I'm a bald black guy who runs. Would this scare you?

[Anonymous]

No one is going to admit that race makes a difference to them, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is going to admit that race makes a difference to them, OP.

If someone is wearing long sleeves, long pants, gloves, and a balaclava it's difficult to tell what their ethnicity is from any distance at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the style. If you wear one that covers your face and leaves openings for just your eyes, yeah, that would set me on high alert (but not because you're black, I'd feel the same way about a white man wearing one). If you wear one with a complete open face, I wouldn't think twice about it.

+1

Honestly, almost every woman is on at least "medium alert" when running solo and they encounter an unidentified man. After time, you might be someone people recognize as "balaclava man" but if it's not a dude I regularly see on the trail during my runs, I will always be a little nervous and guarded. And if people can't see your face, they can't recognize you as the familiar guy they see running every Friday morning.

It genuinely has nothing to do with you being black - and everything to do with you being a man. Because the fact remains is that while 99% of men aren't going to attack a woman running, the person who does, will be male, and not female. So we're going to be cautious about strange dudes. And many of us have known someone who was assaulted.

This. Every single man I encounter on a running trail while alone makes me nervous. If you are wearing running clothes and obviously exercising, you wouldn’t concern me more than any other guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you dress on running gear? If anyone running up behind me looked like they were exercising, I'd be more relaxed but someone was wearing regular street clothes jogged up behind me, I'd panic a bit. I'm an assault survivor and I have no qualms about crossing the street or whatever if my fight or flight kicks in.

I'm a guy who runs so not your target audience, but that's my reaction too. For a quick look, if I see someone wearing a florescent yellow or orange shirt, I figure they are far less likely to be a threat, because that's not going to help sneak up on someone or escape from the police. I also tend to wear bright clothes like that just to be visible to cars, so it's a win-win.

This. Get one of those vests that are neon yellow or orange reflective so it is obvious you are a runner (and are trying to alert people to your presence rather than trying to conceal your identity) and that will alleviate any fear that might be associated with one of those "robber face masks" LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any man, large, small, light, dark, whatEVER would scare the crap out of me wearing a balaclava. But more than that, I would think you'd be terrified to be a black man running in one — cops will be after you in a heartbeat. It's illegal:
https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/sections/22-3312.03.html

Holy crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any man, large, small, light, dark, whatEVER would scare the crap out of me wearing a balaclava. But more than that, I would think you'd be terrified to be a black man running in one — cops will be after you in a heartbeat. It's illegal:
https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/sections/22-3312.03.html

Holy crap.

Did you read the second part of that law? It’s only illegal if you do it while breaking the law or with the intent to harass or intimidate someone. It’s clearly meant to apply to robbers and Klansman.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry you have to ask this. Wear whatever you need to wear to be warm and comfortable and to enjoy your run. I'm a fellow runner - we've probably passed each other - and a petite white woman. When I pass someone of your description I don't give a thought beyond happiness at seeing a fellow runner.

[Anonymous]

Dear OP:

Today you absolutely may wear a balaclava. I'll be out there soon with barely my eyes exposed. We normally don't get seriously cold weather, but today's weather warrants such garments.

In "feels like -2" temps, we're all bundled up so much that you can't tell anyone's gender, sex, race, or any other physical characteristic. We're just fabric.

[Anonymous]

I grew up near Canada and always wore one when I was out shoveling in extreme temperatures. I have one now and bought them for my kids, but they are older now and only wear them when we go back to visit the relatives up north. I wouldn’t think anything of seeing someone wearing this in the winter.

[Anonymous]

No!