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

[Anonymous]

In my middle age, I've become even more sensitive to cold - to the point of regularly wearing a hat while lounging at home - I've long conceded in the thermostat war with DW.

I run a lot and the winter months are especially hard on bald men (at least they are on me). I mostly run at a nearby park where there are other runners/walkers, but some areas of the park are pretty isolated. A friend recommended I wear a balaclava to help retain my body's heat.

I like the idea, but I am sensitive to the sometimes nefarious use of balaclavas. I don't recall seeing other runners wearing them (but I can't say I've paid attention to it, either) and I would hate to scare people away from enjoying the park. Would someone wearing a balaclava on a trail bother you, or am I overthinking this?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

What are you holding while you run, a machete? a butcher's cleaver?

No? Then you wouldn't bother me.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I would probably be frightened if I encountered a man in a balaclava, especially if I were alone. Race wouldn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

It depends on how cold it is. If it's not too cold (but obviously cold for you) then sorry, but yes, I'd be scared (regardless of your race - anyone wearing one would scare me). If it's freezing outside where it seems normal to cover up so much then no, I wouldn't be scared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my middle age, I've become even more sensitive to cold - to the point of regularly wearing a hat while lounging at home - I've long conceded in the thermostat war with DW.

I run a lot and the winter months are especially hard on bald men (at least they are on me). I mostly run at a nearby park where there are other runners/walkers, but some areas of the park are pretty isolated. A friend recommended I wear a balaclava to help retain my body's heat.

I like the idea, but I am sensitive to the sometimes nefarious use of balaclavas. I don't recall seeing other runners wearing them (but I can't say I've paid attention to it, either) and I would hate to scare people away from enjoying the park. Would someone wearing a balaclava on a trail bother you, or am I overthinking this?

Thanks!

If snow = null or temp >32 and <50 degrees and person is wearing a balaclava, then proceed with caution
If snow = null or temp >50 degrees and person is wearing a balaclava, then runaway
If snow = yes or temp <32 degrees and a person is wearing a balaclava, then relax

[Anonymous]

I would be nervous encountering any person in a balaclava in a park, especially a man. I don't think your race would be a factor though who knows how much racism a person has internalized without realizing it.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

Yeah, like the ski mask kind that bank robbers wear in the movies? I wouldn't recommend that kind to anybody. It looks scary.

[Anonymous]

Idea: how about just a hat?

[Anonymous]

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.

PP meant to clarify baklava+running gear ok; baklava+street clothes+running maybe not ok

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

PP meant to clarify baklava+running gear ok; baklava+street clothes+running maybe not ok

It might be hard to eat baklava in a balaclava

[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.

Oh, and I regularly wear a balaclava when running if it's below 35-40, otherwise my ears get very cold.