While running is a great workout and can help keep your body healthy and fit, many people find running on a treadmill to be too boring. For this reason, it’s not uncommon to see people running the streets of whatever city you live in. However, there are risks that go along with exercising in this way. But with the right knowledge and preparation, you can find ways to mitigate these risks and protect yourself from harm.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for staying safe while running on the streets of your city.
Choose The Right Places To Run
One of the first things you should research before you start running within your city is which areas of your city are safe and which areas aren’t. Ideally, you should try to run in the areas that are safest so you can avoid any issues that might come from you potentially being an easy target, since running with a handgun for protection isn’t necessarily an easy thing to do.
Even after you know which running routes are going to take you through the safest areas of your city, the Road Runners Club Of America still advises that you only run through areas that are well populated and don’t have places where you could easily be ambushed by someone or something.
Learn How To Defend Yourself
Although this is rare and not something that most people want to think about, being prepared and knowing how to protect yourself in the event that something does happen on your run, like an attack, is wise.
A big part of this, according to Christine Luff, a contributor to Very Well Fit, is knowing how to be defensive when you’re running, just like how you can be defensive when you’re driving. To do this, you’ll want to limit your distractions and stay alert to what’s going on around you. And if something ever feels off for any reason, turn around or run in a different direction.
Don’t Stick To A Routine
When you run through a city, you’re likely to run by the same areas and see the same people. And while this can be comforting for you, it’s not always a good idea to be predictable like this, as it makes it easier for someone to target you or take advantage of you.
Knowing this, it’s wise to switch up your running routines. Try going on a different route, running at a different time of day, or, to be safest, Patrick Allan, a contributor to LifeHacker.com, suggests running with a partner or your dog on occasion. By doing this, you’ll be able to deter any criminal who may have considered you an easy target.
If you’re wanting to start running on the streets of your city, regardless of its size, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay safe out there.