Running safety

I watch too much true crime, and it's easy to think, "that happens to someone else."

But since I live in NYC, I know that terrible things do happen to people like me. Everyday, multiple times a day, 365 days a year.

When I heard about what happened to Eliza Fletcher (RIP), I was terrified. I was not a runner then, but being a mom myself, it was just horrible. Here's a woman, just out for a run, and what happens? She gets kidnapped and murdered.

(Even now, my husband is worried when I go out for a run. He doesn't tell me, but I can see it — "Be careful" he tells me, and I can see worry in his eyes.)

This is not how it should be. It's not right. But the reality is, it happens all the time.

And not just to women.

Men and women runners are hurt everyday. Not just by people, but by animals and sometimes vehicles, too.

So what do I do to keep myself as safe as possible?

Since I don't run in the early mornings or late evenings, I don't have any recommendations for those (i.e., reflective clothing and shoes).  Here are the things I do and have to minimize attacks:

Disclaimer: I'm not an expert. These are the things that work for me and my situation. Please plan out your safety strategy and equipment according to your situation and environment.

1. I stay close to the sidewalk — I'm lucky that I live in a place where sidewalks are wide enough and that there's little foot traffic to begin with. I stay far away from the road.
2. No headphones — As much as I want to listen to some music, audiobook, or podcast, I refuse to wear any headphones. Even those off-ear earphones are a no-no. Keep distractions to a minimum and stay aware of your surroundings.
3. Bring defensive gear — I carry some defensive gear with me such as a Pepper spray (New York compliant). I also discovered this company Go Guarded and just ordered a bunch of additional protective gear. They have rings, stun guns, and alarms. Short of carrying a firearm, this is the best I can do.
4. Look people in the eye (or not) — Depending on where you live, looking people in the eye are either an invitation or an "I see you so don't even try." In NYC, eye contact is usually an invitation, so even though I see someone, I don't initiate eye contact. But if people greet me, I greet them back (minimal courtesy). That's as far as I go.
5. Mental prep — Now this might sound pessimistic, but I see it as a mental prep. I tell myself, "You might get attacked today, and if you do, fight back and no mercy. Coz they won't have any for you. Go all out."

I tell myself, "You might get attacked today, and if you do, fight back and no mercy. Coz they won't have any for you. Go all out."

In a perfect world (or if you own a large property, which is kind of the same thing haha), you can run without a care in the world.

You can go with headphones on, no reflective gear, at any time of day. No fear of feral animals, weirdo people, or rogue vehicles coming at you.

But it's not a perfect world. Vehicular accidents (or neglect) happens, evil people roam the earth, and animals go crazy sometimes.

I've learned a lot in my short time as a runner. More than that, I feel like all you fellow runners out there are family, and I don't want any of my family hurt. So stay safe out there, and I hope to see you run and race for as long you want.