Jogging and sexual assaults

The need of being aware while jogging

In today's issue of women's self-defense tips we will talk briefly about being aware while jogging. This is something you will find in greater detail in our bi-monthly Women Can reports. Let us first show one typical example.

The below incident also points to how perpetrators may operate, by planning and setting up a suitable place to strike. This of course should be yet another indication as to how the term "random violence" is more of a media construction than a matter of fact. You will also note that the attacker (again) approaches from behind.

An attempted abduction

It was August 11, 2007, that a 37-year-old man attempted to abduct a 14-year-old girl in Litchfield, Connecticut.

According to the girl, the man had offered her a ride after he pulled up behind her while she was jogging. When she refused his offer, he reportedly chased her on foot. After a struggle, he left the girl alone and she ran into the woods and later called police.

It is alleged the man lied in wait for his intended victim and came up from behind her. He also selected a secluded portion of the road for his assault. Officials say the man searched remote country roads for months - driving past women jogging alone. Eventually, he tried to abduct the teenager.

Four other women testified during a court hearing how the man repeatedly drove by them as they had been jogging near a wildlife preserve.

A bad habit

Fortunately, this girl fought back and was able to escape. Unfortunately this case is not unique at all - something you soon will see if you read our 5000 (and growing) women's self-defense case study.

Something we always strive to remind anyone jogging, walking or running on their own is to be very careful about not closing out their surroundings by listening to music on an iPod or similar.

Yes, it is very tempting to put those headphones on, but is simply one of the single most dangerous thing you can do. By doing so, you are in effect shutting down your awareness to the almost non-existent. Just by watching someone talking on a cell phone or walking while listening to music, you will see that not only is the sense of hearing "gone" - the visual awareness is severly hampered as well.