Csy-Lux

Happy Tuesday, and Happy Halloween! I hope this week has been nothing but a great start for everyone so far. What a weekend I had! I had a great run this Sunday. It was at the beautiful Calipaso Winery in Paso Robles, California. This is my second time running this half, and it is one of my favorites by far. I love the backroad views, the smell of the crisp country air, and that magical feeling you get as you see the sun come out. It just feels like HOME.

I have been asked in the past how I stay safe while running or if I am ever scared to run alone, and the answer is not anymore because I have learned a lot through trial and error. I have also learned so much from when I started this hobby to where I am now that has helped me run with confidence. Something in particular, though, made me want to write this blog post, and it’s a story I came upon the other day online while looking for future runs.

It was the story of Eliza Fletcher from Memphis, Tennessee. Someone who was a lot like me. Eliza was a runner. She was a mom, a wife, and she was only a year older than me when she went out on her early morning run last year. Only Eliza never came back home to her family. Eliza was approached by a man, abducted and murdered. She was found a week later nearby where she went missing. Hundreds of runners gathered a week later in different places of Tennessee and other states to finish the run she was never able to finish.

Here are some tips I can give you that help me stay my safest while out running alone.

Be very aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES

Running is also a very mental hobby. You have to keep your guard up at all times. Be aware of who is around you and always be aware of your location. Even if it sounds silly, be cautious of things as small as vehicles you think might be driving too often around your run. Always make sure that you remember details of any suspicious people or vehicles and that you stay on busy streets or make your way there if you’re not. I always make sure I have an open public location in mind that I know I can run into if I need to. I always think of a what would happen situation and how crucial it is that I think and act fast. It allows me to be more at ease that I know where my safe place would be.

Don’t post your runs on social media until after you are done

This is something I didn’t realize how important it was when I first started running, and for many runs, I posted in real time. I used to even list the locations on my Instagram stories that I had run through. Don’t do that either! Post away after you have finished your run and are at your finished location. You don’t want to be showing just anyone where you run by and what school or street you just passed while still around the area. Personally, I don’t know every single one of my follower’s on social media, so for me to post all that information now is a little uncomfortable for me coming from a small town.

Change up your run routes

This goes with my previous tip, if you are going to be posting recognizable streets often, change up your route every couple of days! Don’t always run the same route so that someone may be able to always guess what time and what roads you run on! It’s so easy to find exact locations just from visible street signs/ intersections, parks, and even buildings.

Don’t cover both your ears while running and listening to music

I know it is really tempting to want to blast the music on both ears while you run, but don’t worry, you can still blast the music on high! Just leave one ear free. If not both, you need at least one ear free to be able to hear footsteps or anyone approaching you from behind or even if someone is saying something or calling for you.

Share your location and your time frame with a loved one

I always let my husband know where I will be running and how long I should be expected to be gone. If I am taking longer on my run because it is that GOOD, he will reach out and make sure I am ok. I encourage you to let someone know what your running plan looks like, and with the technology we have on our phones, we have no excuse not to share location!

Be confident, Act confident

The thing that I love about running is that my confidence skyrockets. My back is straight, and my posture is intact . My body knows what it’s doing and where it’s going! That is the same kind of attitude that can help intimidate an abductor. If you pass anyone but especially someone suspicious, make sure to look them in the eye, and if they say hello, say it back but in a strong, assuring way. You want to let them know you are strong, you are focused, and you are paying attention to everything. You totally got this run, and if anyone tries to harm you or take you, you know what to do. You do not want to be distracted on your run or when finishing it by fully looking down at your phone. That will show them you are distracted, and when I am on my phone, that is what I am. Distracted and not aware.

Don’t run in dark areas

This tip really comes in handy for morning runs and evening runs. Do not run in areas that are dark even if they are short distance. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. When I first started running, I would still run through those dark unlit streets, and because they were dark and I was scared didn’t mean I moved faster. It is just not smart to do it. Your safety is always your number one priority, and even if it means you run a little further, take the safest route that is the most visible, and you are visible as well. Say not to dark isolated areas

Know how to make noise

This one might sound silly, but it’s one thing that might help us in a worst-case scenario. If ever wanting to be abducted, we need to know how to scream and yell for help and physically fight against our intruder as much as possible. At 5”5 and 130 pounds, I know that I might not be the strongest physically, but I am confident I can attract attention and make noise with my screams. I will be heard by people around me. I also know that I can grab my phone, dial 911, and be LOUD and CLEAR. This is a good one to practice.

Always follow your intuition

If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t! It’s OK to do something different! I went on a morning walk once at 5 a.m., and something felt off as I was running towards 2 men walking my way. They didn’t look like they were doing an early morning workout. Something just didn’t feel right, so I turned the corner before approaching them, ran back home, and opted for a home workout instead. It could have been completely fine, and I will never know, but I was happy with my choice that morning.

Running is so fun, and it is a WONDERFUL sport, but it does hit home when you hear stories like Liza’s that can happen in our very own neighborhoods. No more women should ever not finish a run because of something truly horrible like this. While we can’t control monsters who do this kind of stuff, we can do our best to look out for each other and continue to protect ourselves. It makes me so happy to see more and more friends picking up running, and hopefully, you can take some of my own tips that help me feel safe.  

See you on the trail ❤️

Csy