Savvy in the City

Staying safe in the city is one of the most important aspects to comfortable daily living. I find this especially comes into play when enjoying time outdoors.

As much as we hate to believe it, staying safe and savvy is crucial when partaking in outdoor activities such as walking, running, biking, and more (and especially at night). To stay safe from predators, animals, traffic and more, I abide by the following tips:

1. Run along bus routes.

I find useful in a number of ways. If during your daily/nightly/weekly/monthly run you begin to feel unsafe, it may be smart to jump on the next available bus. Further, if you become injured during a run, it is by far easier to get where you need to go by bus rather than running around. If you have Car to Go, Evo, or another car share account, consider running only in areas where these vehicles are readily available. It may come in handy should an accident occur.

2. Tie your hair in a bun

I always feel more safe running around town than walking. I consider myself incredibly paranoid, however, I find solace in that if I am running, a) an attacker is less likely to try to go after me, and b) I could perhaps outlast the attacker. This may seem a little over the top to others, but I also find relief in tying my hair up in a bun rather than a pony tail when running. If you have medium-to-long hair like myself, there is potential for your hair to get caught or grabbed during a run. A bun minimizes any additional risk. Further, keeping your hair up and off your neck will keep you extra cool!

3. Try a new route.

I'm a huge fan of trying new routes and exploring new parts of the city when running. In the past I've found a few great areas to enjoy (for example, a nearby playground for late night shenanigans and a small public beach that never seems to be busy!). Having a routine to your run (i.e., a route itself or time of day) may increase your chances of an attack, which unfortunately does happen from time to time.

As much as we like to believe we live in a society where people of all gender, race, and background may be safe and roam free as they please, the harsh reality is that this is not so. It is important to be aware of the bad in order to protect yourself and decrease risk of such events, but also in order to feel safe and comfortable in all activities of daily life!

Cheers.

#running #fitness #safety #city #mindfulness