Running Safety for Women and Men

Safety is an important factor for both women and men to be aware of when going out for a run. Cities, suburbs and rural areas each have their own hazards.  Here are some tips for safe running.

Recently, one of my running friends was assaulted while running alone in a city park in the mid-afternoon.  There were other people around and since it was daylight, she did not anticipate problems.  A group of teenagers approached and one of them tried to pull her iPod, but only got the earpiece since she had it fastened instead of just velcro.  But the force made her lose balance and she stumbled to the ground.  Her attackers ran away and she later learned that the same youths had robbed two other victims in the same park that afternoon.

Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings
Urban areas have bad people, but rural areas may have wildlife to contend with.  Running with another person or persons is the top safety tip.  You are much less likely to be attacked by people or bears.  If one person has a medical emergency (such as turning an ankle), the others are there to help or find assistance.

Beware of human and animal threats.

iPods and other music devices
If you must wear an iPod or carry a radio, only use one earphone, so you can hear things better.  Listen for sounds such as footsteps, talking, car horns & brakes, sirens, thunder, or other warnings of danger.

Defense against attackers?
Some runners who can’t avoid running alone or run very early or late in the day carry mace or similar items to spray into the eyes of would-be attackers.  However, many say this is not a good idea, since your weapons could be turned against you or cause an attacker to be more violent than simply running away.  A small air horn may surprise the bad guy and scare him away.

Carry a cellphone
Except for a phone to be a target of theft, carrying a cell while running alone can be wise for any number of situations, such as tripping and falling, seeing suspicious looking individuals, witnessing criminal activity, or being attacked by a porcupine.

Carry identification
Just as in large races, where you’re asked to list emergency phone numbers, medical conditions and similar info on the back of your bib, these are good things to keep on your person, especially when not carrying a wallet.  You may want to carry a plastic bag containing this information (don’t forget to include your name!), a few dollars for transportation or food/drink, even a packet of pain killer and band-aid.  Make it your “running wallet”.

Tell others where you are running, so they can be aware if you don’t get in touch by a certain time.  Whatever items you carry or precautions you take beforehand always be aware of your surroundings so you can anticipate possible problems.
Run safely!