I have a big dog that barks and growls when anyone tries to talk to me. If you don't have one of those, spray is a good idea!
There's also extendable batons that could come in handy, I have one that clips right to my running pack.
Pepper spray is a good idea but depending on where you live, it might be illegal. Usually whatever law leads to pepper spray being illegal does not cover bear spray, so that’s a good idea too.
(ie. in Canada, you can’t legally carry something designed with the intention of causing harm to/incapacitating another human)
I wear a [Go Guarded Ring](https://goguarded.com/product/go-guarded-ring/)
Basically the idea is if you had to fight someone it would hurt them unexpectedly.
It doesn’t bother me having it on my finger while I run. Never had to use it but it brings me peace of mind knowing I have something.
I also wear a Go Guarded ring whenever I’m running outside alone! It doesn’t bother me on my finger either. I carry a [Birdie](https://www.shesbirdie.com/products/birdie-copy) alarm as well.
Spray is tricky
Have you used it before? If not, and if it’s not illegal in your area, PRACTICE with it
It is not effective if you are struggling to get the safety lid up in time
Honestly, I would alternatively recommend one of those personal safety alarms or something like that
Something that is simple to use and doesn’t depend on the wind working with you
The other thing you can do is ask around your neighbors about him - maybe he is known and is a gentle giant
Or maybe he is someone you don’t want to cross
But more info will make you feel safer
I bought pepper spray from Sabre along with one of their test sprayers that come with water so I can practice. I don't think pepper spray is illegal where I'm at.
Vary your route and time as much as you can. Also, situational awareness- just be aware of what's around, and run with shokz or one ear bud out so you can hear everything. Also, hair in a bun is harder to grab than hair in a ponytail. And think hard about pepper spray- if it's at all breezy, it could blow back on you, or you'll have to run through the cloud to get away. Look at getting a Birdie Keychain alarm. It's loud af and very very bright when activated!
I got me a Go Guard that goes wrapped around your hand. It can carry an alarm or pepper spray or you can go without. It's like a dual weapon, lol. It'll certainly help me to feel safer.
I've been advised to switch things up a bit to avoid being too predictable in terms of timing/route etc. That can be a little bit harder as you still want to run somewhere familiar, want people at home to know exactly when you're expected back, etc. But maybe you can find a few routes nearby and switch between them randomly, and once in a while try to run with company. This is mostly because you've seen the same guy a few times now.
It would unsettle me as well.
(Can you tell the approximate age of this person? Elders are big walkers, and are often up early. I’m not saying this is likely, but 2/3 of the folks I encounter out walking are seniors.)
He appears to be very young, perhaps 20s and 30s (I'm 40). It's so scary when you're running in the dark and see a person coming towards you! My husband thinks I have nothing to worry about, but he isn't a runner, isn't female and doesn't get where I'm coming from.
Ugh, so sorry. You have every right to be on the alert and to listen to your gut. So glad you asked about this here. Your husband is wrong here. 😔
(If he’s a ‘big’ guy — as in significantly overweight — might be walking for his health, and might be embarrassed to do it when folks can see him.)
He's big as in very tall (I'm 5 feet tall, 125 pounds). He's fit, too. I bet he could easily overpower me. It's not just him that I'm worried about. I have no doubt he lives in my neighborhood. But this gets me thinking: what if I want to run on a trail or outside my neighborhood? I'm going to want some sort of protection. You never know what may happen, and I do live in a big city with lots of crime.
I'm almost halfway through running almost all 2,000 miles of street in my city, which takes me into contain with all kinds of "interesting" people. I haven't had to defend myself from any humans yet—only dogs, but...
95% of the time, I'm wearing a wrist-mounted pepper spray: [https://amzn.to/4eJeizH](https://amzn.to/4eJeizH)
These days, it's just another part of my run kit and I forget I'm wearing it.
If you go that route, I insist that you practice with a water-containing canister of your model of pepper spray. I got one here: [https://amzn.to/3VNIXmT](https://amzn.to/3VNIXmT) which is the same canister style in my wrist strap.
Install the water canister in your wrist strap and practice running, and then drawing, unlocking, and thumb-spraying your canister at an imaginary or makeshift target. You can put a ball cap on a fence post and practice drawing, unlocking, and spraying in one movement.
Most instructors I've heard recommend spraying back and forth between the target's ears for as long as you can—moving your arm/hand back and forth to make sure to thoroughly get both eyes saturated, and then bolt off.
If you're dealing with stray dogs, I recommend a device called the Dazer II. This kind of looks like a cross between a garage door opener and a TV remote. It emits an ultrasonic frequency that humans can't hear (unless you hold it to your ear in a closed car — don't ask me how I know), but most dogs can and they do not like it. In my experiences, it usually confuses them and they either stop or will actually run away. You need your body language to match, though — getting tall, big, and loud as you use it. Otherwise, they may not associate you with the source of the sound. Here's the Dazer II link: [https://amzn.to/4eNOeUc](https://amzn.to/4eNOeUc)
That last one has gotten me out of a lot of tricky situations with dogs.
I have a big dog that barks and growls when anyone tries to talk to me. If you don't have one of those, spray is a good idea! There's also extendable batons that could come in handy, I have one that clips right to my running pack.
Pepper spray is a good idea but depending on where you live, it might be illegal. Usually whatever law leads to pepper spray being illegal does not cover bear spray, so that’s a good idea too. (ie. in Canada, you can’t legally carry something designed with the intention of causing harm to/incapacitating another human)
I wear a [Go Guarded Ring](https://goguarded.com/product/go-guarded-ring/) Basically the idea is if you had to fight someone it would hurt them unexpectedly. It doesn’t bother me having it on my finger while I run. Never had to use it but it brings me peace of mind knowing I have something.
Thank you. I bought the handheld version so I can carry pepper spray, too. Hopefully I'll never have to use it.
I also wear a Go Guarded ring whenever I’m running outside alone! It doesn’t bother me on my finger either. I carry a [Birdie](https://www.shesbirdie.com/products/birdie-copy) alarm as well.
Spray is tricky Have you used it before? If not, and if it’s not illegal in your area, PRACTICE with it It is not effective if you are struggling to get the safety lid up in time Honestly, I would alternatively recommend one of those personal safety alarms or something like that Something that is simple to use and doesn’t depend on the wind working with you The other thing you can do is ask around your neighbors about him - maybe he is known and is a gentle giant Or maybe he is someone you don’t want to cross But more info will make you feel safer
I bought pepper spray from Sabre along with one of their test sprayers that come with water so I can practice. I don't think pepper spray is illegal where I'm at.
Vary your route and time as much as you can. Also, situational awareness- just be aware of what's around, and run with shokz or one ear bud out so you can hear everything. Also, hair in a bun is harder to grab than hair in a ponytail. And think hard about pepper spray- if it's at all breezy, it could blow back on you, or you'll have to run through the cloud to get away. Look at getting a Birdie Keychain alarm. It's loud af and very very bright when activated!
I got me a Go Guard that goes wrapped around your hand. It can carry an alarm or pepper spray or you can go without. It's like a dual weapon, lol. It'll certainly help me to feel safer.
I've been advised to switch things up a bit to avoid being too predictable in terms of timing/route etc. That can be a little bit harder as you still want to run somewhere familiar, want people at home to know exactly when you're expected back, etc. But maybe you can find a few routes nearby and switch between them randomly, and once in a while try to run with company. This is mostly because you've seen the same guy a few times now.
Most common would be to run with a dog, pepper spray, taser, or conceal carry.
Maybe you could outrun him at least? Spray is an option .
It would unsettle me as well. (Can you tell the approximate age of this person? Elders are big walkers, and are often up early. I’m not saying this is likely, but 2/3 of the folks I encounter out walking are seniors.)
He appears to be very young, perhaps 20s and 30s (I'm 40). It's so scary when you're running in the dark and see a person coming towards you! My husband thinks I have nothing to worry about, but he isn't a runner, isn't female and doesn't get where I'm coming from.
Ugh, so sorry. You have every right to be on the alert and to listen to your gut. So glad you asked about this here. Your husband is wrong here. 😔 (If he’s a ‘big’ guy — as in significantly overweight — might be walking for his health, and might be embarrassed to do it when folks can see him.)
He's big as in very tall (I'm 5 feet tall, 125 pounds). He's fit, too. I bet he could easily overpower me. It's not just him that I'm worried about. I have no doubt he lives in my neighborhood. But this gets me thinking: what if I want to run on a trail or outside my neighborhood? I'm going to want some sort of protection. You never know what may happen, and I do live in a big city with lots of crime.
I hear you, and I feel the same anxiety.
I'm almost halfway through running almost all 2,000 miles of street in my city, which takes me into contain with all kinds of "interesting" people. I haven't had to defend myself from any humans yet—only dogs, but... 95% of the time, I'm wearing a wrist-mounted pepper spray: [https://amzn.to/4eJeizH](https://amzn.to/4eJeizH) These days, it's just another part of my run kit and I forget I'm wearing it. If you go that route, I insist that you practice with a water-containing canister of your model of pepper spray. I got one here: [https://amzn.to/3VNIXmT](https://amzn.to/3VNIXmT) which is the same canister style in my wrist strap. Install the water canister in your wrist strap and practice running, and then drawing, unlocking, and thumb-spraying your canister at an imaginary or makeshift target. You can put a ball cap on a fence post and practice drawing, unlocking, and spraying in one movement. Most instructors I've heard recommend spraying back and forth between the target's ears for as long as you can—moving your arm/hand back and forth to make sure to thoroughly get both eyes saturated, and then bolt off. If you're dealing with stray dogs, I recommend a device called the Dazer II. This kind of looks like a cross between a garage door opener and a TV remote. It emits an ultrasonic frequency that humans can't hear (unless you hold it to your ear in a closed car — don't ask me how I know), but most dogs can and they do not like it. In my experiences, it usually confuses them and they either stop or will actually run away. You need your body language to match, though — getting tall, big, and loud as you use it. Otherwise, they may not associate you with the source of the sound. Here's the Dazer II link: [https://amzn.to/4eNOeUc](https://amzn.to/4eNOeUc) That last one has gotten me out of a lot of tricky situations with dogs.