If you’re not a moron, you don’t go running through horrifically unsafe areas after dark and in areas that are not well lit. If you’re worried about rapists and criminals, it’s probably a good idea to run at times and in places those people don’t tend to hang out.
Featured Image VIA
Even when taking these measures though, most women are terrified of being attacked every time they go jogging and that’s why they take weapons with them every time. That’s according to this Tweet that went viral the other day:
One of my mom groups has a thread that is just women listing and recommending which kind of protection they take when them when they go out running (Ie. pepper spray, alarm necklaces, whistles, etc) in case you wondered what being a woman is like
— Amanda Deibert ️ (@amandadeibert) May 29, 2019
Here are the responses it got – pretty illuminating:
Also, women: what do you use when you go out running?
— Amanda Deibert ️ (@amandadeibert) May 29, 2019
I only go out running with my dogs. Barney is intimidating and I seriously wouldn’t go without him. No way – too vulnerable by myself. Sad but true ♀️ pic.twitter.com/6AWFjEShMu
— Elizabeth (@SoulStirs) May 29, 2019
Same! Pit bulls are the best & the one time the breed rep really comes in handy. pic.twitter.com/y0uw3GPcOr
— autmn (@wrapture_) May 29, 2019
This is why my dog is my constant walking companion. He’s a 90 lb Belgian Shepherd and he does not fuck around when we’re out. At home… Well, he’s a marshmallow. pic.twitter.com/HNu0yY47zU
— Joy Blake (@joybblake) May 30, 2019
Seems dogs are a popular choice. If some creep is stupid enough to attack you while you’re running with the family pit bull, it probably won’t end too well for them.
Plenty of other options if you don’t have a dog though:
I have one of these. Also a small knife (that I know how to use- I don’t recommend carrying a weapon you haven’t learned how to use properly) in a sheath that fits easily INSIDE the waistband of my leggings so it’s not super noticeable/grab-able by anyone but me. pic.twitter.com/EpyVYansW8
— tay (@taylorcaren_) May 31, 2019
I love to run but I rarely ever do it outside. If I do, I wear a jacket with a pocket so I can easily whip this out pic.twitter.com/yrlffoNJT0
— Bettina Cecilia (@bcdgonzalez) May 30, 2019
I prefer my elbow tho…I carry this on the trail pic.twitter.com/henMI2vIGw
— julie biggs (@raselrae) May 31, 2019
My ex’s mom used to carry a body spray in one hand and a lighter in the other. I loved that she would just blow torch their ass if they came anywhere near her!
— Leanne Happy (@Leelabelle) May 30, 2019
A basketball sock full of rocks, sharp ones, I call Roxy.
— Chingona (@LadyBlogga) May 30, 2019
I don’t identify as a woman now, but I was AFAB and still present feminine. I always AT LEAST carry pepper spray, and a pocket knife.
— (@gidgetmyllari) May 30, 2019
A .380 Glock 42
Carrying can save your life!!#2A pic.twitter.com/59OQPIJ8Tj— CajunAsian (@RiflemansCreed) May 30, 2019
Klarus XT12-XML2-DGREY-A. I like this because I can take it into bars and no one recognizes it as a weapon. There is an emergency tab on the pommel that activates a strobe. The metal rim around the light is for bashing. Some flashlights are more stabby. pic.twitter.com/SlsZLzBp4y
— AaronOfGreenGables (@AaronGables) May 29, 2019
Canadian. bear spray and a whistle.
— Roberta (@RobertaSchell) May 30, 2019
I hold my keys in my first with the car key poking our to act as a weapon. I live in a leafy town in North London, UK and we have the same fears
— Is-It-Friday-Yet? (@Hogflog) May 29, 2019
I usually jog with this tucked in the hidden pocket of my running shorts, it has a nice clip I also keep it on me at my job cuz we’re an all female store and usually we close alone. pic.twitter.com/ARlhvCqV0t
— werechef (@therealneyzilla) May 29, 2019
Sharpest little ring knife with ridges to grab DNA 🤗🤗 pic.twitter.com/10CgRIeA0t
— Hayley Jay (@Hayjen9) May 30, 2019
Guns! Knives! Basketball socks stuffed with sharp rocks! These women are not messing about. Honestly it must suck going for a run strapped with a weapon and not even being able to listen to music because you’re worried some perv is going to attack you out of nowhere. But then some women have been conditioned to be on constant alert for their safety, and who can blame them with some of the nut jobs we’ve got running around.
Not sure I fully agree with the original Tweet’s “in case you wondered what being a woman is like”, but I guess that’s the bait she needed to add to make the Tweet go viral.
BTW, you also got people like this responding:
i’ve said this before but i will say it again. when i am out running i intentionally run out into the street to give space to women on the sidewalk. i don’t view myself as scary or threatening but that is irrelevant to how many women feel out there.
— Dupenstein (@Dupe1970) May 29, 2019
I think about this a lot when I run (very early mornings when it’s dark) and encounter solo female runners, particularly if I find myself behind the other runner. I always change route or cross the road to remove the sense of threat that I know my presence creates.
— Shane Greer (@shanegreer) May 29, 2019
Bet they’d both be happy to get run over for the cause and all.
For the female marathon runner who was told her ‘revealing’ outfit was the reason ‘why joggers get raped’, click HERE. Bang out of order.