by Lorraine Gibson.

Bravo if you’ve decided to get out walking or jogging to chase away the winter blues or to combat the adverse effects of too much Christmas and new year overindulgence – but it pays to consider your safety, especially if going it alone.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has these common-sense tips to help you increasing your personal safety while out running:
Let someone know where you’re going and for how long.
Consider downloading a running tracker app on which a trusted family member or friend can trace your movements.

Plan your route before-hand, taking into account whether it will be a busy or well-lit area.
Consider running with others if possible, or joining a running group.
Think about carrying a personal alarm, to enable you to get away from an attacker by distracting them.
Have just one earphone in to ensure you can hear any changes in your surroundings.
If running when it is dark, carry a torch – a head torch is a good hands-free option.
If running in the dark along the road, wear reflective clothing so that road users can easily see you.
Carry a small amount of cash, or your card, to enable you to get home should you need to.

If you feel uncomfortable, or at risk, seek a place of safety, such as a shop or anywhere where there are other people, and tell someone what is happening or has happened.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust wishes to clarify that this advice and the general personal safety advice provided on its web pages is not intended to suggest that taking such actions will eliminate incidents of aggression and violence.
The guidance merely helps people better understand how to assess and mitigate risks to their personal safety.

The information may therefore be used as the preliminary steps one can take to either conduct risk planning, where possible in specific contexts, or alert others.
The advice is also embedded in the wider advocacy work the trust does to address the root causes of violence and aggression across society.