Runner And Joggers: Are You Prepared To Defend Yourself In An Attack?

Have you ever thought about what you would do to defend yourself in an attack? What do you carry with you when you are out for a run? Do you run the same course at the same time every day? These are just a few questions that a runner should ask themselves.

With Spring just around the corner and runners becoming more prvalent again I have taken more notice of what their habits are. Here are a few observations I have made;

Runners tend to get in "the zone" when they are running. Many seem oblivious to their surroundings.

I notice the same runners running the same course at roughly the same time of day every day.

They are out with a minimum of extra equipment. Their bodies are not very well protected and they usually carry nothing in their hands.

Combined, these are a recipe for disaster. Here are a few tips to use when out running.

Take notice of your surroundings. Some of the best places to run are also some of the remotest. Lots of woods and bushes, trails and lakes make for a more pleasant run but they also create more hiding places for those that wish to do you harm. Be alert and pay attention to who is coming at you ( or behind you ) and always be on the lookout around the next corner.

Try to change up your course a little bit. Have a few different places to run and try to run at varying hours of the day. And NEVER run alone at night. This is simply an invitation for trouble.

Carry something with you that you can use to defend yourself in an attack. I recommend carrying a kubaton. This is a little mini baton ( approx. 6" long x 5/8" diameter ) that is easy to carry and weighs virtually nothing. Attach your keys to it and you also have something to swing at an attacker. The best thing about a kubaton is that they don't require years of martial arts training to become proficient at it. There is much information about kubaton usage on the internet but basically any large bone group or muscle mass that you strike at should give you enough time to escape an attack. Kubatons are safe, legal and non-lethal. They are, in my opinion, the best self defense tool out there. My wife and daughter do not go anywhere without them.

A kubaton costs approximately $7.00 and you can find them at www.AlphaInnovationsSelfDefense.com or many other places on the internet. I strongly recommend arming yourself with one before you go out for your next run.