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PSA: 84% of women claim to have been harassed while exercising in public before - 84%!!! So here’s a thread of safety tips you may not have thought of (that EVERYONE, not just women, should be using!) - be safe out there!!
(p.s thread sponsored by the lovely @gymshark)
(p.s thread sponsored by the lovely @gymshark)
1. Switch up your route & the time you go running OFTEN! That way, if someone is watching you, they won’t be able to anticipate where you’ll be.
2. A lot of people like to post a screenshot of their route & time on social media (which is great, celebrate your wins!) but make sure to get rid of any information that tells people where you live e.g scribble out the street names
3. Make sure you plan your route carefully beforehand & share it with someone you TRUST! Go places where you know people will be like popular park routes or where there’s shops or houses
4. If you do start to feel unsafe at any point during your run, drop a pin/share your location with someone you trust & ask them to watch your location until you get home safe
5. If you’re listening to music in earphones, make sure they’re not too loud so you can hear what’s going on around you. You could even just have one earbud in, that way you’ll hear any traffic or if someone approaches you
6. It goes without saying, but there’s all the basic safety tips that are staples for a reason! Wear bright colours/reflective clothing/lights so you’re seen. Try to go out running in a group or with a friend. Don’t go out in the dark or in isolated areas!
7. Run AGAINST traffic! Especially if there’s no pavement/sidewalk, that way you will see approaching vehicles and you can take precautions
8. Going back to route tracker apps like Strava, only accept & share your routes with close friends & people you trust!
9. Take your phone with you and a form of ID in case of emergencies
10. Look confident in your route. Try not to look confused or lost, as this will make you look vulnerable
11. Trust your intuition! If your intuition is telling you not to run down a certain alley/shortcut or to cross the road when you see someone shady walking your way - just do it! it’s no harm to take precautions like this
Thank u for taking the time to read this, and at the end of the day, make sure you’re having FUN with it! If anyone has any more tips to add, please reply with them! I’ll add any more I come across. Stay safe <3
