| elleelise
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I've never been one to hold such fears, but recently (after overhearing my paranoid mother and grandma) watching this World's Most EVIL series on Discovery, I'm a little more than unsettled. I'm a 19 year-old, good-looking female, and I love going on walks alone. BUT I don't have any "buddies" to do so with, and a gym is out of the financial question right now. I can't do aerobic tapes because I don't have a TV either. Outdoors it has to be, but I am terrified of serial killers and rapists. This preoccupation has been preventing me from taking my power walk in the evening. In the day would be fine, but it's about 100 degrees and smoggy out, so it's not healthy.
My town is a middle-class town, bordered by some "okay" neighborhoods. We have a lot of people passing through because I'm near a larger city and a racetrack. But, I'll be going back to college soon where it is considered a very, very safe neighborhood (but, don't news stories always start off with "they never thought it could happen there." ??)
haha, this probably sounds ridiculous, but I see men staring when I walk, and I get cat-calls and men slowing down in their cars and so that, coupled with the facts of serial killers and rapists, has made me very scared. I just don't want to be a statistic, as rare as it might be. T
Do any of you have any suggestions? What places I should avoid/ what to wear to detract attention from passing cars/ where are most women attacked while exersizing/ what should I bring with me????
Your advice will be so helpful! |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:30 am |
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| JamieM
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My husband is very afraid of my being out alone, so he asked me to only walk/jog on main roads, and when it is light out. So as much as I enjoy walking through the lovely cemetary, I stick to the main roads! You can also buy a personal alarm you can carry on you that is small but super loud.
A few more ideas -- jog in your living room, buy some free weights and do basic strength training (squats, crunches, leg lifts, etc.). Also, T-Tapp online has some free exercise routines you can do just by viewing them online!
http://www.ttapp.com/try/ |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:53 am |
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| Roxy
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There are definitely workouts you can do at home without any special equipment. You can come up with some cardio exercises (jumping jacks, jogging in place or around your house, dancing, etc.) as well as some strength exercises (squats, push ups, sit ups, lunges, and countless others), and make up some workout programs for yourself. You could make up a few with different exercises, so you're not always doing the same ones.
There's a workout called Flip Fitness (you could look that up to find their website) that's pretty cool: you use a deck of cards. Different cards represent different exercises. You flip your way through the deck, doing the associated exercises for each card, and you end up with a pretty good workout that's kind of different each time you shuffle the deck. I bought this "program" for about $10. I think it was worth it. Let me know if you want more info about this...
Also, keep searching for a walking buddy! |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:26 am |
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| packerprincess
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If you can go early in the eve or morning when it's light it's probably ok. I agree carry something with you, a whistle or something. If you have a mall near by you could walk there and get an escort to your car when you leave. Some schools have walking programs after school hours and you might meet a walking buddy there.
You said you're headed back to school, so maybe your schedule will let you walk during the day or take advantage of the gym. |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:35 pm |
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| MBiggers07
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| I agree with sticking to the main roads and well lit areas. Invest in some pepper spray or mace to carry with you and let a friend or family member know when you leave for your jog, how long you plan to be, and give call when you get back. Also, let them know the route you will be taking. If you have some where to put it, I would take your cell phone also. I personally jog with the mace in my hand, its small enough. |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:00 pm |
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| valkm
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Women (and men for that matter) should have a concern for
safety.
I just won't walk at certain areas where there are woods
and no one around. I go where there are some people around
on the jogging trails or I go to a park that is enclosed and always
has people there.
Parks/trails tend to have more people before
work hours and after. I get up to go at 7 just so more people
are around and beat the heat and pollution levels are lower in
early a.m.
I see other people with their safety measures from carrying sticks
to mace/pepper spray or taking dogs or a cell phone with them.
Or get your mother to go with you, she might enjoy it.
Go to your nearest mall. Most
malls open early for the mall walkers. Or go to Wal Mart - we have
a super one and I have
walked that perimeter before.
And as others have posted, just do indoor exercises at home,
if it creepy and dark outside just stay in and work out - don't
think that outdoor walking is the only aerobic exercise option,
march and pace back and forth, do some dance moves indoors.
What to wear? I stick to what is comfortable a big baggy t shirt
and to my knees baggy wide legged drawstring yoga pants.
This allows the air to circulate and is cooler in hot weather. |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:31 pm |
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| Dylan
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I definitely think safety is important, but it is also important to remember that all those scary abduction/attack stories you hear are, thankfully, pretty rare. You need to take precautions and be aware of your surroundings, but you also can't let those fears stop you from living a full life! Also, as an ex-volunteer at a sexual assault center I can tell you that the MAJORITY (I'm talking 90%+) of sexual assaults happen with people the victim knows. So if you really want to keep yourself safe then don't drink too much at those parties when you go back to school, and stick with your friends! Ok, I can take off my "big-sister" hat now. :D
I have an exercise trampoline which is a lot of fun. I got a pretty nice one for about $100, but they have cheaper models available for like $30-$50. It's fun and easy to do at home, and doesn't take up much room.
Everyone has had some really good suggestions so far, but I'd just like to add that if you are trying to be as safe as possible, you probably shouldn't listen to an mp3 player while walking. I went for a walk the other day and I listened to my mp3 player while I was walking along the busy main road, but turned it off when I took a different route home. It was bright out and the area was safe, but I felt a little too vulnerable being "deaf" in an unpopulated area. |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:15 pm |
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| scoers
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| always where there are lots of ppl around and lots of lights. even if you have to go to a walmart parking lot to walk i would do it lol but our local highschool opens it tracks to the public. Just a thought. |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:57 pm |
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| nygirl22
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| I would also say the mall (as has been suggested) - lots of people seem to do that. I'm with ya on being terrified though, lol. I don't know why I am - but I AM. When I lived on college campus, I would NOT go anywhere alone at night (seems reasonable enough to me) and I even hated going to our "parking lot" during the day - it was basically hidden by trees (it was like in the woods :? they cut down some trees and laid stones). |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:35 pm |
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| elleelise
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thank you all for these suggestions.
I've def. been quite recklass in the past. I used to go walking everyday by myself up on this small, secluded, road that ran up near the mountains. It was wooded, very shaded and dark, and I hardly ever saw people, just cars passing by *shivers* I'm lucky nothing ever happend to me, all those years as a teen, when I didn't believe bad things could strike me... |
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Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:45 pm |
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| AleciaBneedstobefreed
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You should be aware of your safety. While it may be a rarity to be attacked, even the slightest chance would keep me watching too.
I would go to the nearest mall or large parking lot during the day. |
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Sun Aug 19, 2007 5:55 pm |
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| Bluefooter
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i know i'm a bit late, but i'm new here and have a suggestion that works for me. I do belong to a gym but sometimes i want to mix it up, so what i do is drive my little butt to populated areas, when its cold and raining, i go to the indoor mall, when its nice outside i go downtown and walk. there is security in the mall and downtown in my area during the day is densely populated and safe. if your metro area is not particularly safe, the mall is always a good option.
the bonus, they're air conditioned! haha good luck. |
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Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:37 pm |
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| teeteehawk
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I go with my husband so I don't worry as much! However, lately we have been walking along the river parkway (it spans about 30 miles so far) and there have been several bodies found along the parkway in the last year. As well as attacks. None of the bodies have been found near us but there is a lot of tagging where we walk. It is beautiful and actually one of the safest places in our area. I just don't ever walk it alone! My husband always conceal carries (which means he carries a gun on him legally). We also always take our dog. She senses things better than we do!
The concealed carry class or a self-defense class might not be a bad idea for you to consider. They teach you sooo much...it can help you learn so much about situations and how they can be dangerous or turn dangerous. And how to protect yourself if they do! It definitely helps you to start being more aware of dangerous and potentially dangerous situations. |
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Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:55 pm |
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| elleelise
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teeteehawk wrote: I go with my husband so I don't worry as much! However, lately we have been walking along the river parkway (it spans about 30 miles so far) and there have been several bodies found along the parkway in the last year. As well as attacks. None of the bodies have been found near us but there is a lot of tagging where we walk. It is beautiful and actually one of the safest places in our area. I just don't ever walk it alone! My husband always conceal carries (which means he carries a gun on him legally). We also always take our dog. She senses things better than we do!
The concealed carry class or a self-defense class might not be a bad idea for you to consider. They teach you sooo much...it can help you learn so much about situations and how they can be dangerous or turn dangerous. And how to protect yourself if they do! It definitely helps you to start being more aware of dangerous and potentially dangerous situations.
Right on... I think I'll do that (the class-- not the gun though... not my nature). I go to a university, and one of the things that terrifies me the most is leaving the gym when I do. Because of class schedules, I end up going around 9pm to the gym, and sometimes I don't leave until 11pm. By then, the parking lot is quiet, less populated, and I often have to walk by tons of parked cars.
I usually wait for a close parking space, but with 30,000 students, that's not always a possibility.
I'm going to go buy some pepper spray tonight too, so I can resume my walks tomorrow. |
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Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:45 am |
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| raynjen
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the campus safety officers where i work (a university) are always willing to pick someone up and drive them to their dorm, car, whatever if they feel uncomfortable. but its a smaller school than yours...
i would recommend a whistle and/or mace, they are easy to carry. i also like the idea of a self defense class. i would like to do that as well. |
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Mon Aug 20, 2007 2:54 am |
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