Running with a Gun

By: Becky Yackley

Running is a common sport and a great endorphin booster. Around 50 million people in the USA run or jog and around the world, that number is 621 million! While this hugely popular activity has many health benefits, there are dangers that runners face, especially women. One of the best ways to provide for your own safety as a runner is by carrying concealed.

I’ve run since I was a teenager. I’ve run in the US, Italy, Russia, France, Finland – everywhere I go, it’s available. A friend’s young daughter once told me that I should not run alone; they lived down the country road from me and I would pass them almost daily. I never stopped and I still run alone, but I’ve added some tools and experiences that others might find helpful. 

Running Safety Practices that Anyone Can Adopt

While running is a very independent and freeing type of exercise, complete with cardio and fresh air, it can put you in a position of risk. There are things you can do to mitigate that risk, and they don’t cost a penny

1 – Give Your People a Head’s Up

One of the main ways to ensure your safety is to do what any adult would tell a child to do, and that’s let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. I usually run by myself, since my husband and my sons keep a different pace. Even if we run together, I often separate because the sound of their pace causes me to feel behind. If you do run alone for “me time,” make sure someone knows your whereabouts – and don’t deviate from that route unless you tell them while doing so. 

2 – Musical Motivation 

I sincerely love to run with music, but using it can be dangerous. As a young adult, I ran in cities without earphones – you need to hear vehicles and there is too much going on to not have your auditory awareness in high gear. With digital music and podcasts, we have the opportunity to take in media while running (this is how I learned enough Russian to navigate in Russia before a world championship). The best practice, if you do have audio playing while you run, is to use only one earbud and set the volume so that you can hear vehicles and other potential dangers.  

And while running in the woods or by the ocean seems a much less likely place to need to worry about sound, remember, there are dogs, people, and the occasional bike or ATV that can still pose a danger. So, establishing a safe practice of just wearing one earbud is a good habit.

3 – Running Near Vehicles

One of the main reasons that I want to hear a car when I run is that I want to see it. I mostly run on country roads, and I know that people driving down country roads aren’t expecting pedestrians. For this reason, I look at  cars that are approaching me, even from behind. I glance as soon as I hear them and I look again as they get close. If you drive enough, you know that your car will track toward where you are looking. When I see a car approaching, if it seems to be coming toward me, I know the driver is likely looking at me. But I also don’t like the feeling that they’re coming toward me – at speed! Often I step off the road to stretch or rest till they pass. Make sure that you always run facing into traffic. Bright or reflective clothing is another bonus if you run on the road. If you’re running at night and vehicles are a concern, carry a light. If it’s dark or rainy, light and movement will help ensure that drivers see you. 

4 – Running in Cities

I’ve run in a walled medieval Italian city with cobblestone roads, outside of Moscow in a subdivision and in Washington, D.C., as well as other large cities. When you run in cities, stay aware, be visible, avoid questionable neighborhoods and take a friend with you if possible. Some of my best travel memories are from running with friends in beautiful places.

5 – Canine Concerns

My biggest actual fear when running – dogs. I’m more afraid of them than people. In Italy, I had a scare while running in the country. Someone’s unrestrained dog ran from the house to the road. I knew not to run away in fear. I stopped and shouted at the dog to “Go home!” I used as much authority as possible, yelled fiercely at it (and to the owners, who were nowhere to be seen), then backed up and walked away. It’s a reason to run in familiar areas whenever possible, where known dangers, like dogs that are not contained, won’t surprise you.

6 – Running with a Gun

The choice to run with a gun is an easy one for me. As a teenager, I ran with a knife tucked in my waistband because that was my option. As an adult, I carry a small gun – often, a Ruger LCP because it fits into my waistband in a sticky holster or in the zippered pocket of my favorite pair of running tights. Any gun that you train with can be used. Ideally, something small, but the gun that you actually will carry with you is the best choice. 

Practice with the gun you bring running. Practice as you would for an every-day concealed carry firearm; practice your draw and how you would access it. 

If your choices for self-protection are limited and you cannot carry a gun, consider carrying pepper spray or a taser. Practice with them as well. Violence of action from you, along with swift and certain decisions, are what will protect you if you are threatened. But knowing how to do that requires training. 

Practicing the mental side of self-defense is as critical as practicing the physical motions. So take a class if you can, maybe invite friends or family to go with you. Mentally go through what you might have to do to care for yourself.  Read and educate yourself about the realities of what you might face, if you had to use your firearm in self-defense.

In the end, what gets you out the door with your method of defense is more important than the latest trend in concealed carry. Having a tool to defend yourself,  knowing you are ready to use it, and understanding the realities that entails are more important than what gun you carry or holster you wear it in. Find what fits you, plan for safety, practice and enjoy your run.   

Always follow applicable laws for carrying concealed where you live. And remember that while some in Congress are working to pass laws to protect runners from criminals, you can do something to protect yourself with tools that you might already own. Time and energy spent to better your health is for naught if someone tries to do you bodily harm. Having tools at the ready to protect that body you work for is not just reasonable, it’s an effort that all people should consider when they engage in outdoor activities that can place them in vulnerable positions. 

 

About the Author

Becky Yackley began shooting competitively in 1989, and now competes with her husband and three sons, all world-ranked competition shooters and national champions. They compete in everything from Bianchi Pistol, to 3 Gun, to USPSA and IPSC pistol, rifle and shotgun. Becky is one of the first of two women in the USA whose skill has earned her the honor of representing America in IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) world championships in rifle, pistol and shotgun, and this year, she is adding mini rifle to the list. When she isn’t shooting, Becky is busy with her camera, blogging and creating social and print media in the firearms industry. Off the range, she has written for Gun World, Guns American, Women’s Outdoor News, NRA Women and contributes content for Winchester and other outlets. With her family, she has travelled to 9 countries for IPSC rifle, pistol and shotgun, representing the USA. As a military and LEO wife, any time with her family is important, and shooting sports are a great way to spend that quality time together.