Dear PoPville – Be Careful Running With Headphones

Photo by PoPville flickr user yostinator

Dear PoPville,

I am 23 years old and moved to Columbia Heights about a year and a half ago. Like a lot of people in this city, I love running. Sometimes I run towards Logan Circle, but often times I’m running in the neighborhoods of Park View and Petworth. Unfortunately, about a month ago my friend’s roommate was attacked near Irving and Sherman at 7pm. Her face was beaten and her things were stolen. Not only was she running at night, but she also was listening to music. Although I feel like it’s common sense not to run, or even walk, at night with headphones in your ears, I see people doing it EVERYDAY. I’m concerned about everyone, but when I see young women, like myself, running around Columbia Heights, Park View and Petworth at night it worries me. Of course, I’d like to tap them on the shoulder and say, “Hello?! Do you know that you’re putting yourself in danger?”…but I don’t.

It’s my hope that you could post something about this on your blog so that readers may think twice before running at night while listening to music. In a city that is so exercise-focused, I think it’s important that people know how unsafe it is to be unaware and alone at night in these areas.