Jogging and Walking Safety Tips: Basic and Advance

In view of recent attacks on joggers, everyone that is currently enjoying that sport needs to be aware of certain crime prevention tips geared exclusively to them. These safety tips can apply to anyone that is on the street walking, jogging, or running.

Many joggers have the mistaken idea that because they usually do not carry large sums of money with them as they jog, they are not likely candidates for an attack. Unfortunately, that is not true. They must always be aware of their surroundings and take appropriate action to protect themselves.

One of the most serious problems for joggers is not paying attention. They become so preoccupied with the physical act of jogging that they lose touch with the moment. They are so busy concentrating on how much further they have to go and on putting one foot in front of the next, that they don't pay attention to what is happening right here, right now.

When they allow themselves to become preoccupied, they have jeopardized their security. When they are not paying attention, it gives the would-be attacker the opportunity to surprise them. Being alert and being aware is vital at all times.

First-up are Basic Safety Tips for Jogging:

* Jog with a known companion
* Jog in a familiar area
* Do not jog in a secluded area
* Do not jog after dark         
* Jog facing the traffic
* If followed, go to the nearest house and call the police
* Wear bright colored clothing to improve your visibility
* Carry a pepper spray or a personal safety alarm device
* Vary your route and pattern of running
* Always be aware of your surroundings. Keep Alert!
* Jog away from bushes where someone could hide
* Take a key with you when you jog. Don't leave your house unlocked. Someone might be watching you and your house to see when it will be empty or unlocked.



Advance Safety Tips for Jogging and Walkers:

* One of the first things men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.
( An extreme example by an orca recently, a female trainer in Florida was drowned by a killer whale that grabbed the woman by her ponytail!)

* Offenders are most likely to attack and rape in the early morning, between 5:00a.m. and 8:30a.m.

* Only 2% of the predators said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence, but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.

* If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

* The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

* Offenders look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are off-guard and can be easily overpowered.

* The number one place women are abducted from or attacked is from grocery store parking lots. Number two is office parking lots/garages. Number three is public restrooms.

* The thing about predator men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.

* If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell, “STOP” or “STAY BACK!”. Most rapists said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

* If you carry pepper spray (this instructor is a huge advocate of it), yell, "I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY" while holding it out can be a powerful deterrent.

* Lastly, not all male joggers are running for their health, so always be careful.

click here for more info and elbow strike video