princess has a bone to pick

Ya, I damn right do!  Tho, the entire princess thing makes me laugh, but whatever at this point.

I haven't been on Twitter in I don't know how long.  Like a really long time my friends.  I just read this tweet by fellow athlete/triathlete Heather Fuhr:  "Why do women running alone on trails wear IPODS? You would think you would want to hear if someone is coming up behind you- apparently not!! "  I assume she is talking about Chelsea King (RIP young one) who was recently attacked, raped and murdered along a frequented trail system in San Diego county.  Yes, I have ran there many times and MTB'd there many times.  Sometimes running with or without an ipod and alone all times except for one.  There was another woman in her 20's that was attacked and fought off the same predator a couple weeks prior to Chelsea's early death.  She was not wearing headphones, in fact, this guy s'posedly had said "HI" a few times before, so they were acquainted "sorta" in FBI/cop speak. 

It is very sad that many of us, being the majority whom are women, have to worry about predators of the two-legged variety with penis's attached every time we head out for a frickin run, bike ride, or even a walk for god's sake!  Does it matter if we have an ipod playing?   Not really.  Per national statistics it doesn't seem to matter to the perp whether said woman/girl has headphones on ,95% of the time the perps said they couldn't distinguish that fact until they attacked said victim.  So, does the victim hear them or not hear them coming up from behind as Heather posted on Twitter?  Maybe, maybe not.  What if they were attacked from the front, the side, jumped from a trash bin or from a tree for that matter?  What if they felt comfortable with this perp prior to their attack, sorta like they knew them or maybe even discussed small subjects with them on the trailhead? 

Most women I know that run, either with or without an ipod are very aware of their surroundings.  The basic need in general is for women to have some defense protocol, period!  Know how to go for the eyes, the nose, the groin and the instep without even thinking about it for a nano-second.  Easier said than done when you are in an all out flight or fight mechanism of action, but very much needed in this runner's opinion.

Another thing that all women seem to have in common is to "trust" period.  Pretty much no questions asked.  Per an FBI/profilist I saw on TV not too long ago states, that most women don't follow their gut instincts, their intuition...they sorta poo-poo the whole thing.  They want to be polite, nice.

They always want to help or assume the best in people, even tho their guts are telling them to GET THE HELL OUTTA DODGE NOW!!

Instead of pointing fingers as I'm sure some forum sites are doing and some noted athletes and not.  Why don't we as women and men educate ourselves and our daughters, nieces, girlfriends and loved ones how to be safe. 

1)  Don't run in areas alone that you don't know very well, go with a group to run or ride.

2)  If you wear headphones, pop out one ear piece and listen with the other, etc. on a very low level, so that you can distinguish/hear everything that goes on around you every minute that you are out on said trail/road.

3)  Always be cautious when running by alleys, bushes/thick brush, make note of cars that seem to be doubling back or looking somewhat familiar on the same route.

4)  Per above, differ your route daily.  Each and every time.  Do not take the same routes whether biking, running or walking.  It is a known fact that women are tracked by perps due to their routes and then attacked.

5)  Take pepper spray with you, specifically on early a.m./dusk runs.  You can find pepper spray at any sporting goods store. 

6)  Run like you are invincible.  The more vulnerable you seem to be to your predator the more likely they will attack.  This goes for any activity women, whether it is mall shopping, grocery shopping, and specifically walking out to your car at nite, etc.

7)  If you get the chance to go to a 2nd location with said predator, DO NOT TAKE IT!  If you aren't already toast, you will be well toasted and then some if you go anywhere with them.

8)  Fight like HELL!!  This one is mine.  If I were attacked on a trailhead, I would either use my brain and fumble thru my female woes immediately, like I'm on my period, I have HIV, Ebola,...whatever to get them to stop or to contemplate, so I can defend myself.  If that doesn't work then screw it.  I will fight, plain and simple.  Hopefully, I scare them off, if not at the very least I leave enuf DNA all over them, so that they are screwed for at least 25yrs to life.

Bottom line is we can't throw stones, just because we weren't the ones attacked this time.  What about next time and the time after that?  Yeah, it pretty much sucks to be realistic, but as women/girls we need to be on the defense at all times whilst out in the wild, whether it be the city, suburbia or the trails. 

Be Safe Girls!