With each breaking news story of a runner attacked, I watch the fear begin to rise within our community. After a few of you reached out asking if I had any specific tips for running safely alone since I do it in so many cities and countries around the world, I thought it was time to put together a full article.
I’ve talked about all the benefits of running alone, but I can tell there’s been a wavering of confidence in many runners.
First, I want to address the overall issue: should we be afraid to run alone?
No. But we should be smart.
General Running Safety Guidelines
I’m going to dive into some key running safety tips to keep in mind when you go out for a run, but before that, there are some ways we can boost our confidence.
Remember that the key is risk aversion, not risk elimination because that’s impossible and would mean we stay indoors our whole lives and never get to do what we want. A big part of what helps women runners stay confident while running is taking the necessary safety precautions.
Plus, confidence doesn’t mean ignoring the issue, it means running from a place of strength that allows you to react if needed and not to be scared away from doing something you love.
- The unknown can be scary, so the more you do it, the more comfortable it…
