How far should one be able to run from danger?

[easyg]

I doubt that the average U.S. citizen can run a mile without stopping.
1/2 a mile, maybe.

 

[Shadow 7D]

depends on what the danger is, I know one person who CCW's because as he quite bluntly puts it, "I'm too old and fat to run, so I guess that leaves standing my ground"

 

[BeerSleeper]

I'd be more worried about if the average citizen could even walk a mile.

 

[Boberama]

Obviously in this scenario your first mistake was being unarmed.

It's illegal to be armed here. It's called Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose.

It is an offence in Canada to possess a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public’s peace or for the purpose of committing a criminal offence.



What is a weapon?

There are some items such as “firearms” and a list of other illegal objects including brass knuckles or cross bows that will always meet the definition of a weapon in law. Other items, such as a pocket knife or hunting knife require that the item be, “used, designed to be used or intended for use in causing death or injury to any person or for the purpose of threatening or intimidating any person” to meet the definition of a weapon. The Crown Attorney must prove that the item meets this definition or fall within a list of prohibited weapons in order to establish that the item is a weapon.



What is considered a purpose dangerous to the public’s peace?

A purpose dangerous to the public’s peace includes a disruption of the “normal state of society” and a disturbance of “the general peace and order of the realm as provided for by law”. It is an, "unquiet and harmful behaviour towards the Queen and her people" according to various legal definitions.






So, it's fight or flight. No, I'm not really from White Mesa.

 

[alohachris]

IMO, you are talking about running where sprinting is more applicable. If you're being chased by people in the city, laying down a hard 440 while changing directions and busting your best parkour moves will ditch most trouble. Out in the country, I'm thinking stealth & a steady pace would be more important. Run to safety, not away from danger (e.g.: back to a crowded area vs to your car in an empty lot).

My personal bests are a 6:15 mile, 32 min 10k, 3:35 marathon, and 8 hours for "Run to the Sun", a 36 mile race on Maui. It starts at the beach in Kahului and ends at the summit of Haleakala. The entire run iks uphill, with 10,000 feet of elevation gain.

 

[psyopspec]

This is a forum dedicated to firearms. Not fitness or evasion techniques. Go back to the gym if you want to fish for compliments. Or move over to the activism forum and rally your statesmen to change your unconstitutional laws (assuming your in the US).

S&T is actually dedicated to the "software" portion of living life safely, training correctly, and being prepared. Fitness is very much a part of all three.

I don't view running as a tactic all its own, but I think it is important as part of a larger regiment for fitness. After coming home from Iraq and spending 4 years in college, I've spent a lot of this deployment getting both intentional and incidental exercise to get back in shape. When I have time to do the exercise I want, I try for a little bit of everything. If I only get to do one thing, it's a run. Cardio is a stress reliever of sorts for me, but since I hit the ground here last fall I've lost 25 pounds and can go for quite a while under weight without even breaking a sweat. While weight training has helped with being able to bear gear, I credit the running for the endurance I've gained.

In the end, it's a balance. I want my guys to be able to keep up, fight armed and unarmed, pull a larger person out of a burning vehicle, and run at a full sprint to back up a buddy in a fight if it's called for; all while wearing 60-120 pounds of gear.

Civilian side, I understand that not everyone is able to be in good shape due to medical issues, age, etc. However, you can't deny the benefits of being in shape. Speaking in terms of tactics, the person with a high level of fitness has more options at his disposal (and, IMO more of a chance for success) than someone who is overweight, lacks strength, and is easily winded.

 

[Nutgun]

I think I'm gonna start excercising....

Running from fear is different than running for fun.

 

[leadcounsel]

Prey vs. Predator.

Not gonna outrun a predatory animal. Their tool is their endurance, strength, senses, power, stamina, and claws/teeth. Your tool is between your ears. Man can only defeat animals with weapons. Better get one, fast.

Now for 2 legged predators, my bet is that they are predators because they are strong, armed, drugged/drunk, etc. In most cases the average predator is going to outrun/outlast the average victim, simply by the nature of the typical predator (weak people typically aren't predators). Therefore, unless you have fitness/fighting training, you should also put things between you and your predator and yourself and get a weapon, fast.

Now if you are fit enough to run a few miles, then you may outlast the perp, but that's a huge gamble and requires that you don't fall or tire first. If after X distance/flight of stairs/etc. you are exhausted and he isn't then you are at his absolute mercy.

 

[Gritacular]

Ok fellas listen up.

He is not saying "how much shoud I be running to be in shape and able to defend myself..."

The question is literally (look at the name of the thread):

"How far should one be able to run from danger? "

Learn to read the actual question,

 

[JellyJar]

Unarmed I would either try to climb a tree or pray realllll fast! I don't run too well anymore.

 

[navyretired 1]

Your problem is not lack of weapons or how far to run, it's the ability to recognise a improvised weapon and make use of it, I doubt you could run 50 ft without finding something to defend yourself with legally. Find a fist sized rock face your antaganist and tell him this as far as we go"Leave me alone NOW"

 

[psyopspec]

Ok fellas listen up.

He is not saying "how much shoud I be running to be in shape and able to defend myself..."

The question is literally (look at the name of the thread):

"How far should one be able to run from danger? "

Learn to read the actual question,

Roger that. And a discussion focused on running as a tactic is unrelated how?

 

[rm23]

Always remember that a need activates a drive. If you know that you need to get away fast you'll have more stamina to do what you need to do.

If you're really, really out of shape though, you will probably be screwed.

 

[Gritacular]

"Roger that. And a discussion focused on running as a tactic is unrelated how? "

I would not say it is unrelated, but he asked " How far should one be able to run from danger" on a forum devoted to weapons which can brake the soundbarrier and reach over a mile in a few moments.

I was sugesting it would be smarter strategy to campaign to change his laws or go to a gym to fish for compliments like I suspect he started this thread for.

That's all I gotta say.

 

[LouisCipher777]

zombies don't stop... so if you can't just keep running, what's the point? The most important part of evasion has nothing to do with running.

and it's really hard to fight for your life when you're out of breath and wheezing like a 70 year old two-pack-a-day smoker on oxygen because you tried to run from whatever it is chasing you.

 

[mokin]

I see running as a good way to develop breath control. I could probably go 500 yards all out (to evade danger) before I had to slow down. Most of my training is oriented around endurance activities- marathons and multi-sport races to be practical on a tactical basis.

The fastest I ever moved was when I scared up a skunk. I know I'll never outrun a lion or bear. But, as long as you not the slowest person in the group, you don't have to outrun the bear.

 

[JoeSlomo]

I was sugesting it would be smarter strategy to campaign to change his laws or go to a gym to fish for compliments like I suspect he started this thread for.

I'm not seeing the OP bragging or fishing for compliments with this post.

Strategies and tactics encompass all means of defense imo, including avoidance by foot if necessary.

Just as there are those who don't have a lot of experience in formal live fire training, there are those who don't have experience with physical training, and will seek techniques, advice, and opinions on that particular aspect of a potential training program.

 

[BeerSleeper]

It's got me thinking. My personal range is about 400-500 yards behind my house. Maybe on my outings I should think about running there and back, and leaving the 4 wheeler in the shed. Wouldn't be much, but it would be something.

 

[Boberama]

Strategies and tactics encompass all means of defense imo, including avoidance by foot if necessary.

Exactly.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

To answer your question, I'm in my early 20s and I can run about 2 miles at a 10 min/mile pace before I need to walk. This is probably about average for non-runners, maybe a little less than average. Since I'm a tactically minded guy, this fact bothers the crap out of me. I know I need to do cardio, but it's just so hard to get started....

Also, if you're running from a threat(person/animal/bomb threat/active shooter), the first quarter mile will probably be at a sprint... in which case, I'd be done in 250 yards(tops) and be too winded to put up much of a fight if caught. Yeah, I know this is pathetic.

I've been meaning to fix this for a while now, I just don't have the motivation. Your best bet would be to train cardio, train defensive pistol use, and carry all the dang time. Knowing how to fight without a pistol couldn't hurt.

What the other posters are saying is extremely accurate. If the predator(s) didn't think you were a sure thing, they wouldn't pick you as a target. And if you weren't obviously outmatched, you wouldn't be running for your life now would you? CARRY YOUR WEAPON. ALWAYS.

"An adversary is hurt more by desertion than by slaughter."
-Flavius Vegetius

Most troops who died back in the day were trying to run away from the battle scared for their lives. They would sprint away and get winded, then they were easy to catch and kill after they were out of formation. Plus, they weren't even putting up a fight, just trying to get away with their backs turned to the pursuers. The rest of the army, after seeing friendly units break away and start to run(and possibly witnessing them getting slaughtered while hauling butt), would get demoralized over fighting a losing battle and run away as well. A trickle turns into a flood and a whole army of routing men could then be completely killed off by a few opposing units of fit soldiers or a few mounted troops. The saying, "don't run, you'll only die tired" seems true to me unless you're running for cover.

 

[JohnKSa]

As mentioned, you won't outrun anything on four legs.

As for running from attacking humans, the key in determining how far you should run is in first determining what you are running to.

Simply running with no destination in mind in hopes that you will be faster and have more endurance than your attacker seems like a poor strategy.

 

[BCC]

My strategy for conflict, whether armed or not, is to attempt to avoid it. Yes, I'd consider running.

I think I could run at a fast pace for a mile or so and then keep going indefinitely at a moderate run.

 

[Nutgun]

In your 20-30s you can probably run far and fast.

40-50s not so far and not so fast.

60-70s nobody is running anywhere.

So doesn't ones age and physical condition dictate your ability to evade an attacker? This should increase your need toward using deadly force faster.

60-70s the chances of you dying from a heart attack from running or just being scared is much higher. The attackers advantage over you is greatly increased.

Does anyone have any statitics about how far a criminal will chase you? Watching police chases on TV they can run for miles to get away.

How far should one be expected to run? Realistically..After about a half a block most people wouldn't be able to mount any serious defense. Now you're gonna die half a block after you tried to run away.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

60-70s nobody is running anywhere.
my dad finished the marine marathon in under 3 hours at 68 and he worked a desk his whole life.
i'm in my 50's and run with an inhaler in one hand my time sunday was 6:09 for a mile. now maybe your spent after a 1/2 block might explain a lotta things

 

[Nutgun]

Do you represent the average person (majority) or do you consider yourself a little above average (minority.)

What good is it if someone runs half a block and dies from a heart attack? One they probably wouldn't have had without being threatened. Just trying to be compliant.