Runner's World and Start to Finish

[beetroot face]

........when running 1. as a woman, 2. in parks, 3. early in the morning, or late at night?

Coming from the UK, I would never feel particularly safe doing numbers 2 & 3 together, although I've never experinced anything bad.
I always 'keep a little bit back', just in case I need to get out of an awkward situation, but nevertheless......

I work really close to Kings Park, and would probably be awake enough to contemplate running by the time I've arrived at work, while its still cool. Not sure if I'd feel comfortable at such an early hour though.

I just wondered how other women felt about the safety issue.

[deege]

I try to be sensible with the parks thing. A lot of the established running tracks (tan track, princes park) actually have a heap of traffic in the evenings or early morning so I would probably feel safer there.

When I run in the evenings I run the local streets around our area and stick to the main lighted streets. That is partly because I am not willing to carry a mobile phone or other safety enhancers and don't mind running the same courses over and over. On the weekends I run on trails and other places that I wouldn't feel comfortable running alone at night.
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[Beki]

Luckily for me I always have someone to run with but also coming from the UK I think I get a little blase about safety at times (just for some reason I always feel safer here)

Interestingly enough I feel slightly less safe here than I did in Melbourne and a while back when I went out running by myself down to the water front in Rose Bay (it's soooo quiet and peaceful there after dark) I got into lots of trouble (apparently it's not overly safe there)

[kathrynoh]

I used to be a bit paranoid about running after dark then I realised I feel perfect safe walking around the same areas at night so why should running be any different.

There are some areas I won't run at night. I live near the Merri Creek but only run along the creek trail during daylight.

Maybe you should try running the park with a friend the first time to see how you feel, what the lighting is like etc.

I remember going over to Albert Park one night for a run, thinking because it's a popular track it wouldn't be so bad to run at night. I didn't realise there is NO lighting in parts of it. I didn't worry so much about being attacked as slamming into a runner coming from the other direction!

[running sweetlee]

Kathryn, do you listen to your iPod when running the MC trail? I want to start running along there but I still want to listen to my music Lee
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If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.

[Sharon]

I am always nervous running at night because I have my music on. I am also a little apprehensive about running in secluded areas but I still do it if I have too....I just run that little bit faster on nervous energy.

I carry a personal alarm and that makes me feel safer.

When I run early in the mornings I stick to the main roads until the sun comes up enough for me to feel safer running in quieter areas and I look around me a lot if it's dark.

I also avoid areas where club goers are just finishing off and waiting for the buses home early in the morning.

[Em]

No music when running early in the AM.

When I run in the morning I generally get started around 530 but stick to the streets so there are lights, I feel safe in my area.

Though I was stupid enough to run in the botanical gardens in Sydney at dusk and was absolutely terrified, will never to that again.

Made for some good speedwork though.

I guess it is how well you know your area and running within your own comfort zone.
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Me Me Me Me Me Me

"There is a crack, a crack in everything. It's how the light gets in." ~ Leonard Cohen

[MadAboutRunning]

Naturally I can't comment on your area or what would be safe for you, but heres my rule of thumb:

As I usually run rather early in the mornings, this means I am running in varying degrees of darkness for about half the year. Also, I always run alone. Personally I think early in the morning is safer than late at night. Hopefully the weirdos don't get up that early - or so I like to think! When it is dark I stick to main, well-lit roads and never wear music, even tho I think my area is fairly safe - you can't be too careful. I would avoid parks and the like for sure - keep to where there are vehicles passing frequently. I save the music and country roads or off-road stuff for daylight runs - fortunately that is most of the time right now! Of course there are certain areas of the city that I would never run in - more for fear of being hassled, dogs on the loose, not being familiar, getting lost, etc, more so than coming to serious harm. But you can't be too careful, esp in secluded areas. I remain alert and look around a lot when I do run in the dark or isolation. Altho it can seem strange and scary to run in the dark at first, you do get used to it and it becomes quite normal. Remember to wear something reflectorised if you are out on the roads tho. I also got a panic alarm once, but it was rather pathetic and I never take it now.

Hope some of this helps you out. MAR.
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[Sharon]

According to either The Runners World complete book of running, beginners running or women's running (can't remember which one) most attacks occur in early morning and women with long hair are easier picking as a plait or pony tail is something easy to grab hold of

[kathrynoh]

Lee, I usually take my ipod. I never worry too much about running along the MC during the day since there are so many people around.

[DuckGirl]

I'm lucky enough to rarely run alone at night or early morning as I have JK and if not my trusty dog. On the rare occasion I've run by myself, I've done the same as deege and stuck to well lit local streets where I feel I can duck into any house should the need arise. I must admit though I always have my music on and have been frightened once or twice because I haven't heard someone come up behind me. If alone I also carry my car keys in my hand to use as a weapon if I need to - especially when I run through one particular park during broad daylight, even though it is largely populated by gay men it still creeps me out, but its such a nice place to run through.
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[Pommierunner]

This came up before when women were getting attacked in Brisbane (i think) and apparentley still are....
But, I have become a bit complacent perhaps, as I used to take more precautions than I do now. Like DuckGirl, one trick was to run with keys poking through my fingers, just incase. I suppose I feel safe now I've been running a couple of years.
I run on main roads and even in the early mornings there seems to be alot of cars around. There is one little bit of a route I used to take which is off the beaten track, so I just took my headphones out and stayed extremely aware of anyone else around - which there never was.
It seems my body is not capable of running at night/evenings, so never an issue with saftey.
Stay Alert Girls (and guys)

[Pilbara K]

I think it is all about how you feel. If you feel uncomfortable running in a certain area or at a certain time, then don't do it! It is definitely a personal choice.

For my part, I'm a fairly confident lass and I am comfortable in the knowledge that I can look after myself in a scuffle. I know martial arts and pressure points and I know that you do not need to be fit or strong to defend yourself. You've just got to know where to poke! (Although fitness and strength does help....)

Having said that, my main concern when running alone is that I will fall over and break my leg. So I always let hubby know when I leave and what time I expect to be back. I tell him the route I will be taking. Hubby knows that if I am overdue to start following my route backwards. I also make a mental note of "help points" - public phones, service station, friend's houses. But the theory works the same if I was attacked or something too. I know that hubby will eventually come looking for me and I know that I could get help too. Even if I was attacked, I know I would go down fighting!! No victim status here thank you very much!!!
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[Mich]

[Jaykay]

[kathrynoh]

Mich, at this time of year I'm more worried about snakes than anything else

Pilbara - i'd be kicking and screaming too. How dare some attacker think they can interrupt MY run!

[running sweetlee]

I have to say I always feel safe the places and times I run. There are always tons of runners/walkers around .

I am yet to run the Merri Creek trail but I am going to do it! I won't be beaten but Kathryn, did you have to mention snakes ?
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If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.

['Potamus]

I generally feel safe where I run - a busy park and a busier coastal path. I always let my hubs know where I am going and what time to expect me back, and thankfully I've never felt wary of heading out. One thing I don't do is wear music, I just don't feel secure if I can't hear exactly what's going on around me. But that's all down to personal preference I guess

In the winter it's the usual precautions - like MAR I wear something higly reflective, aside from that as a general rule I avoid places I know are isolated or not well lit.

[hobbles]

I am really wary of running alone. A shame as there are some great runs to do near us. However, I had a bad experiance in my youth, which luckily ended okay. But it freaked me out that one minute there were people everywhere and next thing, just one creep wanting to show me the contents of his trousers. Back in those days I could outrun a bloke with his trousers round his ankles; actually thinking back to the pathetic picture he made, I could still!!
So I tend to stick to the busier routes, no music and preferably with a friend.

[Leizel]

As a female who was brought up in a large city I bever run alone in the dark. That was something instilled in me from a very young age.

When running alone, which is the majority of the time, I try to stick to the main roads. If I am running off the roads I let my husband know exactly where I'm running and what time I'll be back, so he doesn't worry about me.

When going on a long run on the local tracks I always run with a partner.
It's the safest option.
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[runningaway]

I am out and about in empty parks early in the morning- I never listen to my headphones if it is dark and I take my mobile.
A while back I was around the Tan a woman approached me in the early morning and said she was busting for the toilet but was too frightened to go by herself so I had to escort her to the toilets and wait outside until she was finished- the poor thing was obviously so embarassed- and I just thought she wanted to lead me away from the track and steal my ipod!

[MadAboutRunning]

[Em]

That's probably why I never get bothered first thing, with my hair under my hat and a crop top squishing me flat under my singlet most people probably think I am a boy anyway
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Me Me Me Me Me Me

"There is a crack, a crack in everything. It's how the light gets in." ~ Leonard Cohen

[shortlegs]

like most, i feel safe in my area. but i make it a point not to listen to music if i know that i'm gonna return after the sun sets in the evening.
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"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." - Mahatma Gandhi

[RobynD]

Being just over 6' tall I dont generally feel unsafe, yet friends wont run the tracks I do in the day time unless they have a dog with them. Not sure whether she is overly paranoid or I am just feeling invinsible....I do work on the theory of "God help any poor b***** who takes me on. He wont be a happy lad". There is one track I wont run too late into the evening because I know that the cops wont even run it after 8 and its a beautiful run too. The very picturesque waterfalls that are at the end of track was profiled in Runners World a while back so areal shame that I cant runit more often. I never manage to see anyone when out and about anyway, so having someone to hasle me would be light relief Because of the heat my runs are getting later so I may come across more bods. It would be nice to chase legs down the road....
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