Being safe when we run
If you feel uncomfortable when you run, I get it.
Personally, I have a ton of anxiety when it comes to running alone, and I will even delay heading out on a run because if this.
I’ll either have a little bit of a longer run warmup (in my yard) as I work on managing anxiety, or I might decide to just stay home and run on my treadmill.
It can take me anywhere between 5 minutes to several hours to overcome anxiety about “what if _____ happens on my run.”
During some runs, the anxiety doesn’t go away.
It will particularly occur if I know I will be running somewhere where there are other people.
Examples:
The section of trail where there is a homeless man;
if I’m running past people and I know they are watching me for more than the time it takes for me to pass them;
or if I run past somewhere where I know there has been illegal activity and people get in trouble with police, like the skate park area or two neighbors’ houses.
I run alone a lot, I don’t mind the alone aspect (I’m an introvert), but there are times where I feel uncomfortable due to not feeling safe.
If you’ve met me in-person, you know I’m petite. My size, and the fact that I am a woman (less strong than a man), worries me.
Taking precautions is paramount.
* I am not affiliated with Go Guarded in any way, I am just sharing about their products because I like them, feel more confident when I carry them, and think that you might benefit from this information.
How I practice safety on my solo runs
- My husband or other family member knows where I’m going and for how long I will be gone.
- My husband can check to see where I’m at because we have our cell phones set up that way.
- I wear my hair pulled up, so it can’t be grabbed.
- If I have in headphones, they are on low volume. I can hear my footsteps.
- Keep my head on a swivel.
- If I’m passing someone, I give them space, speed up, and or take a different route.
- I try to not take the same paths when I run, however living in a town that’s really small, it’s tough.
- Carry Go Guarded, either in my hand or in my vest pocket where I can quickly grab it (the pocket is open).
- Know my routes, and I look like I know what I’m doing. Don’t appear lost.
- Make eye contact.
- The police know me.
I could be forgetting something, but this is what I thought of.
Mentally…
- I’m a confident runner. If I feel confident on the inside, it will shine through to the outside.
- I physically appear confident.
- Appear strong; strong run form; not winded or weak.
- Again, I look like I know what I’m doing because I do mentally.
- “I’m strong.” – positive self-talk and mentality.
- I have a safety plan kept up in my brain for a variety of situations.
- I physically appear confident.
Self-defense resources
Chelsea Kyann – Pro Fighter – @chelseakyann – Instagram
Run safety tips from Road Runners of Club of America
Running Safety Tips & Best Personal Safety Products for Runners – From The Mother Runners
How to Stay Safe While Running? | AVOIDING CREEPS AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS – The Run Experience on YouTube
Self-defense tips – Go Guarded website
Items I purchased
Ring
- Ring
- Go Guarded ring is a heavy-duty plastic serrated-edge self-defense weapon that is worn on any finger.
- The Medium size fits ring size 5 to 9, the Large size fits ring size 10-14, and each comes with inserts to adjust the size of the ring.
- When the self-defense ring is used, blade cover will automatically flex out of the way on impact.
- Go Guarded blade is made from a heavy-duty glass-reinforced nylon.
- The outer sheath of the ring is made from a rubber-type material called thermoplastic elastomer.
- Go Guarded rings should be worn on your dominant hand, on whichever of your fingers fits most comfortably. We do not recommend wearing this self-defense ring on the pinky or thumb.
- The Go Guarded ring is available in two different sizes: Medium and Large. The rings each come with a set of inserts that are used to adjust the size of the ring. The medium ring fits ring sizes 5 to 9. The large ring fits ring sizes 10 to 14.
Hand-held with pepper spray
- Hand-held with pepper spray
- Go Guarded HAND-HELD provides double the protection – Pepper spray AND a Go Guarded knife!
- Due to the two features, it is practical for both deterring an attack with the pepper spray, and escaping a hands-on assault with the blade.
- The strap is adjustable via a Velcro enclosure. As such, the Hand-Held unit can be adjusted to fit any size hand, or even over gloves.
- Go Guarded blade is made from a heavy-duty glass-reinforced nylon.
- Due to state restrictions, they are unable to ship pepper spray to NY and MA.
Personal alarm
- Personal alarm
- Super loud 130-decibel personal alarm with LED light.
- Simply pull the pin to activate the alarm, push the pin back in to silence it.
- The alarm has a side button for LED light.
- 2 AAA batteries included.
- Prior to use, be sure to remove the small plastic tab from the side of the alarm to allow it to function.
Go Guarded website
Visit the Go Guarded website for all of the details on the products that I bought and to see their other products.
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