Let’s start off with a scenario. Answer truthfully, you are not being graded, you are just going to measure your “before you read the article and after you read the article” answer.
The holidays are just around the corner, and you have decided to get a jump on that Christmas list. It is Friday around 5pm and the parking lot is full, so you park in one of the spaces furthest away from the entrance. You get out, lock your doors and casually stroll to the mall. Once there you see all the decorations, hear the jolly music and see people make friendly eye contact and smile. You think to yourself, “Wow, this is going to be a pleasant experience” and you start to get into the Christmas spirit.
After buying gifts from the cosmetic department, the electronics store and the jewelry store, you are ready to head home. As you walk through the doors with a handful of gifts, you try to recall where you parked. It dawns on you; you parked a football field away.
You get about halfway to your car and you hear footsteps from behind, coming up on you FAST. You recognize that sound at once and break out into a run towards your car.
Do you make it there? Be honest with yourself, are you safely in your car with the doors locked?
If your answer was “no,” then running may not be the best choice for you.
If your answer was “yes,” then I want to congratulate you but first, finish reading my article and see if your answer is still a “yes.”
Let us look at factors that influence speed for the general population:
- Terrain: You may run slower on an uneven surface as opposed to a flat parking lot.
- Health: What is your medical condition? Are you in good shape? Weight can affect your ability to run. Do you have any injuries?
- Age and gender: As a rule for the general population, men walk and run faster than women. My research shows that women are .5 mile per hour slower than men and as women age, this number can easily increase to roughly 1 mph slower.
- Train: Are you consistent in your training program? Do you run or sprint two to four times a week?
- Distance: Sprinting is a must, but you will naturally slow down for longer distances.
- Attire: What shoes are your wearing? Flip-flops? Heels? Cowboy boots? Can you run in the shoes you are wearing while shopping?
Let’s first address the answer “No, I did not make it to my car.” That means that one, a few or all the bullet points above influenced your ability to be explosive and run away. I would highly recommend that you not only carry pepper spray but have it pre-deployed in your hand when alone and in a parking lot. If you heard footsteps running to you from behind, you may have no choice but to drop your packages as you turn around and prepare to possibly spray or engage and spray the bad dude approaching you. After he has stopped, get to your car as quickly as you can and lock the doors.
If your answer was “yes.” Then please evaluate the bullet points and see if you can relate to any of them. If so, you may not be a “yes.” That is ok: It is good to realize that you may not be able to outrun the bad guy now, and not during an unwanted encounter.
In the perfect world, your scenario would go something like this:
After buying gifts from the cosmetics department, the electronics store and the jewelry store, you are ready to head home. You thought ahead and brought a big brown bag with a handle from the house and placed all your gifts in there so no one can see your purchases. As you walk through the doors you try to recall where you parked. It dawns on you; you parked a football field away.
You pre-deploy your pepper spray and start walking to your car with purpose. Your head is up, and you are scanning your surroundings the whole time. Your gait is confident, and you do not look approachable.
Guess what: You were never selected as a victim of a crime because your loot was not on display, and you did project as a vulnerable person. The answer to this scenario is to deselect yourself so it never happens.
Read the full article here