Women runners, do you run with a weapon?

[Anonymous]

When you run by yourself, do you bring a weapon with you? Knife, mace, pepper spray, hand-held spikes,? All the time? Does it make you feel safer, have you ever needed to use it? If you don't run armed, have you ever been spooked or wish you did?

[Anonymous]

I do not. There have been 2 sketchy/dangerous incidents in my 8 or so years of running. Both were on fairly popular trails in broad daylight.

I think it's far better to have a good sense of your surroundings, have a good intuition and be able to pick up on behavioral aspects of assholes.

I have carried pepper spray for off leash/retractable "leash" dogs though, which is the more likely risk.

[Anonymous]

No. I only run in well trafficked areas, though. I would never run on an isolated trail on a weekday by myself.

[Anonymous]

My morning breath keeps me well protected...never brush your teeth before leaving the house!

Seriously, no. But, I do not wear headphones/listen to music when I run. I also tend to run in the middle of the street and I like to look at houses so while I run in Rock Creek some not a ton.

One factor in my favor is that I am a morning runner. I have also had this theory that the muggers/rapists aren't out at 6 am, when it's pouring rain or super cold.

But, I pay attention to my surroundings and the people around me. If someone looks out of place, I go the other way, give them a wide berth, etc. I don't worry about seeming rude or strange. And no - this isn't race/class - mainly it's why is that guy wearing jeans and uncomfortable shoes in the middle of the park? It's late at night and there's a male of any type on one side of the street but none on the other. Cross the street. I lived in Dupont in the early 90s when you didn't cross 16th street and I was the only person I knew that didn't get mugged. Be aware. Be prickly. Be safe. But, get out there and run!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I only run in well trafficked areas, though. I would never run on an isolated trail on a weekday by myself.

+1
I am the weapon. I stay aware of my surroundings (no airpods) and let my family track me on a running app

[Anonymous]

I have mace I will run with on occasion. I actually bought it more for dogs than anything. I had an incident where a big dog came running up to me barking and it freaked me out. Wish I had had mace to spray it.

I also never wear air pods when I run outside.

[Anonymous]

No because I run in the morning in well populated areas.

The one or two times in my life I've encountered someone acting a little sketchy, I just took off sprinting because I knew if nothing else there's no way they'd catch me.

[Anonymous]

Is pepper spray effective against dogs?

Just returned from Costco and saw a multipack (of course) but didn't buy...no mention on package about dog defense.

Awful to admit, but I used to take a heavy shovel with me on stroller walks to our suburban neighborhood's school bus stop.Crazy neighbors had a Rottweiler behind an electric fence in their front yard.


-newer runner

[Anonymous]

No, and I run the horse trails in Rock Creek Park. Have for 25 years.

[Anonymous]

As long as you aren’t having an affair with a congressman you are fine

[Anonymous]

No but I also run in well populated areas during the day etc. I do listen to music but don't zone out and remain very observant of what's moving around me

[Anonymous]

No. I run on very well-used trails and often with my dog, who is completely non-aggressive and probably wouldn’t fight an attacker, but would bark a lot and probably jump on us.

It’s pretty rare I’m alone on a trail for more than a minute or so. When I do run in the dark, I stick to trails that run along busy streets.

I did take mace when I ran in Georgia. Much more isolated trails, and occasionally there were small packs of wild dogs. One of my trails used to have alligator warnings too, though I never saw one. Doubt my mace would’ve saved me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you run by yourself, do you bring a weapon with you? Knife, mace, pepper spray, hand-held spikes,? All the time? Does it make you feel safer, have you ever needed to use it? If you don't run armed, have you ever been spooked or wish you did?

A knife? Wtf

[Anonymous]

No, but ive considered it. I don't run on isolated trails alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My morning breath keeps me well protected...never brush your teeth before leaving the house!

Seriously, no. But, I do not wear headphones/listen to music when I run. I also tend to run in the middle of the street and I like to look at houses so while I run in Rock Creek some not a ton.

One factor in my favor is that I am a morning runner. I have also had this theory that the muggers/rapists aren't out at 6 am, when it's pouring rain or super cold.

But, I pay attention to my surroundings and the people around me. If someone looks out of place, I go the other way, give them a wide berth, etc. I don't worry about seeming rude or strange. And no - this isn't race/class - mainly it's why is that guy wearing jeans and uncomfortable shoes in the middle of the park? It's late at night and there's a male of any type on one side of the street but none on the other. Cross the street. I lived in Dupont in the early 90s when you didn't cross 16th street and I was the only person I knew that didn't get mugged. Be aware. Be prickly. Be safe. But, get out there and run!

Lots of mental gymnastics there.