The Jog Guide's Safety Checklist

Important pre-cautionary points to keep in mind before you start your jog. Follow these guidelines and you'll be fine.

Because jogging is not only a solo activity, but also one that is practiced in secluded areas — like city parks, bush trails, and running tracks — in addition to usually being practiced in the early morning or early evening, personal safety becomes an important consideration; not only from bad people, but from injury and the need to get assistance if you should need it.

The Jog Guide has compiled a list of points that you should take into consideration before each daily jogging routine. We also provide some guidelines which may affect your strategy and exercise schedule.

The checklist points that follow are not in any particular order (we believe they all deserve the same weight of concern). There are particular points which will be more relevant to others, and some which are not relevant to you at all. Study them, and keep them in mind when you design your jogging schedule.

  • Always be in a defensive state. Assume pedestrians will not give way to you (take the initiative and give way at a reasonable distance); that motorists will misjudge your distance (jog a foot or two inside your lane just in case); that cyclists do not see you (wear a piece of highly-visible fluorescent clothing to standout).

  • Jog toward traffic. Instead of expecting drivers to swerve around you, take the initiative and give yourself enough room to keep save from absent-minded motorists. Jogging toward traffic will indicate when you need to be alert to oncoming cars.

  • Jog in groups. If you jog with another partner or a group of people, you can concentrate more on your workout instead of constantly having to monitor your environment for danger. If you can jog in a group, try to jog in broad daylight, where there are lots of other people (like parks, bike paths, and running trails.)

  • Let people know where you are. And when you expect to be back. You don't have to bother anyone, just a note on the fridge to say you've gone for a jog and will be back in an hour or two. That way they know when to be truly concerned.

  • Mix up your jogging routes. Attackers tend to pre-meditate their attacks. Knowing that you take a certain route, at a certain time, on a certain day makes you easier prey for them.

  • Be familiar with all your jogging routes. Make an effort to get to know people along your route, just in case you need them in an emergency. Route familiarity is also an advantage when you are escaping an attacker; know where emergency phones are, where major roads and buildings are, where you can be certain to find people, in case you need help.

  • Ignore weirdoes. Don't engage them or interact with them, just keep moving along.

  • Don't run from aggressive dogs. If you get chased by one, STOP, immediately; you will never outrun a dog and running from a dog will urge it to keep chasing you. Instead, stand still and face it confidently, yell at it, clap your hands loudly and stop your feet.

Jogging is fun and beneficial, but we didn't want to create any illusions about the risks involved. There are a comparatively small number of bad people in our world and it's best to accept this fact and design our exercise routines with that in mind instead of being blissfully unaware.

We know it's kind of creepy to talk about these aspects, but it's just a fact of life and we ought to be mature enough to accept that it is a risk and that it is small enough and the benefits of jogging great enough that we are willing to take it on.

So keep all of these points in mind, but don't allow them to ruin your jogging experience. For every absent-minded driver than gives you a near-death experience, there are thousands of others that are considerate and glad to share the road with you. And for every weirdo that creeps you out, there are thousands and thousands of people that will respond positively to you and make your routine all the more enjoyable.

So, have fun, keep safe, and we'll have more for you next time at The Jog Guide.