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Running and Jogging Safety
By Robert Vahle If you run or jog outside for cardiovascular fitness, each time you
run, you may be exposing yourself to criminal elements; criminals who
may see a female jogger as easy prey. Even macho men have been attacked
or robbed while jogging alone. Some criminals have figured out that a
jogger may be too winded to put up a fight, thus, easy pickings for robbery
and/or rape.
Here are some tips that will make you a harder target for hecklers,
muggers and rapist:
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This is the one what works best for me. Have a friend or family
member follow behind you in a car. This keeps you from being vulnerable.
If the situation gets ugly hop in the car and leave.
This will also help to keep other cars from hitting you.
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Avoid running/jogging at night.
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Definitely avoid Friday and Saturday nights. There are far too many
drunken young men driving around just looking for trouble.
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If practical, jog in the early morning. Most scumbags, deadbeats,
and slugs, will still be in bed.
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Keep your eyes open for the idiot who thinks only motorist have
the right to the road. This idiot may try to force his/her opinion
using his/her car. Make sure you run/jog facing oncoming traffic.
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Avoid jogging past construction sites. Many of the laborers at construction
sites have criminal histories. I personally know of two incidents
where a woman has been savagely attacked while jogging past an area
of construction.
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The best tip, in my opinion, is to jog with a partner. Better yet
three or more persons jogging together will sway a pathological person
to look elsewhere.
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Carry a flashlight and a cell phone while running. Yes, the extra
weight is awkward, but your safety is more important.
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Jog with a visible daypack or hip pack. I do not advocate carrying
a gun. But there are hip packs shaped for handguns. (Get the idea?)
This may make a potential perpetrator wonder what is in the pack.
I will let the "guns-for-self-defense" gurus write about
this subject.
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When jogging in parks stay in the open areas. Avoid people with
large dogs. Some morons think that they have the right to let their
dogs do whatever while in a park.
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(While jogging) if you see people ahead who look like trouble or
you get a bad feeling, swallow your pride and take a safe detour,
or turn around and retrace your course.
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(While jogging) should someone try to get you to stop, such as asking
for a light (come on - people know joggers don't smoke!). Just make
brief eye contact and keep jogging. Not making eye contact is a gesture
of fear to the criminal mind.
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(While jogging) be aware of hiding places and blind corners.
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The neighborhoods of the lower socioeconomic status seem to have
the most problem dogs. Should a dog run after you, stop. I know this
sounds crazy, but running excites dogs. Stop and slowly turn your
back on the dog; slowly walk away. Hopefully you can walk out of the
dog's roving range. Should the dog attack, hit the ground and go into
the "turtle position". Use a tight fetal position, knees
under your body protecting your chest and belly; your head tucked
down to protect your face; your shoulders scrunched to protect your
neck. Fighting back will only stimulate the dog. Of course if the
dog is an ankle biter, then kick the shit out of it.
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Wearing a radio head set is not a safe practice. You would be drowning
out the sound of someone running behind you, or someone trying to
warn you of impending danger. Remember to always be alert
To reiterate: jog with a friend or two. You may run at a slower pace
but your safety always comes first.
Please e-mail comments to robtvahle@cst.net
Here are some suggestions from Rory
#1 don't wear walkman should be #1 thing not to do it is SOOO easy to
sneak up on you
#2 pepper based dog spay is good for repelling aggressive dogs , is small
& lite to carry ,,of course it is illeagle in most places to spay people
with it (that may not be a consideration when you are being accosted by
some lowlife with a knife )
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