a long time. My biggest worry was getting lost! But I wrote some instructions on paper and put in my shorts pocket (I hate taking a phone) and I told my husband the route I was going

My biggest fear about running in the dark, in the winter time is going arse over tit because half the street lights dont work

Actually I've just realised, I don't run alone after dark but I do run before it's light on winter mornings. I can't explain my reasoning there

Okay, so your question is not about safety at all - it's about your own vanity!

I'm a runner. I sweat. I don't give two shiny shites. I live in a small city and I run different routes around the city and the park. I feel perfectly safe and actually, in all the weeks of lockdown that I've been running (9 weeks I think, 3 times per week), I've only seen someone I know once.

My advice? Stop thinking everyone is looking at you (they're not), and get out there and run. It's SO much nicer to run in the fresh air and with a view than pounding away on a boring treadmill. When it gets hot, I even wear shorts, because literally no one is looking at me. They're all far too worried how they look themselves!

Get out there OP ! Its the best thing ever

I run a mixture of areas, I sometimes go to a local-ish country park, sometimes just run round the streets, and also we have a lot of fields and woodland where I live and tbh have had the odd thought about what if there was someone dodgy about but that's a risk even if popping to local shops etc

And don't worry about what you look like - that used to put me off but honestly no one cares, as pp have said others are too busy thinking about themselves

Well I just think that if I'm running, no one will be able to talk to me, and I can just run past. Walk a few routes around your area, before you run them, to see how you feel.

Oh and people don't even look at me when I'm wearing a running cap, or maybe I don't notice them as much

I did it!!!! I went to my local park and downloaded the c25k. Loved it but preferred running on the grass to path. I finished the first lesson of c25k and then kept on running to 5k. Loved it but the safety issue still worries me. Two young children are home and hubby is out at work 7-6 every week day. Not sure I feel safe as the nights get darker and I can't leave the kids at home alone in the day

Well done!

I started running in the Spring and joined a running club in September for that exact reason OP. It also helps, in winter, if you have a set time and people "expecting" you to make you keep going out when it's cold and dark. Hopefully the clubs will be back then.

Well done that's brilliant!!

I'm also of the beetroot face persuasion but stopped caring about that a long time ago.
I am recovering from a foot injury at the moment so am doing the couch to 5k and go out at around 7am to avoid the heat and other people. I used to think people were looking at me but now I realise that they're not, and if they are, it's more likely to be because they are wishing they were running. If I see people I know, I wave and say hi and carry on. They probably think "good on her", rather than "crikey, look at the state of her"!

I will add that I never run in the dark on my own though (I run one night per week with a ladies running club, which is great in the darker months) and I always have my phone with me.

I too get a little nervous when I’m running outside - I have a really overactive imagination and think myself into all sorts of scary scenarios. However I settle my brain by ensuring I take my phone with me and have the Find My Friends app switched on so my husband can track when I am. If he sees I haven’t moved for a while he’d know to get in touch or come and find me.

As for the people see you while you’re running side of things, I too used to worry about this. I used to think people would laugh when they saw me running (as I’m terrible, go bright red and have completely out of control breathing half the time) but I did an experiment with myself the other day and it calmed me down. Basically I went out for a 2.5 mile run and when I got back I tried to tell my husband details of the people I’d seen. They were only as detailed as “a woman in a red top” or “a man with a dog” because my brain was clearly too active just running to bother taking anything in. It made me assume that it would be the same for everyone else - in their heads I’d just become “woman in a pink top” etc. Give it a go on your next run and see if it helps you.

I live in a suburb. I run a lot in my immediate area (esp just now!) and feel totally safe. I run early morning, in the dark, any time, all fine.

When things are normal I run in other places when I am toting Ds2 about, other areas in my city and nearby towns (eg where he plays and trains footy). Often in the dark. Always feel safe. Often see dog walkers and people I know. Sometimes outside their houses! I say hello.

Apart from anything else, I figure I am safer than I would be walking with a bag. I don't have anything to steal - no wallet, no phone - and, y'know, I'm in running kit so better able to run away. Not that I've ever felt the need. I am not really very risk averse fwiw tho.

I like lljkk's list! Dogs not on leads are The Worst.

I've just completed the first week of c25k. First two runs have been done in my local park as it is flat and I've been trying to stick to running on grass where I can. This morning I had to go out early as my husband was leaving for work at 7. At 6am there was no one around apart from a teen on his bike. He was just riding around in one area but i didn't feel safe. I'm sure he was absolutely fine but it unnerved me and I ended up running by the road side. I suppose I'll get more confident the more I go

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

Go out early and keep off the roads. I've been out this morning and didn't see anybody else.