Being safe as a woman jogger

[Zander]

...it's easy to forget that the majority of the people around you are just normal folks.

Not around me. I know a lot of gamers. They're not normal.

Seriously though, get a personal alarm. These are two-part devices which, when separated, emit an ear-piercing siren. You can attach the noise-making part to your belt and the 'key' to a cord looped around your wrist. Then jog as you always do. If you feel threatened or if you're attacked, all you need to do is pull your arm away from your waist and everyone within a quarter mile will have your instant attention. No mugger or rapist is going to hang around with the world looking on.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

3- Do not think because you took a self defense course that you know how to fight

And even if you *do* know how to fight, it might not be significant. There are weight classes in boxing and wrestling because size and strength matter tremendously; even relatively small men will probably have a big strength advantage against most women. Your best bet is avoidance/prevention. Then noise. Fighting is your last resort (obviously).

 

[AnonymousOne]

I've always heard that a shotgun is better for deterring people. I was told that just hearing the "cha-chick" of cocking the gun will scare most people off, especially if the gun is being held by a woman, for some reason.

Though I'm not sure how feasible it would be to jog with a shotgun.

Well I'm not a woman, but I did recently purchase a Remington 870 Express 12 gauge Shotgun.

And yes, the ratcheting of a shotgun action will normally make people freeze in place, unless they're high on PCP, in which case a load of 00 buckshot usually does nicely.

 

[Jubilee]

If you can't get a friend to jog with you, how about a big dog?

I am of the opinion that to be truly safe, you shouldn't be listening to audio books or music. Personally, I find I am far less likely to be aware of my surroundings when I have an audio book on than music. I wish I could jog while listening to an audio book, though.

Can you join a gym with a running track?

I think the whistle & keeping your phone in hand so you can call someone up is a good idea. Making sure you have someone expecting you someplace and knowing where you should be also sounds like a smart idea.

/ali