I was inspired by Newton Running to write about the things I do to stay safe as a female runner in Colorado! Newton is a running apparel company based in Boulder, CO. They are currently holding their 6th annual Women’s Runner Safety Month! Throughout the month of October, they share tips, advice, resources, and education materials to help inform women on how to stay safe while running as a woman. I love this annual tradition—so here are my Female Running Safety Tips!
MY 6 TIPS
01
Don’t Run Alone
Try to never run alone in unpopulated areas or before/after sunrise & sunset. As much as I love alone time on a middle of nowhere trail before sunrise, it’s always better to have a friend along for safety. With that being said—always be wise and use common sense when choosing the time and place of your runs.
02
Carry Protection
Carry something for protection. Whether it’s an alarm, pepper spray, or small weapon, anything helps! This may be a deterrent if you’re ever being harassed or in a bad situation.
03
Bring Your Phone
I always have my phone on me! As much as I’d love to run without it—this is so important if I need to call someone for help. iPhone’s have a a safety feature that allow you to call 911 by clicking the power button 5 times in a row.
04
Skip Your Earbuds
I love to listen to music especially on my outdoor runs. If I’m alone I try to play it out loud from my phone instead of in my earbuds. This helps me be more aware of my surroundings—allowing me to hear what’s going!
05
Change Of Scenery
Don’t always run the same route. This is extremely important, especially if you run alone! By running different routes, you will be much less easy to track or predict!
06
Fuel Up
Proper nutrition! This is a big one as well. Especially when running alone, it’s so important to be nourished and hydrated. This allows me to focus on things other than nutrition, helps me think more clearly, & gives me strength to finish my run to end up where I want to be. It also protects against injury on the trail!
Final Thoughts!
Training for my last marathon, I found I had to consistently plan ahead and be aware in order to feel safe on my runs! I know it can be a hassle to plan ahead or carry something for self-defense, but it’s so worth it!
I hope these female running safety tips are helpful—happy running🤍 Check out my other blog post about Newton Running!
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