There is no strict answer for whether it is safe for a woman to go on a run at night time. Each scenario is unique to itself and can have varying factors that will drive the overall result. These factors include time of year, the weather, the location you are running in, if you have a running partner, and more.
Is it safe to run at night? Whether it’s safe to go on long runs or even a short run at night is an age-old question for women.
Sometimes, the rest of the day’s responsibilities take longer than expected and you just can’t get your exercise in during daylight hours so you may end up running at midnight.
You could call a friend to see if they want to join you on nightly runs, but there could be any number of reasons they can’t.
So, it’s important to look for effective ways to protect yourself so that you can experience a safe run during the dark hours of the day or night.
Sadly, there is no guarantee that you won’t be a victim by potential attackers when you are going for a run at any time of day.
However, there are options for you to protect yourself if something does happen.
As you keep reading, you’ll learn about the health benefits of running in the night, as well as tips for your protection.
5 Safety Tips for Female Runners
If you love jogging at night, safety should be your very first concern.
The dangers that night running can present generally fall into one of these categories:
- Vehicles
- People
- Animals
- Natural elements
Facing dangers that are both natural and man made in the low visibility of the night presents a list of problems of their own.
So, what can you do to stay safe? Here are some tips on how to run at night and stay safe.
Run on a familiar route – If you are running at night, be sure to stick to an area you know already.
The risks of night time running are already increased; you don’t want to make things riskier by running in an unfamiliar area.
BUT – take extra precautions to be aware of your surroundings and who is where because someone could be watching you and if they know that you do late night runs at a certain time on the same route – well – it just makes you an easier target.
Avoid quiet alleys, dark parks, unpopulated areas, overgrown trails, deserted streets, and the sort. Instead, stick to busier streets, staying on the left side of the road—preferably under a streetlight— the entire time.
RunnersBluePrint.com
Tell someone when you are running and where – Before you take a step outside, the very first thing you should do is to let someone know what you are doing and where you are planning to do it.
Just as you would to hike safely alone as a woman, choose a close friend or family member and tell them where you are planning the night run.
Whenever you start your run, message or call them. Tell them if they do not hear back from you in X amount of minutes to give you a call.
If you don’t answer, have a course of action you want them to take. This way, if something has happened, no time is wasted in sounding the alarm.
Don’t wear headphones – A great way to increase your chances of being attacked is to be distracted which can easily be done if you are wearing headphones.
When exercising, listening to the music that you enjoy can be the perfect way to set that energetic mood. However, don’t pack the tunes if you’re running at night.
Due to increased dangers, you need to be more aware of your surroundings. If you do wear headphones, you may miss vital signs of something dangerous.
Wear neon or reflective clothing – One of the scariest things about running at night is the fact that visibility isn’t the best. This is especially true if you have to run along any busy roads.
The best way to be seen by motorists during an evening run is to avoid wearing dark clothing and to wear reflective gear that have neon or reflective strips can help.
Brightly colored or reflective clothing catches the light, bouncing it back, which helps with visibility.
Consider the weather – Also, be sure to dress for the weather, so you are safe from the elements on your run.
Run against traffic towards oncoming cars – While your neon clothing is one way to avoid getting hit by a vehicle, you also will want to run against the flow of traffic.
Running on the side of the road where you are passing the cars closest to you can help the motorist see you.
This also allows you to see the headlights of the motorists, so you can take evasive action if needed.
Running Safety Gear
There are some great options available these days as far as safety gear that you can use as a runner.
These consist of: self defense items and products that help you to be seen.
I’ll talk about the self defense items in the following section, so let’s dive in to see what you should consider to make yourself more visible during evening hours.
While wearing neon or reflective clothing is a great idea, you can increase the chances of a motorist seeing you if you are also using flashing lights that draw their attention to you.
Look for lights that clip on to your clothes, or can be worn like armbands. They should flash in eye-catching patterns, and be weather (and sweat) resistant.
Other options include wearing reflective vests with LED lights, reflective glow belts, or grab and go lights that you hold in your hands.
Of course, the drawback to handheld lights is that you have a lot to fumble with if you are also carrying water or something else.
Running At Night As A Woman: Self-Defense Methods To Consider
While there will always be the option of taking self-defense classes if you run at night, not everyone has the money or the time to do so.
The next best thing is getting some running safety gear for self-defense.
Wearable Panic Buttons
It’s common sense to carry your cell phone with you when exercising any time of the day or night but it’s not always necessarily easy to access it quickly.
That’s where a wearable panic button device like Invisawear could be handy.
Especially now that they offer this great little panic button (that looks like jewelry) in a scrunchie athletic band! It’s really a very good option to keep something very handy and easy to use.
Self Defense Jewelry
I bet you didn’t realize that there is such a thing as jewelry that you can use to help fight off an attacker.
Actually, there are rings (with spikes), and some are disguised such as these Defender Rings. Other rings have a stainless steel blade that can pop out to use on your attacker.
There are other self defense weapons that you can carry while you run but I personally like the rings because you don’t have to hold on to it while running.
Claws: Always Be Prepared When You Have Self-Defense In Hand
Just as a cat has claws for protection, self defense metal claws are sharp and meant to scratch. When you take these on your run, you are always ready to fight back.
I recommend you watch a few YouTube videos if you want to use these, so you’ll understand how to swing your arm to do maximum damage with these.
*Side note – some types of self defense claws are even built to collect DNA from the assailant as you scratch them.
Pepper Spray: Best Self-Defense Method For Temporarily Blinding Attackers
Pepper spray is a self-defense method for situations you want to escape from.
Pepper sprays are aerosols that contain the oils of the spicy cayenne pepper. When sprayed at an assailant, especially at close range, the pepper spray will irritate their eyes and respiratory system.
These irritants help to disable the attacker, giving you time to run away. TIP: if at all possible, don’t face into the wind when spraying pepper spray.
The spray may blow back at you, disabling you instead of the attacker!
Stun Gun: A Self-Defense Method Loved for Its Shocking Effect
Another popular option for self-defense is a stun gun. Stun guns are devices that give off electric shocks when they come in contact with an animal or person.
These electric shocks are meant to disable the assailant to allow you time to escape.
There are several types of stun guns available. Some are handheld and good for short-distance self-defense, while others will shoot to incapacitate your attacker from a further distance.
Whistle: Draw Attention to Yourself to Stay Safe
Whistles don’t provide physical barriers or act as weapons against an assailant, but they are great for drawing attention to your situation.
If you are running at night and are in danger, a few blows of your whistle will alert anyone close by. This may also scare off the attacker, whether animal or human, since it is a loud, shrill noise.
Baton or Martial Arts Koga: Protect Yourself With Blunt Force
While maybe not a first option, batons and martial arts kogas are about as basic as you can get with self-defense.
Intended as a method to disable the attacker long enough for an escape, this is a weapon that is easy to grip, lightweight, and can be carried in your pocket or purse.
Again, it’s a good idea to review a few YouTube videos to learn how to use a baton or koga effectively.
Is It Healthy To Jog At Night?
While some people may not be able to sleep after they’ve had a good workout, some studies have shown that night jogging may be a more effective way of exercising.
When you consider that a significant element of becoming overheated while exercising (the sun) is gone in the evening, you can see how jogging at night might make your exercise easier.
Another study, from the University of California, found that people who exercise at night are able to drift off to a deep, relaxing sleep a mere 30 minutes after their workout. “In many cases exercise actually improved their quality and ease of sleep,” says lead researcher Shawn Youngstedt.
Chatelaine.com
What you may not know, though, is that running late at night helps to:
- relieve stress from the day
- sleep better
- digest the food you ate through the day
- keep your morning simple
- increase running speed without extra effort
Every person is unique in their bodies and has a different “best” for their health.
If you believe that night jogs would be best for you, you may still be worried about your safety.
Luckily, you’ve just read some tips on the topic of running at night safety and they certainly could help to keep you safer while you exercise!
Have I Answered Your Questions Regarding Is It Safe To Go On A Run At Night?
I hope that you found this information useful and that these tips for running at night (or anytime) will help to keep you safe!
Whether you consider yourself a night owl who prefers the nocturnal scene or you just had too busy of a schedule to work your run in before dark, running at night can seem ominous.
Since nothing can be done to stop predators before they strike, it is best to be prepared if they do.
If you have some more ways for staying safe while running at night, be sure to let me know. Meanwhile, stay safe during your night jog and happy running!
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