🏃♀️ Module 7: Real-Life Running Safety Scenarios
Scenario 1: The Repeated Follower
📍 Location: Bristol, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A woman noticed a man following her morning runs. She changed her route and alerted police. He had a history of stalking.
✅ Safety Tip:
Break predictable patterns. Report suspicions early.
Scenario 2: The Headphones Trap
📍 Location: Leeds, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A runner with loud music didn’t hear a cyclist and nearly fell into the road.
✅ Safety Tip:
Keep one ear free. Stay alert to your surroundings.
Scenario 3: The Shortcut Decision
📍 Location: Glasgow, Scotland
🔎 What Happened:
A woman took a dark alley shortcut and was grabbed. She escaped after screaming for help.
✅ Safety Tip:
Avoid isolated shortcuts. Stick to visible routes.
Scenario 4: Social Media Overshare
📍 Location: London, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man timed his run to match a woman’s using her Strava posts.
✅ Safety Tip:
Keep GPS and route sharing private.
Scenario 5: The Lost Dog Distraction
📍 Location: Surrey, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man asked a runner to help look for a dog in the woods. She declined and reported him.
✅ Safety Tip:
Don’t follow strangers into secluded areas.
Scenario 6: The Park Bench Watcher
📍 Location: Nottingham, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man watched female runners daily and followed one to a car park.
✅ Safety Tip:
Report suspicious repetition. Trust your instincts.
Scenario 7: The Van Shadowing
📍 Location: Manchester, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A van followed a runner several times. She went into a shop and took photos.
✅ Safety Tip:
Get to a public place if followed by a vehicle.
Scenario 8: The 'Injured' Stranger
📍 Location: Cardiff, Wales
🔎 What Happened:
A man pretended to be hurt. When the runner called for help, he fled.
✅ Safety Tip:
Help from a distance. Don’t approach suspicious strangers.
Scenario 9: Fitness Tracker Leak
📍 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
🔎 What Happened:
A man tracked a runner using her live workout data.
✅ Safety Tip:
Disable live tracking. Keep data private.
Scenario 10: Flashing Incident
📍 Location: York, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man exposed himself along a trail. He was caught after multiple reports.
✅ Safety Tip:
Always report indecent exposure.
Scenario 11: The Group Pretender
📍 Location: Birmingham, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man joined a women’s running group and tried to isolate a member during a route.
✅ Safety Tip:
Vet new group members. Don’t run off with strangers.
Scenario 12: Night Run Misjudgment
📍 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
🔎 What Happened:
A runner was injured and stranded after a solo night run. No one knew her route.
✅ Safety Tip:
Tell someone your route. Avoid running in darkness alone.
Scenario 13: Catcalling Escalation
📍 Location: Sheffield, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man catcalled a runner, then followed her. She entered a nearby shop for safety.
✅ Safety Tip:
Ignore baiting. Head to a safe, public place.
Scenario 14: Car Park Encounter
📍 Location: Brighton, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A woman was approached by a man asking odd questions in a quiet car park post-run.
✅ Safety Tip:
Stay alert during cooldown. Park in busy, well-lit areas.
Scenario 15: Tied Shoelace Trick
📍 Location: Liverpool, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man crouched in the path, pretending to tie a shoelace, then followed a runner.
✅ Safety Tip:
Be aware of strange behavior. Cross the street or speak loudly.
Scenario 16: Fake Running Partner
📍 Location: Sheffield, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man matched a woman’s pace and asked personal questions while running.
✅ Safety Tip:
End the interaction confidently. Divert route to a public area if necessary.
Scenario 17: Disappearing Dog Walker
📍 Location: Wokingham, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A known dog walker suddenly appeared without a dog, watching runners from bushes.
✅ Safety Tip:
Recognize changes in familiar patterns. Trust your gut and avoid the area.
Scenario 18: Creepy Compliment
📍 Location: Oxford, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man complimented a female runner and then began following her closely.
✅ Safety Tip:
Don’t engage. Cross roads or head into a public space.
Scenario 19: The Look-Alike Disguise
📍 Location: Leicester, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man in full running gear lingered near routes but never ran. He was arrested later for stalking.
✅ Safety Tip:
Outfit doesn’t equal safety. Watch actions, not appearance.
Scenario 20: Stroller Ambush
📍 Location: Southampton, UK
🔎 What Happened:
A man used an empty stroller to block a path and ambush a runner. She fought back and escaped.
✅ Safety Tip:
Props can deceive. Keep space and stay aware of setups.