Do Not Run Alone
I know, it’s so simple, but it works. Two people are harder to control than one, so attackers are less likely to strike and if they do, you’ve just doubled your chance of survival. If you don’t have someone to run with, get a dog. Or borrow a dog. Not only does it make you a less attractive target, dogs can sometimes sense danger before we can.
Please note: the dog factor only works if your dog is bigger than a breadbox, otherwise, you might as well have a small child with you.
Do Not Run With Earphones
Again, this isn’t rocket science. When you have loud music blaring in your ears, you can’t hear a potential attacker come up behind you and it also slows your reaction time. Most of us runners have the bad habit of tuning out while we run. I do it—it’s why most of us put our shoes on every day, and consistent loud music makes it easier to escape from the hyper-alertness of our everyday lives.
But when we dull our senses, we are less effective in the case of a surprise attack. If you must run with music, only use one earpiece, and switch ears during your run.