One of my coworkers was telling me recently about some hecklers on her outside runs. I’ve had the occasional honk or whistle but I’m usually spared from any verbal harassment so when she told me she encountered some I was a little shocked. I know I shouldn’t be, there is a reason for the phrase “people are crazy” but I think I just get surprised when I hear about people yelling at someone exercising outside, minding their own business, just for kicks. While I already wrote a blog on staying safe while Running in the Dark, I didn’t address how to handle these obnoxious hecklers (and you are obnoxious by the way, just an FYI for those who think you’re being “cute” or “funny”) so let’s do that now.
Ignore them – Depending on your temperament or mood at the time this may be really easy for you or really difficult. By ignoring them you don’t put yourself into a confrontation that could become dangerous and you get to keep running- which is why you’re out there in the first place. Hey, it may be a good time to work on speed!
Look confident – About.com had some great tips and this was one of them. By not appearing vulnerable (even if you’re shaking in your Sauconys) you’re letting that person know you mean business and you aren’t someone to be toyed with. Whether it’s smart or not, I usually look everyone in my path in the eye just to let them know I see them and, because I run in the morning, I imagine I also look a little crabby which I think makes people want to stay away from me.
Show people where you’re running – I used to just say “tell someone you’re out running and when you’ll be back” but thanks to Mapmyrun.com (and I’m sure there are lots of similar sites) I can create runs on my account (all free) and then I just give my fiancé the route I’m running and he’ll know exactly what streets or trail I’m on so if I were to encounter some trouble, he’d know where to come look for me. This is great too in case you injure yourself along a route or simply want a friend to bring you water somewhere during a long run.
Bring your phone along – I’m sure most of us have cell phones by now so bring it along on your run. Hold it, get a cute little pouch for it or go old school and sport a fanny pack- hey, no judging when it comes to safety! Recently I read about an app called “Guardly” that is supposed to connect you to your emergency contacts or the police but I haven’t downloaded it yet, have you heard of it? That may be something to look into.
Run in busy, populated areas. No, it’s not as serene as a quiet road but you have more people around in case you run into trouble.
Please don’t think that this post is intended to scare you, it’s just meant to make you feel more prepared when you’re out getting exercise. Now go, get out there!
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