Total Posts: 59
1.6 Years Ago

First, I want to tell you how sad I am that this happened - especially for the woman it happened to, but also for you. I think it is good that you are naming both your anger and your fear. I'm glad you raised it here on our FJ site. What terrible news to wake up to.

The fact that your workout times are variable could actually make you safer.

I think having a dog who presumably barks, even a small one, is also good. Could you have a whistle or some other sound-maker with you?

Beyond that, what I weigh in my own situation is the statistical risks... where I live, our crowded highways are more dangerous than running/walking alone... I try to find a balance between not taking crazy risks [dark alleys at night, in my case] and not letting fear or the possibility of attack prevent me from doing what I want to do. [I've been attacked in my past, so have had a lot to work through around safety questions.]

My words feel inadequate - but I didn't want to not respond for fear of not saying the right thing.

I hope some of the guys will respond, too. For me, men who are kind, and would never hurt me or any other woman [or man], help me cope in ways that other women can't - and other women's experience is invaluable, too, of course.

When I went camping alone in a semi-isolated area for the first time a few weeks ago, I asked the park staff about safety for a woman camping alone. The staff member started to review precautions related to bears - and I said, "Oh, I know bear safety precautions. It is humans I was wondering about, not bears!" I had to struggle before I went with whether I would be safe, what risks made sense and which risks were foolish.

I'll be thinking about you... Heather

Total Posts: 48
1.6 Years Ago

I've never had to use this idea and hope I never will, so I don't know if it would help in a real emergency; sure hope so. I have one of these set-ups in my purse, my bike bag, my gym bag. I make sure they are in a place that is extremely easy to get to and always visible as a reminder to me that they are there.

Total Posts: 2
12.3 Months Ago

I make sure that the paths are lighted and if not I change my route.

Winter time is the scariest for me, for one the footing outside is not as stable should something happen and it gets deep dark so quickly and early that the sense of safety is taken away somewhat.

I've made sure that I have an indoor place to run for those time of years. Not as fun, I know but it helps keep a balance and ensure I don't miss out on an activity that I enjoy.

Projecting the image of someone that is sure and feels secure does tend to have people think twice, and I agree that a dog of any size, as long as it knows to bark at a stranger that could cause potential arm is a good thing.

Make sure to always carry your cell phone and the whistle is a good idea as well.

I hope that your fear to continue work workouts in your area have subsided somewhat and that no one else has had to face what the poor woman did.

Be safe, be smart and keep exercising :)