A very knowledgeable reader asked me to do a post about running safety: it’s always important but even more so with the recent tragedy of runner Sherry Arnold.
She speaks below about running safety while sharing a couple of very personal stories.
A few years ago a friend of mine went out running in a well-to-do neighborhood after leaving her gated community. During her run she noticed another runner; they passed each other twice: once on her way out and again on her way back home.
Right after she passed the "runner" the second time, he grabbed her and attempted to attack her. She had mace and he tried to use it against her, but she kicked it away and fought for her life. A car drove by which caused the man to stop and slightly loosen his grip. At that moment she got in a good kick and ran. While she got away and did not suffer many visible injuries, the mental ones will last for a long time.
There are often misconceptions about what someone will do when they are in a similar situation. Bringing mace (or a weapon) out on a run is not the answer unless the person carrying it is trained to be able to think in highly stressful and violent situations because it’s likely the mace can be turned on you – my friend was lucky. If he had gotten it, it would have made it hard to see her assailant (therefore no police description) and made her much more vulnerable. Who knows how long the assault would have lasted.
This run occurred right before sunset – it was still light out. She did all the right things even wearing only one headphone. She had even heard him coming but thought he was a runner. This means ladies, that not all creepers look creepy.
A few weeks ago I had a family member who was attacked. It was in the early hours of the morning, the same time when others are out running. Again, she thought the man was just a runner. He was not.
After dealing with my own family member going through this, I asked many questions and got many answers. Even though these types of hideous crimes involving strangers should not occur, they do. Not as often as one would think, but they do occur.
I myself have yet to go for a run outside since this has occurred because now I know what is really out there. I won’t be afraid forever nor will my family or the person attacked, but we can be smart. Here are some things we can do when we run to keep ourselves safe:
* Switch up your routine. Do not run the same route day after day. Both my friend and family member felt the attack was well planned.
* Run in a group. There is something to be said about safety in numbers.
* Know that just because it is daylight does not mean you are safe. Crime does not have an address or a time preference.
* Pay attention to your surroundings. This is not just when running – all the time. Look under your car while walking up to it (especially trucks) after your run.
*Don’t look so engaged in your phone/ipod/garmin that you look vulnerable.
*Do not share your route(s) on social media; it’s about being smart. Are you true friends with all 500 people on your FB page?
*If you run alone, try to run without your music. Yes, it is hard, but trust me, it’s not as hard as being a victim. Remember, my friend had one ear bud out of her ear, heard him and it still happened.
* As mentioned earlier, do not bring mace or a weapon. Everyone thinks they would fight and beat up the bad guy, but once I heard in explicit detail what happened to my family member, I can honestly say I do not know what I would do if it was me. Some fight and some freeze. You will not know what you would do until it happens which I hope is never.
*If you still feel a weapon is the way to go, first take a self defense class. I’ve taken one before and they offer a lot of great tips. If that isn’t enough, look into Krav Maga (self defense system used by Israeli defense forces) or karate classes; Krav Maga actually has you spar with other people. It is something we are looking into now to help us get back to normality.
If this list scares you I am sorry. It is not my intent. I want to save someone the anguish and horror of having to go through this. Arm yourself with knowledge about being safe not with a weapon that could be used against you, and self defense classes don’t hurt either.
Thank you for sharing, especially such a personal, emotional subject. Does anyone have any other safety suggestions or tips to share with others?
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Very sound advice. I am actually running the Boston Marathon this year for The ALLY Foundation, whose goal is to reduce opportunities for violent and sexual attacks.
http://traveleatlove.com/2011/12/boston-marathon-2012/
I’ve been following the Sherry Arnold story and it has really rocked the running community. Thank you for writing about such an important and, sadly, often overlooked topic. I’ve started running with a friend and I make sure to stay in populated areas. Stay safe, SR!
I currently live in Austin, TX which is, compared to a lot of cities, a relatively safe place, especially with the giant running community here. But I’ll be moving to DC soon and while I was there visiting my boyfriend just a week ago, I went on a run on very familiar, busy sidewalks. I was crossing a big intersection when 4 very large men in a pickup truck started cat-calling me. They were going the opposite direction of me, so I just ignored it. But as I was cutting through to get back to our apartment building, I saw them again. They had looped around the block to follow me on my route!! Due to some construction I was able to weave around (and they were not) I ditched them on a side road and started booking it to the building. I took a break and decided to keep going, still on main, very visible roads. Every time I saw a black pick up truck I had a mental panic attack and then eventually cut the run short. I was fine but it mentally shook me — I know I will be living in that city soon so I have to be prepared for it, but even being cat-called by sketchy guys could have escalated! Thanks for the post and sorry my comment is so long!
I always try to leave my route on the computer for my husband to see, in case it takes longer than planned and he can come out looking for me. This wouldn’t necessarily do anything to prevent an attack from happening, but it might help him find me faster.
I live in Colorado and most of my running is done on trails so I pretty much never listen to music. I am more concerned about listening for coyotes and other animals (and other people). I also run 99% of the time with my dog. He is a 50 pound Vizsla and is typically off leash. I feel so much safer having him out with me….for protection, but mostly because he lets me know if anything seems off. Best running partner EVER!
I recently moved to Denver, and I’m kind of overwhelmed by all the wildlife around here. I totally chickened out on trail running alone since a friend of mine almost ran over a rattlesnake while biking. I’m also DYING to get a Vizsla! I saw one today when we passed the dog park. In a sweater, and I went crazy. I need that running partner!!!
Same here – new in the Denver area and I’m convinced if I run in the dark a coyote is going to eat me. I know its rather ridiculous, but with all the “coyote country” signs posted by the open spaces my imagination goes crazy!
As soon as we have an apartment large enough to hold more than just the bare essentials in life we’ll be adding a dog to our life – a dog I can run with…
My 50+lb Australian Cattle Dog runs with me 99% of the time and I’m convinced there isn’t a human running partner out there that can top a good dog. He hears, sees, and smells anything out of the ordinary way before I could ever notice.
This story about Sherry is really sad. Her family and friends are in my prayers.
This brings me back to when I was in high school and my cheerleading coach’s house was on my running route. Her husband who was a police officer lectured me about running at the same time and same route everyday. He told me that he was going to bring pictures of women who were raped running if I didn’t get smarter. It def. was a wake up call.
With recent events that have occured, I think it is great to post about running safety. I know bad people don’t care if it is light or dark out but I still never run in the dark. I also tend to choose routes that I know will be full of runners/walkers/families and I text/call my husband when I start running and when I am walking home. I also tend to look people in the eye when I run past them. For me, I feel like I am less likely to be attacked if I feel like the person knows I saw them and know what they look like.
I know that with the new smart phones that are GPS enabled, you can actually allow contacts to see your GPS location. I think it would be smart to turn this feature on during runs. If you went missing, they could literally track you down.
I was just thinking the same thing! This kind of rattled the sense of safety I’d been feeling (which honestly is probably a good thing!), and the first thing I thought is that I should turn on google latitude!
This was definitely a wake up call. I usually run with my team after school but also do solo runs on my own time. My mom has me carry mace, but after this story I think I want to take a self-defense class, esp. since I am going to college soon.
Thank you for the information.
Great post! I have started running w/o music esp since I run during the week solo in the early morning hours before work. Very glad I have a running group & buddies to run with too! Safety & staying aware is key!
Agree with Ashley! I keep my phone on me and my family is able to know where I am at all times. It is so worth it. After the Chelsea King tragedy I have never run the same exact route at the same times ever. Over cautious? Maybe, but I have 2 kids that need me and that’s more important than any long run. Please be careful everyone!!
SR- great post and great reminders for us all!
The Chelsea King tragedy really affected me. I didn’t even know the girl or her family and I had several tearful moments about it. It bothers me now just thinking about it.
This is why I’m a treadmill runner…far too scared to run outdoors! Even though the treadmill is boring, I feel much, much safer.
I agree with you Stephanie!! I was attacked by a dog a few years ago and that was enough to make me stick to the treadmill unless I have a running partner or 2 to go with me!
Great adive. Thank you for sharing.
It’s so sad that we have to worry about these things, but it’s reality. Thanks for the great tips! In addition to not running the same routes, I usually run on different days at different times and let my friends know which days I’ll be out doing a long run.
Thanks for the tips! Scary stuff – this is why I sometimes prefer the treadmill!
I’ve taken a self defense class twice in the past 4 years and want to do it again this year. It was scary even in the simulated staged attacks we did but it really makes prepared of what to do to get away from an attacker. Thanks for this post it’s so important for all women to be aware!
I called the local college today and signed up for the women only 3 day self defense program that I mentioned taking. It is taught by trained campus police officers & even though I’m not a student it is FREE.
Thank you so much for posting this and for the reader who wrote this, great job. I live in the same neighborhood where Chelsea King was murdered and that shook our community. Every occurrence like that shakes the running community as well. Running is such a gift and life is the ultimate gift. How in the world could someone steal those blessings?
Thanks again.
I have startled numerous runners while I too was out running, due to them being zoned out with their music devices. I hate to say it, but 90% of them were female. Lets turn the volume down, take an earbud out, and pay attention.
This is a good, and timely, post. many police departments offer free safety classes for women: I would recommend one.
The best tip I’ve heard is to make eye contact with and greet every person that you pass, runner or not. By making eye contact and saying “hello” you’re letting the person (potential attacker) know that you are aware of your surroundings and have noticed them. Not only does this throw an attacker off guard but it may make them feel threatened by the fact that you got a good look for a description later. And if nothing else it promotes friendlyness amongst those in our sport!
that is great advice!
I don’t want to be a downer – but a person I acknowledged and said hello to tried to mug me (first went for my purse and then tried to grab me, I was able to push him off and run). A clean cut looking person I assumed was a neighbor in my low crime neighborhood. Number one priority that I learned from a self defense specialist was staying out of arms reach. Cross the street, run awkwardly away from people…whatever it takes. If they can’t reach you they can’t attack you.
Also I see woman running alone at night on trails in my city in DC. Naivete is bliss I guess, but you couldn’t pay me to do that, especially since there are crime reports of men sexually groping woman alone on said trails at night every few months.
The last time I ran by myself downtown after work a group of young men started yelling to me/at me and approached me. I sped up to put more distance between myself and them, but the whole time I kicked myself for putting myself in that position. Even though it is a well traveled path by walkers/runners/commuters, there is never a guarantee that someone will help in that situation.
That was pretty serious, but a good reminder. Definitely about the mace. I’ve been thinking I should get some — but duh, I’m not very strong or coordinated so I don’t really see that working well. I need to make some more running buddies!
Thanks so much for this post. The news about Sherry Arnold really made me think about safety as I run, even though I know things can still happen despite being cautious. These tips and reminders are really helpful.
Thanks for posting this, so important and I think we all need a reminder not only for running but anytime.
yes, such good hard kick in the ass reminders. I have been close to these situations before as well. Its scary but we need to be reminded about safety. My heart goes out to sherry’s family. Such a sad time. Praying.
Good tips. I think it’s important to just be aware of your surroundings, no matter if you are running or walking back to your car after shopping. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. And, this advice just isn’t for those folks living in cities — I live in Brooklyn and feel much safer running there than I ever did in St. Augustine, FL. Thinking about Sherry Arnold and her family and hoping for a safe return.
And just got the article to load (thanks, Acela). I hadn’t heard that they were looking for her body.
I’m scared ALL the time!! I would just hide out at home but the great feeling I get from running outside and not feeling trapped or frightened empowers me…
I run with pink mace but only if it’s getting dark outside which I guess is silly, you can be attacked during the day.. I read about using mace and that you have to think about wind when you spray and turn your head away so that it doesn’t get in your own eyes.
I’m not sure what the right answer is for women… i don’t have people that I can run with most of the time so my option is to go alone or to be confined to the treadmill. If I’m going not at a busy time of day I stick to major roads even though they aren’t as pretty — I figure there’s at least less opportunity to get attacked if it’s public. Even during busy times of day though I get extremely nervous crossing under bridges or when I see construction workers and no one else around (sorry, but it’s true) — other than running in a group, what can we do?
I also always have my CELL PHONE on me… with GPS enabled. Maybe if I go missing someone can track me down, or maybe I’ll get lucky and get in a phone call… I guess we really just have to pray and be as cautious as we can.
I’ve had close encounters before but none as scary as the instances listed. We all need reminders to be aware of our surroundings at all times. It’s never a bad thing to be overly cautious.
Thanks for helping spread the word!
As a former martial artist getting into running, here are my favorite tips:
- Know basic selfdefense. Even if you learn it on Youtube (look for muay thai, brazilian jiu jitsu, selfdefense). Then practice what you would do for most situation over and over in your head and with a sparring partner. Better safe than sorry! Aim for sentive parts, groin, temples, eyes. Scream and fight hard, bite, use everything even keys, my mom was attacked and since she did that he let her go.
- Be cautious. Lock your doors as soon as you’re in your car or house. Follow your intuition.
- Bring a phone.
- Bring something that can make a loud noise.
- Bring your dog or the neighbor’s one!
- In the worst scenario, I heard it works: says you’ve got AIDS.
So scary. Heartbreaking story about Sherry Arnold. It’s a tough decision, you want to be safe but also want to be able to run when/where you want to. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for posting. The horrible story about Sherry has certainly put me back on my treadmill. It just make me so furious that this is something we even need to think about. It is not hard enough to make sure we stretch, bring our garmin, map out a route, think about how not to get attack and then try to enjoy a run and time to clear our minds, breath…..just heartbreaking. The tips help and thank you for posting.
I am always so careful running alone because a few years ago I was followed by a creepy man in a run down van. I had my big dog a rhodesian ridgeback and he still followed me. I attempted to lose him several times but was unable to get back to my house. Finally, I saw a lady who was walking her dog and stopped her. Just then he drove by really slow again. She called 911 (I did not have my phone) and the police actually picked him up based on the description. They told me he was a sex offender and did not even live in that part of town! Needless to say I always carry my phone from now on.
Thanks for posting this. It really makes me think twice about when/where I run and always letting someone who I trust know where I’ll be and what time to expect me back. I feel so sad for Sherry’s family.
Check out the “Safety Siren” app on iPhone, it sends your signal to police in your area!
I freakin’ hate that the world is a place in which we even need to consider this but its reality. I run most of the time with my team and 30+ people is pretty safe but theres a few routes I’ll be stopping running alone and cautioning other runners to not run alone. If we actually think about it we gamble a lot with our personal safety. I’ll be giving my flatmate clear instructions as to where im going, carrying my phone and keeping safe!
I’ve used mace for self defense before, and it gave me enough time to get away from my attacker. You can’t rule it out because it didn’t work in one scenario. It’s a good idea to have multiple backups in your safety plan, so if one thing doesn’t work, you can keep trying things that might. Unfortunately, the world has some real creeps in it, and sometimes the best laid plans won’t work against an attacker.
After the news about Sherry came out (before we knew she wasn’t coming home) my husband and I had a long discussion about false sense of security – all the things listed here: being in well-lit areas, familiar surroundings, lots of people. I just make a point to not run alone outside and it makes me nervous so many of my girlfriends do.
even though i run with two german shepherd dogs (yes, at the same time) i still carry mace! i always make sure to say hi and look at people who i pass! u can never be to safe!
oh and i always tell my husband when i’m leaving for a run and where i’ll be going. i also call him as soon as i get home!
I am heartbroken by the Sherry Arnold story, and have felt especially connected to it since I first learned of it when SR linked to SUAR’s blog post about it. Every time I see it on the news now, I could just cry like it is my own family. In a way, we are all a running family. Thanks to the guest author for sharing and thanks, SR for the post. We’ll all be more careful.
I wish more women runners were aware of safety while running and thank you for posting this. It’s something I hate to think about but am also very mindful of. I run primarily on trails and if I don’t take my phone with me, I tell someone exactly where I am running and what time they should expect me to be back/call/text them to let them know I made it safely.
Something else I do while on runs (mainly long runs) is to remember every single person I pass; what they look like, what they we wearing, any distinguishing features, just in case for some reason I needed to use it. It has made me much more attentive in general and also gives my mind something to think of while out running.
Great, informative post. Thanks for sharing!
This is definitely an eye-opening post. I always run with friends or running groups.
thanks for such a great post… There have been tons of times that I not gone for runs because I have been worried about the time of day and safety. I always want to take early morning runs but something about the quiet early morning hour makes me uncomfortable. I recently found a group to run with, and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. Although we aren’t all the same pace, we meet up at a park together and meet back together around the same time (we all run alone- different paces), this way we try to make sure everyone is safe and sound at the end of our runs.
A friend told me a story about a girl she knew who met up with her normal running group for a run, but only 1 other guy was there that day. She had run with this guy many times before and he was a police officer as well. She, sadly, was attacked during their run. This made me realize you can never be too careful about even those you run with.
Great post with excellent reminders. Its so important to be aware of your surroundings. I only run with music 50% of the time, but when I do turn on music, I zone out a lot and I need to be more aware. Once while running in the park, I noticed a guy sitting in his car and he watched me run past. Not far after passing him, I reached my turn around point and headed back. As I continued on the path back to my car, I saw the guy from before drive past me. I assumed he was leaving or going back to work or something (it was about 2 in the afternoon). I passed another parking area and he had parked there to watching me run by. He was kind of “leap frogging” me as I ran. Freaked me out. I ducked down a side loop by a park shelter and saw him go by on the main road. I didn’t see him again thank goodness.
Be aware! And take care! Thanks for the great post!
run at a time of day and in a neighborhood where there are cars passing frequently. Just make sure to be safe as far as traffic is concerned of course but if its more populated, I always feel safer.
Tell one friend where you will be running, so that if something happens; and no one is around to help/stop it they can be aware.
Same with just things in general, it is best that someone knows where you are. Even if it is in the form of a text (even if the person will not read it for a while), it is “proof” of everything.
Especially for women who live alone, it is good for someone to have “tabs” on you – especially someone you can trust!
I am so sad to hear about Sherry Arnold… I suspected it would not be a good ending when they found her shoe. I run alone 95% of the time, mostly on secluded trails. I carry my phone and mace. The thing with mace, it’s just to give me the upper hand for a moment; I will be taking down, and making sure they stay down, any person who threatens to harm me. Be aggresive, say hello, make eye contact, do whatever you can to convey “I will NOT be an easy target” and gross as it may sound, your teeth are a great weapon if need be.
Oh my goodness! THANK YOU SO MUCH for this post. There’s a park trail near where I live and I went running before sunset today and I got lost…. I quickly unplugged my earphones and started jogging slowly and there was this weird man just starring at me. It was truly scary. Although nothing happened its better to be safe than sorry.
Glad you’re safe! That would’ve definitely freaked me out.
If I’m running alone, I wear a Road ID bracelet that has my name, my husband’s name/number and parents’ name/number. It doesn’t protect me at all, but at least I know that if I’m hit by a car or attacked by a dog or collapse, the responders would know who to call. The website is http://www.roadid.com
i’m so sorry to hear about ur family member that was attacked. it gets me so mad that people can be so cruel to others!! all of ur tips for safety are great, but sadly in the end u just have to do all u can and then hope for the best. my biggest thing is not running with the ipod or headphones…it is more boring, yes, but at least then u kno wat’s going on around u.
Great post – it never occurred to me that mace could be used against me. I suppose then mace is only good with coyotes and animals. Well useful, maybe not even “good.”
I only run in daylight (which is still not enough, really, but better than nothing). Always tell someone where I’m going. Always on major, busy roads. Sometimes I run with my dog when it’s a shorter run. But it seems like switching up the routine is probably one of the better tactics. Need to be aware of that.
A Krav Maga course is heavy, scary, but oh so good for your self esteem and safety. It teaches you to overcome the ‘freeze-response’ so you can go to ‘fight or flight’ faster. I’ve done a lot of self defense classes, but Krav Maga stood out, because they don’t teach you ‘tricks’ (if he does this, you should do this, this, and that: I’ll never remember all that when I’m attacked), but teach you to fight for your life. Again, scary, but worth it. And I’ve started to carry a small spray deodorant, works the same way as mace (which isn’t allowed in The Netherlands)
Thank you for posting this – & the comments are great too.
I run without any music whatsoever and still some days cyclists have to ring their bell because I haven’t heard them coming. Mostly it’s a busy route, but it does have dark patches between lights. I run with my boyfriend which makes me feel safe but I see a lot of girls in heels walking along, headphones in, reading something on their phone etc. It makes me worry so much because there’s been such a recent increase in crime in my local area. It’s great to remind ourselves of some of the dangers we may have forgotten, having been “safe” for so long. Thanks again.
This is another reason I no longer run in AZ’s hot months, I have to go so early no one is out. Last summer I had a guy pass me a few times in his car and he took pics of me on his phone…it was obvious. It frightened me so I quit running outside the rest of the summer.
Now I am back to my careless ways, running with iPod loud, not paying attention, running arms length past strangers etc. thanks for the kick in the butt. I think it’s time I finally join my he’s running club!
I really like what you said about bringing mace/pepper sray, etc. I don’t carry those things, but I’ve thought about it. I guess I never did consider that it coud be used against me. That’s an important factor to consider. Thanks for writing this!!
Krystle
Hey everyone, I don’t usually post on here but this topic has made me want to share one of my own safety tips for when you’re out running: If you DO suspect anyone of following/watching you it’s really important to get to a public place with lots of people about – a shop, a bar, a busy street, anywhere – unless you have no other choice do not head straight home, you’ll lead your potential attacker to your home address where they’ll know where to find you next time!
Very good tip, also a fire or police station.
This is definitely a worthwhile post. We may not want to hear that it’s not exactly safe everywhere we run now days, but we definitely need to heed the warnings. I used to run early in the morning through my neighborhood, but now I wait and run after work while it’s still daylight and my 16 yr old can run with me. Or my family knows my route, so if I’m not home when I should be they’ll come looking for me. Good post! http://www.dashingdiva.net
Thanks for the reminder that it can happen SR! Great tips! I am a paranoid person in general even when I’m walking out of my office to my car! You can never be too safe these days!!
These are all great posts. I had a scary experience where I was followed on a run. It was dark out and the car kept following me around a loop and would wait on the other side..I got freaked out quick and got in someone’s yard like it was my house, called my husband to come get me and when he did the guy left quickly. We tried to track down his car but could not find him after that. You may not be safe when you think you are. I was in a low crime neighborhood that is gated but that doesn’t even matter. Don’t go alone if you can avoid it, stay on populated areas that have action and keep a phone on you…I now run with my husband or I don’t go. I have babies that need me….Sherry’s story is SO heartbreaking to me.
I run with my German Shorthaired Pointer 95% of the time. If she isn’t with me, it is because she is with my husband and he is running the same loop that I am. For Christmas, my husband bought me a Spi-belt and now I’ve started carrying my phone for every run. I live in a relatively safe community but creeps seem to hang out along trails, my preferred place to run. I never run with headphones and try to remember my Road ID (because my dog cannot talk, as my local running store points out!)
Sherry Arnold’s disappearance has hit me really hard. Every time I read something about it, it makes me cry. But, it has caused a lot of great discussions about safety in the running community, the blogosphere and in my personal life. In fact, last night I was thinking a post such as this one needed to be written; I hope it’s okay to link this post because it’s worded much better than I could do.
I’ve always been very safety conscious – I don’t listen to music while running, I make eye contact with people I pass and give them a wide berth, I let family members know my route and how long I’ll be gone, I take the dog when I’m at home, etc.
My boyfriend scolds me when I didn’t run with my phone (not a problem now since all cold weather running gear has pockets AND I have a Spibelt for summer running now) and the fact that a group of ladies run the same route every Thursday at the same time. However, the husbands know the route and what time we should be back.
I’ve recently considered carrying made because even though it may not be helpful against an attacker, it would help against a dog or animal attack.
The comments contain wonderful additional tips, but one I’d like to add is to take pictures with your phone of people/cars that look suspicious and send them to a family member. If something were to happen, it might help. As another commenter mentioned, when people know you have information about them, they’re less likely to do something.
Texting license plate numbers to a family member may also help. Use the wonderful technology we have available to us in every way you can!
Oh man, this is exactly the reason why I want a big dog. Sorry Lola, you’ll still be #1 in my heart, but I need a big dog for running.
I wear a RoadID in case something awful happens (God forbid). But I also run with my two dogs, 60 lb. GSPs. Now while they may not be the meanest dogs, they are sight intimidation and can pick-up on vibes from others. My female will bark/growl like crazy if she doesn’t trust a person. So while it’s not a guarantee that I’ll be safe on my early morning runs, my dogs are definitely a deterrent.
Great post, well needed! The great thing about phones and their GPSes is that people can know where you are. It is definitely a help. I always change my route each day that I run. I also always change the time. (and I always tell someone)Sometimes this can be annoying especially if I am running after work and something comes up, but I really feel safer with the constant change. I’m always paying attention. It made me nervous once when I watched someone slowly drive past me and then they put their blinker on to turn into the road right before me. It was a busy road, so I felt a bit safe, but I crossed the street to the other side so that if the person was waiting for me as I ran past that road, I wouldn’t be there. I really want a dog to run with so bad. My fiance is being a bit of stickler about getting one. I’d feel really safe having a dog at my side.
Once it started to stay dark for longer, I stopped running outside. I also pay close attention to runners who are running outside by themselves. I know it might sound weird, but I worry for their safety and I want to make sure nothing happens to them.
I also do all my long runs with a friend. I am pretty sure we’ve determined a creep or two going down a long trail road where we experienced several cars stopping and turning around and driving by us. Strength in numbers. When my run buddy told me she ran down a trail by herself, I yelled at her. Luckily a cop was sitting back there and HE yelled at her. It scared her enough to not do it again without me.
I hate that we kind of have to live with a fear like this. Running should be peaceful and liberating, not full of fear and anxiety.
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to comment on this, because i think that running with mace is very important. There is a chance that a potential attacker could use it against you, but unfortunately people are not our only concern. I live in Chicago, and few weeks ago a jogger was attacked by two pitbulls. This was a large strong man mind you. The pitbulls took him down, and he ended up losing a foot in the ordeal and almost dying – and this was during daylight on a public path. Just remember to be prepared for ALL possible threats to your safety. <3
Thanks for this post. I was tracking SUAR’s heartbreaking updates and your call for runner safety is so valuable for us. I live and run on an Army post, but I still make it a point to vary up my routes and only run in the daytime because I can see what’s around me easier. I find that when I run elsewhere sometimes I’m alert and sometimes I’m not. Thanks for this reminder.
Thank you for posting this. It really is so important. I feel so sad for Sherry Arnold’s family and have been thinking about it a lot.
I having always been a very cautious runner and all of these points are good reminders. I think there is nothing wrong with being overly cautious. I always tell my husband the route I’m running and how long I’ll be. Or I’ll leave the route open on the computer so they can know where to find me if I never make it home. This is all so scary… but soo important to be aware of and take seriously because it could happen to any one of us.
Thanks for this post. I also enjoyed reading all of the comments. I usually run with my dogs and without any music but I am guilty of running the same route for almost all of my runs. After reading this, I’m going to vary my routes each time, even if it’s not as convenient, stick to busier areas, and ask my husband to come along more often.
So sad what happened to Sherry!
This is such a wonderful post and a very important and necessary reminder for all of us. There are so many times when I’ve been more than a little spooked during a run and have thought how I should be running with a light, with someone else, or not in that area / neighborhood at all. Yikes. That is a scary story and something that happens way TOO OFTEN!
This is insane timing. I actually got approached by a man on Monday when I was in the parking lot at the start of a trail that I thought was very safe. I’ve always been alert and cautious while running, but I learned on Monday that I let my guard down in the parking lot. Women, stay safe and alert even in a busy parking lot…it can happen there too. Thanks for sharing these stories.
Thanks for writing about this. 5 years ago I was attacked while running… alone. at dark. with music. in an undeveloped community. in a city about 85 miles from the Mexican border. I was stupid and I might as well have worn a sign that said “please attack me” but it was serious and scary, he had a knife, but I ended up getting away. I live in a town not far from Sidney, MT, where Sherry lived and it has really REALLY rocked the community. THANK YOU for bringing such neccessary attention to the subject of safety while running.
A really important thing to add to that list is to lock your house when you leave and lock it behind you when you come back.
A coworker gave me this advice when one of her orientees was followed home from a run and then raped in front of her children in her own home. The woman was so damaged by the attack that she left her new job and even moved from the state. Someone could watch you leave and enter your house or watch you leave and follow you in.
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