This post will not contain images of me shaking my thang like Beyonce, instead I want to share something else that will burn your eyes out…literally.
I hate this phrase, but this one legit makes sense.
Way back in the day I had a consistent running partner, and this made for carefree running in any area of town. These days all my runs are solo which I LOVE, but I’d be lying if I said my mind didn’t wander to episodes of CSI whenever a sketchy car drove by.
One of my favorite regular customers at Starbucks used to be a police officer, and is one of those “protective fatherly” like people. Anytime we talk running (because 90% of my conversations with a lot of customers are about running) he asks me about running alone. For weeks he pestered me (in a loving way that fathers do) to get some mace, so I did.
Up until recently I only carried a few things with me when I ran, sometimes some water, once in a while some food, but other than that only two items were constant run items.
Gary my Garmin, because I am a numbers freak.
My RoadID in case I am attacked by radioactive bears, or trip and pass out in a ditch.
This all changed when I was sent a Mace Pepper Spray, Jogger Model. This Mace is perfect for runners (or hikers, and walkers!) because it fits nicely in your hand for easy access. I usually hate carrying things when I run, but I found no annoyances with this.
Boom – thumb pushes button, prepare for total domination. Naturally I had to see how it worked. Nothing worse than needing to actually use this and having no idea what to do.
POW. Right in the kisser.
I chose black over pink because here are my thoughts on color: If someone is coming to attack you and notices a bright pink something in your hand, they are going to know to potentially avoid that, or even try to knock it out of your hand. The black is a bit more discrete and in my mind this means a better chance of going unnoticed.
Also, the pink is just obnoxious..sorry.
Sleek and black…like my soul.
If you are a woman, and you run alone (esp early mornings or late nights when it’s dark) I highly recommend this Mace, it’s better than carrying nothing! I will be taking this on all my runs until I perfect the art of teleportation. Until then, eyeballs beware!
Miles by Mace.
Oh, this is totally cool for men to carry too! Lions, tigers, and flesh melting laser eyed bears OH MY! My Mace makes me feel better in case any savage animals cross my path too!
Q: Do you take any precautions when running/hiking/walking alone?
Blissfulbritt 
38 thoughts on “All the Single Ladies…”
kathy@vodka and soda
i REALLY want to hike/run trails but i’m too chicken to do it by myself!! it’s a pretty secluded area and what if a murder is chasing after me and no one can hear me scream?? or i fall off the cliff and break my legs and can’t get help?? i think of these things and then i decide not to go by myself #pussy
The Vegan 8
You are so freaking hilarious! I love the way you write! “Pow. Right in the kisser” LOL!! When I lived in Japan, some jerkoff tried to attack me while I was walking alone (I was only 18) and it scared the crap out of me. When he grabbed me, THANK GOD I knew how to yell “help” in Japanese and the douche bag ran off then. Ever since then I carried mace. It’s necessary.
Allie @ Everyday Adventures
I really should carry around my pepper spray more often, but I do have a stun gun for if I have to walk alone at night. The salesgirl said the electrical zapping noise scares off wild animals too!
thefaithfulrunner
I think it’s great that you’re taking action to protect yourself and I had no idea that they made such runner-friendly Mace. When I’m running, I’m usually with either my dog or my husband, but on the rare occasion that they won’t come with me and I’m alone, I carry a knife. I’ve taken several self defense classes and although mace might be more practical, A knife has been easier for me to carry. Thanks for sharing this. I might have to look into getting myself one!
aliceinwonder88
my boyfriend, who is former military and in the process of becoming a cop, keeps telling me that i should start carrying mace…i really feel like i would end up spraying myself in the face though. it’s a great idea for running though because i’ve always found running trails to be very creepy…
Amy @ A Desert Girl
I’m going to get some. I am now walking to work. It’s a very short walk, but a walk nonetheless. And I jog once or twice a year, so it’d be good to have for that too. I confess that I am more worried about stray dogs and coyotes than I am about a person attacking me. Is that weird?
Amy @ A Desert Girl
PS – “Starbucks is a battlefield.” Haha!!
Brittany
Not weird at all, I am the same way!! While people scare the hell outta me, I am much more afraid of animals!
Amy
Even if I bought pepper spray to run with, I probably wouldn’t have thought to test it out beforehand… You’re so smart! (And that was probably super fun too!) So happy that you’re still enjoying your runs and can do that a little more carefree with your fun new toy! 😉
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
This is awesome, I’ll need to look into this. I tend to run in the morning so I’m fairly safe as I wait for the sum to come up. When it’s darker, I try to wear obnoxiously bright clothing….it’s my way of telling drivers that a runner is coming down & to slow the heck down!
Change of Pace
So cool! It’s illegal to carry mace in Canada, so sadly I don’t! I’ve seen ads in the back of magazines and been tempted to see if I could get them sent over the border 🙂
My only advice, be sure you know how to use it and know the elements so you don’t end up getting sprayed!
Brittany
Illegal!!?!?!?! That’s ridiculous!
allieksmith
Go girl!! I have some mace! Jimmy’s uncle is one of my running buddies (totally random, I know!) and he always worried about me running alone, especially early in the morning, so he gave me mace that looks a lot like yours! It’s definitely a great thing to have 🙂
Meghan
come on girl, share some of that beyonce shaking style with us! 🙂 i mean that’s really what I was expecting! this is so so so so smart of you to do, for realskis, because i run alone plenty of times and feel so scared sometimes – like when there aren’t humans anywhere in sight. Agh!! 🙂
emmahume
SUCH a good idea. Unfortunately pepper spray is illegal here in the UK :S BUT, not to be dramatic or anything, I do own a rape alarm which I take with me if adventuring in quiet deserted places!
pickyrunner
My mom bought it for me for Christmas and I have yet to take it out of the box haha I try to run alone in safe areas/times of the day because I do need those solo miles, but like you, I hate carrying anything with me. My managers called me the worst salesperson ever the other day because a lady asked what I use when I run and I gave her a blank stare and said I wear sneakers.
Lauren
My Uncle is a cop and just recently sent me some mace. I keep it in my purse, but I didn’t test it. I totally should because I legit won’t know what to do with it. I do, however, feel pretty bad ass knowing I have it!
Alex
Oh my gosh I am so getting some of that portable mace!!!! What a genius idea for hiking, too!! 😀
Jordan @ The Blonde Vegan
Ahh, this is so smart! I am so glad that you got some mace– I have been meaning to do that lately and your post just put it back at the top of my to-do list. And I LOVE your tattoo. 😉
Ashley
I’ve started running/walking at a trail right by my apartment and I usually feel pretty safe since a lot of runners and cyclists use it and I always go at normal times like late morning or early afternoon. But I do have pepper spray in my purse and I think having it as a runner is a smart idea! I just need to find a way to carry all my sh*t because between my keys, phone and sometimes iPod without any pockets it can get a little awkward running while holding my phone in my yoga shorts. I guess I need to invest in some arms bands!
Natalie @ The Ravenous Mommy
I just try to be very aware and remember what my mom told me… poke them in the eye and run!
Aussa Lorens
Ah I’m so glad! I tell all my runny (…haha) friends to carry mace. The world is full of people who want to hurt other people. It’s just true. There are also some good ones mixed in.
Rach @ This Italian Family
I carry pepper spray pretty often. Especially if I’m alone in either a sketch area or remote place. Better safe than sorry!
Alisha's Appetite
My hubby always makes me carry mace when I go running alone too! Better safe than the alternative I guess!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
Lol what about all the single men?
Brittany
YES, YES! Men too! I had to add that last part after realizing men need protection too! 🙂
apartmentwife
i’ve been telling myself i need to carry mace since, well, as far back as i can remember, and so i’m pretty impressed that you actually do it. good work. now, just as important, i’m impressed how kind and caring that police officer is to badgering you enough to actually buy mace and carry it around – he sounds like a sweet man:)
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I actually run with one ear bud in and one ear bud out. This way I can potentially hear approaching strangers. It has nothing to do with the fact that one of my ear buds died either. Alright fine, it totally does, but it still makes me safer. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Davida @The Healthy Maven
My Dad would love for me to carry this if I still ran! He’s threatened to drive alongside me on runs before. What can I say? I’m his baby girl lol
Shawna
i’ve never considered carrying mace/pepper spray, although there have been a couple of accidentally dark runs in NYC where it probably would have been a good precaution. when i first moved to NYC, my dad put a whistle in my Christmas stocking for me to scare away the bad guys while i was running. no lie. i have a rape whistle. somewhere. 🙂
Britta
Damn, you are one smart cookie.. and well, that police officer/customer is right! I have never thought about carrying mace or anything like that, but it makes total sense, especially downtown Vancouver – flipping so many weirdos sometimes. I can don’t run dt late at night or super early because it does freak me out sometimes.
The whole carrying thing might get me.. might. I just don’t like holding anything and putting it in a pocket won’t do me any good 😦 hmmm, that being said – I gotta try it before I can criticize! Way to rock that run too!
katalysthealth
This is awesome girl. I do have mace, as well as a taser, which to be honest is what I prefer. I want the guy squealing like a baby when Im through with him 😉
But jokes aside, I think its really important to take precautions in today’s world. People are just bad now a days.
Brittany
People suck.
An Unrefined Vegan
Lock and load, my friend. Absolutely totally agree you need protection while running alone – or really, when doing anything solo. It’s a big, bad world out there. I carry something a bit stronger than mace/pepper spray – just to even the odds.
Brittany
You are one bad ass vegan my friend. I wouldn’t mess with you!
PNWRunner
I’ve never carried mace before, but my parents are very wiry of me running on the trails nearby. I know they are over cautious, but it wouldn’t hurt to bring mace to keep you “safer.” I used to keep pepper spray when I walked downtown Seattle. lol.
Amalia
I wish I could carry mace, but I am 99% sure its illegal in Canada. My Dad also works with police officers and I get lectures on running safe all the time 🙂
I love that your RoadID says Will Run for Cookies, by the way.
I have thought about carrying Bear Mace.. but for now I just try to run in the daytime, in well lit areas. I may need to grab something if I want to start train running solo.
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