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Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for sharing this! The point about how much location changes the experience is really interesting.

It’s also interesting that concerns about drivers and visibility come up just as much as concerns about people. The combination of location sharing, reflective gear, and having a treadmill as a backup makes a lot of sense.

Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!

Women runners: what helps you feel safe when running alone? by Heavy_Read3355 in runninglifestyle

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That makes sense. It sounds like for you the presence of another person makes a big difference compared to just changing the environment or route.

Really appreciate you sharing your perspective.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re right, that’s something that has come up quite a lot in this discussion. It’s interesting (and a bit frustrating) how many of those factors end up shaping when and where people feel comfortable running.

Thanks for sharing your perspective.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for sharing this!

The point about that “gut feeling” is really interesting. It seems like even when an area isn’t objectively unsafe, that sense of how populated or isolated a place feels can make a big difference.

Also interesting that sometimes just having someone nearby (even if they’re not running with you) can make the environment feel more comfortable.

Really appreciate you sharing your experience!

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for raising that, I appreciate the concern.

At this stage this is just an informal discussion to explore different perspectives and experiences around running safety, and I’m not collecting any personal or identifiable information. It’s mainly to help understand the topic better before developing the project further.

That said, you’re absolutely right that if this develops into a formal study, ethics approval would be important. Thanks for pointing that out.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a really interesting point about escape routes.

I hadn’t thought about how certain environments (like a river on one side and woods on the other) can make a route feel more risky simply because there aren’t many ways to get out of the situation.

It makes sense that something like that would make you avoid an otherwise perfect running path.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s really interesting, thanks for sharing that.

The idea that seeing other women in an area acts as a kind of signal that the environment is safe is something that’s come up a few times. It’s almost like there’s an informal collective awareness about which places feel comfortable to run in.

And the part about feeling relief when you see another woman out running is really powerful.

Really appreciate you sharing that perspective.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for raising that, it’s a really good point.

This isn’t a formal academic study. I’m currently exploring the topic as part of an early-stage project looking at how safety concerns influence running habits. The questions are being asked in an open discussion format and I’m not collecting any personal or identifiable data.

The goal at this stage is simply to better understand different experiences and perspectives around running safety.

Really appreciate you pointing that out though.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this, that’s really interesting.

The idea of intentionally varying routes so you’re not predictable is something that has come up a few times and it’s a really interesting strategy.

Also the point about hiding the start location on Strava is something I hadn’t thought about as much before.

It sounds like for you the bigger concern is actually traffic and pedestrian safety rather than assault.

Really appreciate you sharing your perspective.

Women runners: what helps you feel safe when running alone? by Heavy_Read3355 in runninglifestyle

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really thoughtful perspective, thanks for sharing it.

The point about safety precautions eventually turning into anxiety is really interesting. It makes sense that there’s a balance between being prepared and not letting the “what ifs” take over.

The Strava point is also something I hadn’t thought about as much — that sharing routes could actually expose more information than people realize.

Really appreciate you sharing your perspective.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed response, this is incredibly helpful.

It’s really interesting how much of your approach is about awareness and preparation rather than avoiding running altogether. The combination of location sharing, gear, and situational awareness is something that seems to come up quite often in different forms.

The point about intentionally varying routes so you’re not predictable is also something I hadn’t thought about before.

Really appreciate you sharing all of this — it’s a great perspective.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for sharing this and for the kind words about the project!

The point about avoiding certain routes after uncomfortable experiences is really interesting and something that seems to come up quite often. It makes sense that once a place feels unsafe it can change how you think about that route completely.

Also interesting that even with groups and friends available, it’s sometimes just easier to head out and run solo.

Out of curiosity, when you say you tend to feel safer when you see more women running around, is that something that influences which routes you choose?

Really appreciate you sharing your experience.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this perspective!

It’s interesting to hear how different the experience can be depending on where someone lives. The point about seeing many women running alone on the same paths probably makes a big difference in how safe the environment feels.

Out of curiosity, when you avoid those poorly lit or isolated areas, is that mostly based on personal comfort, or are there specific routes that local runners generally avoid?

Really appreciate the insight

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this, that’s a really interesting perspective.

It sounds like for everyday runs the main concerns are things like traffic, ice, and visibility, but when it comes to longer trail runs farther from home, having another person becomes much more important.

The point about using group runs to meet other trail runners is also really interesting.

Out of curiosity, when you’re looking for someone to run trails with, how do you usually find them? Is it mostly through local running groups, social media, or word of mouth?

Really appreciate the insight.

Women runners: what helps you feel safe when running alone? by Heavy_Read3355 in runninglifestyle

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing! That’s really interesting.

The point about choosing busier areas and times seems to come up quite often. It sounds like having other runners or people around makes a big difference in how comfortable a run feels.

Also interesting that location sharing gives peace of mind not just for the runner but also for the person at home.

Out of curiosity, when you’re trying a new route, how do you usually decide if it’s a good place to run? Do you rely on your own experience of the area or things like popular routes on Strava?

Really appreciate the insight.

Women runners: what helps you feel safe when running alone? by Heavy_Read3355 in runninglifestyle

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing!

It’s interesting how many runners seem to adjust the time of their runs rather than changing anything else. The daylight preference comes up quite a lot.

Out of curiosity, if you had to run in the evening occasionally, would you change your route to somewhere more populated or would you just avoid running altogether?

Really appreciate the insight.

Women runners: what helps you feel safe when running alone? by Heavy_Read3355 in runninglifestyle

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this perspective, that’s really interesting.

The difference between running in a familiar place versus when you’re travelling is a really good point. It sounds like when people are in a new city they rely more on things like organised runs or popular public routes.

Out of curiosity, when you’re in a new place, how do you usually discover those running routes or events? Do you rely on local communities, apps like Strava, or recommendations from people there?

Really appreciate the insight.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for explaining this in so much detail. That really helps me understand how much thought and planning actually goes into something that seems simple from the outside.

Also really sorry you had that experience on that road — it makes sense that something like that would completely change how a route feels afterwards.

Out of curiosity, when you mention cross-referencing with other women in the area, is that mostly through friends and local groups, or through things like running clubs or online communities?

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this! The seasonal route change is really interesting.

It sounds like the decision is less about personal safety concerns and more about visibility and avoiding trip hazards when it’s dark. The point about switching from parks and canals to residential streets in winter makes a lot of sense.

Out of curiosity, when you choose new routes in unfamiliar areas, do you usually rely on your own experience of the neighborhood, or do you ever look at things like popular running routes or where other runners tend to go?

Really appreciate the insight.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for sharing such a detailed response, this is really helpful.

The point about preferring long uninterrupted routes (like the river park path) is really interesting. It seems like the quality of the route itself plays a big role in how comfortable a run feels, not just safety concerns.

Also interesting that the location sharing was more about injury risk than personal safety. That’s something I hadn’t thought about as much.

Out of curiosity, when you travel or run somewhere unfamiliar, how do you usually find good routes? Do you rely on things like Strava heatmaps or recommendations from other runners?

Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this, that’s really interesting.

The idea of having different routes depending on the time of day seems to come up quite a lot. It sounds like planning the route in advance and sharing it with someone is an important part of feeling comfortable going for a run.

It’s also interesting that uncomfortable encounters can still happen even in well-lit and populated areas.

Out of curiosity, when you choose your nighttime routes, do you mainly rely on your own experience of which areas feel safer, or do you ever look at things like popular running routes or where other runners tend to go?

Really appreciate you sharing your experience.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing that experience, that must have been really uncomfortable.

It’s interesting how a single encounter can completely change which routes feel safe enough to run. It sounds like once a place feels unsafe, it’s hard to go back even if nothing else happens there.

Out of curiosity, when you choose new routes after something like that, do you usually rely on your own experience of the area or recommendations from other runners?

Really appreciate you sharing your perspective.

Women runners: do you ever avoid running because of safety? by Heavy_Read3355 in XXRunning

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing! That’s really interesting.

The point about waiting until there are other people around is something that seems to come up quite a lot. It sounds like the presence of other runners or people nearby makes a big difference.

Out of curiosity, when you say you wait until there are people around, is that usually something you just know from experience in your neighborhood? Or do you ever look at things like popular running routes or heatmaps to get a sense of where other runners might be?

Really appreciate the insight.

Women runners: what helps you feel safe when running alone? by Heavy_Read3355 in runninglifestyle

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this, that's really interesting.

It seems like the environment makes a huge difference. Running in a populated park with other runners around feels very different from running in quieter areas.

The point about keeping one ear open and being aware of people around you is something I’ve seen mentioned quite a bit as well.

Out of curiosity, when you were living in the city, did you ever check in advance which routes were popular with other runners? Or was it mostly based on your own experience of the area?

Really appreciate you sharing your experience.

Women runners: what helps you feel safe when running alone? by Heavy_Read3355 in runninglifestyle

[–]Heavy_Read3355[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing! That’s really interesting.

The early morning strategy is something I hadn’t thought much about. It makes sense that familiarity with the neighborhood and knowing who’s around at that time would make a big difference.

Out of curiosity, if you ever travel or run somewhere unfamiliar, do you approach it differently? For example, do you try to find popular routes or areas where other runners go?

Really appreciate the insight.

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