Comments on: Tips on Running Safety For Women

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 02:38:17 +0000

In reply to Darcy. Amen Darcy! If more women would learn to shoot and carry as you do, the crime stats against women would go down to about 0%. And that is what we are talking about-most of all rapists and serial killers are men. That is just a fact, and women are their targets. Good for you that you are a woman that really cares about herself enough to be prepared, and not paranoid or afraid! :)

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 23:30:35 +0000

I also think a vague knowledge in self defense (more the confidence to protect yourself) plays a part. Whether this be in the form of pepper spray or other weapon to carry or a couple of classes in eye gouging (and the eyes-nose-throat-groin-foot combo) and running away fast, it will make one less likely to look like a target, and that in turn, makes one less likely to be a target.

By: Darcy

Darcy — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 15:43:28 +0000

I am frustrated with the advice I hear over and over: be aware, make eye contact, blah blah blah. If you are running alone in a remote area and someone wants to do you harm making eye contact isn’t going to help you one bit. We (both sexes) should be prepared to defend ourselves from human and the 4-legged antagonists. When I run alone I carry pepper spray for the occasional farm dog that decides to charge me, and a small .38 for the more frightening but thankfully less common human element. I carry legally, I’m a good shot, and I’m not some wacko gun-rights activist. I’m just a girl who loves to run and prefers to not get stuffed into the trunk of a car to spend the rest of my days in some pervert’s basement.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:39:22 +0000

In reply to Matt. Matt,dude you're the man! And Lani, you're the woman! Agreed. :)

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:50:23 +0000

I think we can differentiate between theory, where no woman should every have to bear the onus of her victimhood should she “fail” to follow certain advice required because men are rape-y (i.e. by saying make sure you do this and do that in order to avoid victimhood, you tacitly, if accidentally, imply that their victimhood could be their fault since they now have this handy list), and what is useful on the ground, where attackers of women (and men) aren’t all equal consumers of articles on sexual politics and the problems with being rape-y. In other words, while, yes, from the top down (intellectually) we need to change the way we think about and respond to victimhood in a way that absolves any victim of any responsibility for her (or his) victimhood, from the bottom up we ought not outright ignore the possible efficacy of methods for avoiding being victimized, since the cooperation of perpetrators with our paradigm shift isn’t at all automatic. Or maybe I actually don’t know anything, since I’m a white male who’s never once been made uncomfortable in all of the thousands of miles I’ve run.

By: Dano

Dano — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 01:54:02 +0000

I’m surprised on hearing only a small comment about pepper spray. I run with one attached to the inside of my shorts with no complaints of it bouncing around or being a neusance. Doesn’t having an offense like this seem logically the quickest way to defend a solo runner (quicker than unlocking a smartphone a dialing a contact, all while potentially struggling)? I don’t mean to be graphic; I just want to encourage runners carrying pepper spray.

By: emmbee

emmbee — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 23:08:13 +0000

In reply to Lani. I avoid running in the dark, but it has little to do with fear of being attacked, and everything to do with fear of falling on my face, which I've managed to do in the past in broad daylight! I'd hate to have to limp home in the dark.

By: Peter Larson

Peter Larson — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:57:16 +0000

In reply to Lani. To be fair to Austin, he did address this in point #3.

By: Lani

Lani — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:56:01 +0000

In reply to emmbee.

Agreed. Unless it’s part of a group run, I almost always run alone. But I avoid running in the dark, on dimly lit streets. I make eye contact with everyone that passes me, both so they remember ME (“I saw her run past me back at that intersection”) and so I remember THEM. I also always–without fail–wave at any cops in police cars.

By: Lani

Lani — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 20:53:05 +0000

Why is it a list like this doesn’t include the single most important piece of advice to women–or ANY runner–DON’T WEAR EARBUDS WHILE RUNNING. It’s fine if you’re on the treadmill (bop away to your energetic tunes) but when you’re running outdoors, be it sidewalk or trail, leave the earbuds at home. You want to be able to hear everything, not just in the background. How many times do I yell, “Passing on your left” from 10 yards back, 5 yards back, then as I’m passing–and the person has NO CLUE I’m there because they’re focused on their music or radio. Many of them are startled when I run past. If I’m a person with evil intent, it would be very easy to jump on someone from behind if they can’t sense that I’m there. That’s why I never wear my earbuds when I run outside. Never. I enjoy the sounds of the outdoors and the environment… and I want to be able to hear strangers walking, leaves rustling, dogs barking in the background, etc. and be AWARE of my surroundings.

By: emmbee

emmbee — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 19:30:55 +0000

I have some thoughts on this over at my little blog, but this is a tough problem to address. On the one hand, it’s pretty clear that there are creeps, and that women should be aware of the dangers that such creeps pose (even if they are relatively rare.) On the other hand, it’s not at all practical for me (and others, I suspect) to run only if I have a running partner, or to adopt a dog to train to run with, or to run only at certain times of day, or to live near beautiful mountain trails and never go on them, etc. So it ends up being advice that while clearly well-intentioned (and to be clear, I mean nothing against Austin here!), sends a message: stay indoors.

I wish I knew of an easy fix.

By: Peter Larson

Peter Larson — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 17:51:57 +0000

In reply to Naomi.

Naomi,

Your point is well taken. Austin approached me about writing this due to an awful incident that happened near where he lives. He felt it was important, and it was as you said written from the heart.

It’s a difficult subject to address because there are very real safety concerns (for both men and women). There are places that I won’t run at certain times of the day, and I wish it weren’t that way, but perhaps the gist of the article should have been more safety in general since this can apply to all runners. Thank you sharing for your perspective.

Pete