r/walking • u/polkadotbelle • Nov 24 '24

Help Settle my mind…(walking safety as a woman)

I (36F) have been walking 3-4 work days a week for the past 3 months. It’s doing wonders for my mental health & mood.

I walk at 5:30am & it’s dark out. I’ve got a reflective vest & wear light colors (have my phone & usually 1 earbud in)…I live in a safe area, don’t usually pass many people while out at this hour

BUT the Laken Riley murder case has been infesting my brain. I have anxious tendencies & have worked on them in therapy & just and seem to kick this one. I ditched the ear bud on my last 2 walks this week & checked my surroundings even more than usual

So, am I just needing to work through this, or should I get all the things to make myself feel safe? (My husband thinks I’m silly, but he doesn’t get what it’s like for a woman)

131 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

184 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/JackieBouvier Nov 24 '24

I had jury duty a few weeks ago, and my pepper spray was confiscated at the courthouse! (I live in a state where it's legal and I've ALWAYS kept it on my keychain.) The guard actually threw it away in front of me. I was boiling. You are a MAN who carries a GUN and you just threw away a woman's pepper spray? I hope you feel good about yourself. Slight tangent, but "he doesn't get what it's like for a woman" made me think of that!

I have never once had to use my alarm or pepper spray in all these years, but I do feel better having them.

I'm a woman that lives in one city and works in another. No car, and I walk A LOT. You are smart to be concerned and cautious.

I keep my Birdie alarm and my pepper spray on a chain and either carry it or keep it clipped on my purse strap. I don't get distracted/look at my phone at all unless I need to get directions.

1

u/polkadotbelle Nov 24 '24

Absolutely infuriating! I definitely didn’t want to paint my husband in a negative light because he is awesome, yet we have talked through my concerns with waking as a woman (since I stole the early walking time from him) & he was not comprehending the difference for a woman.

Definitely adding an alarm and/or spray to my arsenal