There have been a couple attacks on the trail where we run lately- in broad daylight no less! That's why we run together and carry pepper spray. You can get it at the running store, but all the local ones are sold out since the attack last week. We run with a carrying strap around our hand, and our finger is on the trigger while we run.
Danna and I have actually made very detailed plans in case anyone actually attacks it. We even have secret code words. I can't share them on this blog, because, what if the perpetrator reads them and knows when we're spraying the pepper spray, etc.? When you have 10+ miles to run, you have time for careful attention to detail, you know. We actually HOPE some pervert tries to attack us. He'll be soooo sorry. And he won't be getting away either. Or ever...(*ahem)...having any future...relationships.
We have also discussed other techniques, such as making eye contact and looking back over our shoulder at people who pass us, and studying what they're wearing. We've practiced knowing how to describe our exact location to cops. We run with a cell phone. Today Danna even taught me bathroom safety tips (a co-worker was once attacked in the bathroom). They include checking around the corner of the bathroom for lurkers, and then pushing the stall completely open and checking again for a person. And locking yourself in their if possible.
Our other safety issues are dogs. Sheesh people, leash your dogs please!! And PS: don't let our dog over into the on-coming lane where runners are approaching. You surely think we are hoping to get sniffed, and hoping for a chance to pet your cute dog and compliment you. Shockingly, we are hoping to run and avoid getting tripped, bitten, or slimed. Or step in poo for that matter.
Okay, runners. Especially you ladies. Be safe out there! And if someone looks suspicious, I like to have Murray Dispatch in my phone list: 840-4000. :)
XOXO
~K
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15 comments:
You guys are so smart to do this. I find I get increasingly complacent and that's just stupid! Good going.
Generally running with a buddy is the safest thing to do. The bad guy cannot get two people at a time, and so he leaves an eye witness. If you must run alone the safest time to run is in the early morning hours {oddly enough, perps don't want to be out before 7:00am}. Also, don't have a scheduled routine of routes. For example, don't run XX Trail every Monday evening at 7:00pm. Have no regular location/time you run. {Given, if you have to run at the same time, consistently change where you run}. And obviously open spaces with people are safer {even though those darn trails are so much more fun!}
Cute layout, Kristin! :)
Aaah! Scary. I'm freaked out about weirdos now, ha ha!
Good work, girls. I have what I call a "healthy sense of paranoia" ever since I took my self-defense classes. The eye contact thing is huge. If you turn and face them and loudly address them with confidence (like "I'm not comfortable with you behind me. Why don't you go ahead?"), it'll scare off many men--even perps who were going to try something have been scared off by this. I love you all! (Really, I love Kristin, and I like the rest of you. Sorry.)
Also, I laughed at that dog stuff. Funny. It's so true! We don't want to pet your dog! We're usually just doing that to distract it from our crotch! or from licking our shins.
Thanks to our talks on safety while running, I was extra cautious while out walking/jogging slowly this week. I saw three people ahead of me, two of them men in hoodies, so I changed my route, just in case. I'd be safer if I went with the two of you. You only want to run 2 miles in 30 minutes, right?
Thanks Heg. Suz- we would run slower than that jsut to be with you!
Suzy- We'll get up at 5 and run one mile with you in 45 min for heavens sake!
Baa ha ha ha!
I like the way you girls think.
That's the way I like to live too.
(As in, ready to permanently emasculate a predator at any given moment.)
What can I say, I wanna be "that girl" on Oprah bragging about how she totally schooled some evil dude on the trail.
Good on ya, girls. Well done indeed.
Kristin! Haha!! I love you, thanks for visiting my blog today:) Good luck on the giveaway!! And thanks for the tip on pepper spray, I need me some of that, I was attacked by a dog while running a few months back and it has shaken me up ever since...
Hey good luck to both of you on the upcoming marathon. Enjoy Las Vegas. Hope all goes well and you have a good time. Hang in there.
Love,
Mom\Nyla
Ladies!! What is going on with this blog!?!? Where is your marathon report (you said you were running the LV, didn't you? I ran it too!! The half!)? Please post!!!!! We beginning runners love to read it!!!
interesting post...
Hey! why dont you put links to your blog on your wall anymore?? or send me e-mails when you update it?? im pretty upset about this!
Just found you! Great blog!! Keep up the great work!!
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