There's no one in the park early morning, whoever is there makes me anxious, it's emptiness makes me anxious in a bogeyman sense , people in a very real sense. I started c25k in the hope I could feel less helpless after a mugging but I fear I might be only hindering myself getting over it with running only really being possible very early.
What do you do to feel safe on your runs?
You can overcome anxiety. You can really!
If you run with a group that could help you. Safety in numbers and all that. Out there on the street,in full view of the public, might be the best bet for you, or on a busy trail. Stick to where you expect to see lots of folks. Our park is usually rammed with peeps
On the main road, early on, there are still lots of folks about, commuters mainly but you wouldn't be alone. Again safety in numbers
I would deffo keep up with your running as it really helps clear the head, and should help you with confidence issues.
Are you getting professional help with the anxiety?
No to professional help. I've stuck to areas I can see my house from and run close to the parks entrances, don't take anything but my phone and headphones with me.
Today there was a man just walking across the parks fields back and forth he disappeared and came back close to me. It was 5 am and he didn't have a dog so I just got nervous and ended up doing the last run on my street to the house and the cool down in my back garden lol
I feel bad because he could've been doing the same as me for all I know but I just couldn't help being nervous.
I count on my smelly armpits as a repellant 
No seriously. You're right to be careful, but don't let it become anxiety. You have the right to run without being scared. I try to change the time I do my runs and I have different circuits that I chose haphazardly. I want to avoid letting potentially "weird" people noticing a regularity in place and time (the last case of a runner being attacked in France involved a woman who ran the same route at the same time on a regular basis). I don't stray off the beaten track unless I am running with my hulk- sized teenager. If I can't run with him, I tell someone the route I'm running and at what time I'll be back. Simple precautions that are common sense - it's far more likely that i'll trip over my own feet and knock myself out than get attacked by a wacko, but someone should always know where you are.
I had to leave my house and walk the same route I took when I got mugged and that was terrifying but it's the school run so I've had to do it every weekday since and it's got easier but I'm still sweaty, my heart pounds and I get out of breath.
I will try the main roads on Friday and Sunday instead of the park and I will have to remember to turn round half way through to get back when I say I will lol
Poor you! How awful. I can understand that after an experience like that, walking in the same place must be stressful, and loaded with bad memories 
BUT. The only way to fight your fear is to face it. So go there, and every time you walk down that road, hold your head up high and stick two fingers up at the person who did it to you (in your mind of course, or you'll be the scary one.. ). Don't let them have the last word. Fight the fear, just like you do for the running gremlins.
They say that when you fall off a horse you must get straight back on, which is what you are doing by confronting your fear of the school run. However, of the horse is a dangerous one, maybe try a different horse. Applied to your mugging experience; if you have identified what was going on at the time of the mugging, eg. You were not aware of your surroundings because you were distracted, or you were carrying your mobile in your hand, and changed it, or the police have been informed and done something about it, then you are probably safer doing this than before. At least now you are aware of the danger and can be prepared, by walking more positively, carrying an alarm, keeping valuables out of sight etc, avoiding short cuts through wooded areas or walking with another person if possible. I would strongly suggest you do not merely continue as before and hope it does not happen again. Taking action to make yourself safer is better than just worrying about it.
The running is a good way to feel stronger and normally helps deal with anxiety, but use your new knowledge about how to avoid danger to ensure you run safely. If your area is known for having a lot of crime, there is no shame in using a gym. I can see no benefit to you in deliberately putting yourself in any danger just to prove a point.
At first I went out in a hurry all the time after and made sure I kept my head up because the police say he lives near me and I didn't want him to think I'd been scared off walking around my home. I am fine with the school run now.
It has taken a good couple of months to build back up to going outside for anything without a purpose so I started doing my 10000 steps a day and I started to like being outside. I wanted to feel like I could have a sense of control if it or something similar happened again so I decided to do c25k. I don't want to put myself in harms way at all, I want to know that if im in it I can get out of it relatively unscathed.
I am new to it so I've asked for help and advice and people have been very helpful and supportive which helps a lot.
😊
Also I can't afford a gym membership lol
I walked up to a new one that opened a couple of miles away but I was hot and sweaty by the time I got there so I left 😛
I hope you don't feel I am being discouraging but you did ask in your original question, 'What do you do to feel safe on your runs?', I would say my post answers that perfectly. Walk tall (as you say you already do), don't run in lonely and deserted places, take a phone but don't make it too obvious, don't take unnecessary chances or give people the benefit of the doubt if it is a dodgy area, and stay aware of your surroundings. Using the Apps are great for learning to pace yourself, but try not to focus on it to the detriment of your personal awareness. If you really do not feel safe then don't do it. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valour, as someone else mentioned. You could always take a self defense class instead. If gyms are off the menu due to the cost, can you run during less lonely times of the day?
I usually have the volume pretty low and the majority of my wiring tucked in so that I can hear as well as see things, it's mainly the feeling of safety I have a problem with and probably the precautions I have taken and my lack of others that makes the anxious feelings worse.
Thanks for your suggestions, I will be sure to implement them and the others I have missed.
😊
I started the c25k whilst off work due to servere anxiety and panic attacks. I too did the same only going where I was close enough to get back home if I needed to quickly.
Iv just come back from the final run!
I found that after a few weeks I got bored and would go a little bit further each time. I never dreamt that I would beable to do this but running helps!
Keep it up.
I run on the streets because I like people to be around. I feel safe that cars are going passed and people are around.
Have you tried cbt? It's a therapy where you face your fears head on to over come them.
Good luck as I know how life effecting anxiety can be x
Thanks for replying, I will check out cbt and see if that helps. Congratulations on finishing! 
Well done and congratulations on your graduation run!!!!
I'm phobic about dogs, but I can't do 10k on the treadmill. I had to face the fear and just run in the park. I get very twitchy sometimes, and I still stop to walk past some dogs, I even curtailed a run once, but I have to go out there and do it. It gets easier.
Get a personal alarm, and stay in open areas, and all the other stuff suggested, but you have to go out and face your fear. It's not going to be easy, but it will be worth it.
Thanks. I am really trying!
I am grateful to the non judginess of you lot, really thank you
I do a particular route a lot that's quite out of the way. I wear il luminous pink too and trainers only on that route! You can also get a small keychain thing that makes an almighty loud alarm noise when you pull the chain. I will look for where u get them but I got mine from a community event to keep women in particular safe.
Thanks, I will see if I can find one. 😊
How are you with dogs? Is their a neighbour or friend who could lend you one to run with?
My sister has a jack Russel chihuahua cross I could steal once a week lol
I may have to just try and fit runs in later in the day or just run around my house.
Well I confess I always told my daughters growing up ' never put yourself into a position where you feel afraid or cant escape' even if that means you feel a little foolish. Discretion is always the better part of valour... As we grow we tend to think we are invulnerable.. We aren't sadly.
Don't worry about your gut instincts for now they are perfectly natural... Stick to and find busier places and times where you feel more safe!! And good luck with the running too!!
Hi I know how you feel! I live in an area where i can either run next to main roads if it's early or run at our big park where there are always dog walkers. But still on days when its quiet in nervous. I've seen this same guy on s lot of my runs at the park just walking, no dog or kids so its made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I know i shouldn't think badly if everyone but my mind runs away from me a lot!
I have recently bought an attack alarm. Its a small little gadget that cost about £6 and emits a loud siren if you pull out a pin. This makes me feel safer. Also people say vary your running route so its not so predictable. I've also thought about doing a self defence course to help me feel more confident but maybe in the future x
You've given yourself a head start in correctly locating what the issues are and clearly have plenty of guts to be tackling this head on. I'd second the suggestion to be kind to yourself and try to secure yourself some professional CBT as well so this isn't any harder than it has to be and you give yourself the best chance of success.
It might be worth trying a whole battery of strategies for feeling safer whilst running at different times so that you don't overly invest in one and find it impossible to run without it.
I always run with my phone and my dog and a whistle. I don't vary my runs because of fear but because I like the variety and I feel it keeps the dog on her toes. I'm always off road because I am precious about my joints so we often have the woods to ourselves. I grew up with lots of stories of the rare occasions when things go badly wrong (Dad was a police officer) but he always encouraged us to get out there regardless. (And we had enough horrible stories of what happened to people in their own homes, or even at their own hand, to balance it!)
There are men who walk alone, it's not illegal. I see quite a few chaps walking for health around where I live, which is fine. it doesn't make them an axe murderer or wierdo.
You're a big girl now and you can overcome your fears. Much of life is a battle but we have to push on and go forward with positivity. You are strong! You better believe it. They say a woman is like a tea bag. You don't know how strong she is til she's in hot water!
We're all gunning for you. Get out there and nail those runs. Come on. Yeeeeeha!
I have just bought an attack alarm and snagged some flourescent coloured vests in asda for 2 pound 50 each! Bargain lol
I'll be making an appointment with the Dr for a couple of weeks time to give me a chance to calm down by myself and try out some of the things I found on the net.
Thanks for all the ideas and advice 😃
it's my last run of week 2 tomorrow so I'd rather not waste the sweat on wondering what other people are doing lol
True... concentrate on the running... (which , by the way, will HELP in the longer term with feelings of anxiety! )
BARGAIN on the ASDA front!!
Just gegging in as a fellow anxiety-sufferer to say 1) keep running, it really helps settle your head. 2) go to your GP, be honest about your experiences (it's hard when you describe symptoms not to feel like a drama queen - be honest anyway) and ask directly whether you can be referred for cbt or another talking therapy. It can really save your mind from the spirals of horribleness. 3) stay strong, be kind to yourself, it will get easier but it takes a wee bit of time.
Thank you. My next run is tomorrow morning so im off up the main roads in a bright top! Everyone's been really nice and helpful, I'm quite glad I asked you lot 💜
Good lass Jammy! Enjoy your run petal. Take your time. Be loud and proud in your new top.
I had the chance to go later than 5 am so I did and it was great! People were outside, lots of them, all I did was concentrate on getting through all of the runs without having to walk early. I had 2 apps on the go so accidentally did an extra run at the end but I have done week 2 now 😀😃
Good. Well done. Keep up the momentum. Go steady!
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To Infididie and beyond!! Roll call & Nearly a Graduate
