Sadly, runners are frequently targeted by criminals. Perhaps it should come as no surprise. We’re tired and our energy is focused on the task of putting one foot in front of the other. Our awareness drops. Many choose quiet, remote locations for a workout.
I’ve been a distance runner for about 30 years, and I don’t know of one other runner with that much time on the trail who hasn’t found themselves in a scary situation. For that reason, I carry while I run. It took me many years and miles to decide how and what to carry, but I have found a system that works.
The Firearm
You’ll never truly appreciate how dramatically a few ounces of gun weight impact concealed carry until you’ve run a few miles with a heavy gun in a fanny pack. A light gun is less of a burden and bounce around less. So, I carry an old Rohrback 380 Auto semi-auto that weighs around 15 ounces and has proven quite reliable. The Parkerized finish was never going to stand up to daily exposure to moisture and sweat, so I had my friends at H&M Blacknitride+ give the gun a black nitride coating. That surface coating has been extremely tough, and unlike Cerakote, it won’t chip or flake. It fits into the internal holster in the pack and rides comfortably even on long runs. Light guns work best for running, but they’re going to take a beating, so I wouldn’t carry my custom 1911 on the trail.
The Ammunition
In many regards, ammunition is the most important part of your carry gun recipe. Everyone wants a lightweight, easy-to-carry trail gun, but as you go down in cartridge and barrel length, it’s easy to sacrifice performance. Choosing a running gun is an exercise (pun intended) in choosing the right cartridge and ammunition, a combination that provides low weight, moderate recoil, and sufficient capacity and stopping power.
The 9mm Luger is the obvious choice, and it’s a good one. Speer offers several 9mm and 9mm +P loads with Gold Dot projectiles. I choose Gold Dot ammunition because it has a long history of outstanding performance in gel tests and is the top choice of law enforcement agents. There’s a good chance the 9mm you choose to carry will be small, so that means the 135-grain Gold Dot Carry Gun is ideal. That load is optimized for compact handguns yet it still offers the reliability and proven performance of a Gold Dot.
The 9mm is always a good choice, but I think there are other cartridges that are as good or better. The 30 Super Carry shines as a carry gun for runners, and the 19-ounce Smith & Wesson Shield Plus 30 SC pistol offers a 13-round capacity with a flush fit magazine for minimal weight and size. That’s three more rounds than you get from the 9mm version of that pistol with a flush-fit mag, and the 30 SC approximates 9mm performance in a trimmer cartridge. The 30 SC may well be the ultimate pistol for trail runners, and the Speer 115-grain Gold Dot Personal protection load at 1,150 fps is a great load for 30 SC carry pistols.
If you like revolvers, there are several options from which to choose. 22 WMR revolvers represent are certainly on the low end of the power scale for defense, but 22 WMR revolvers are extremely light. Smith & Wesson’s 351 PD in 22 WMR weighs just 11 ounces, and North American Arms offers even lighter 22 WMR revolvers. However, you’ll generally see poor performance from these guns when shooting 22 WMR ammunition that was designed for hunting small game with a rifle.
Instead, check out Speer’s Gold Dot Personal Protection Short Barrel load, which fires a 40-grain Gold Dot bullet at 1,050 fps. It’s the best option to get the most from your 22 WMR defensive revolver.
Perhaps a better choice (and certainly a more powerful one) is the 327 Federal Magnum. Small-frame 327 revolvers generally hold six rounds, which is only one less than the Smith & Wesson 351 PD in 22 WMR and one more than most 22 WMR micro-compact revolvers. The 327 Federal also delivers impressive punch: Speer’s Gold Dot 100-grain 327 Federal Magnum load generates 500 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, almost 150 foot-pounds more than a 124-grain 9mm load at 1,150 fps. The 327 Federal Magnum is certainly capable of stopping a threat, but if the recoil and muzzle blast are too much, you can always step down to 32 H&R magnum ammunition, which can also be fired in 327 Federal Magnum revolvers.
The 380 Auto is very likely the most popular carry gun for runners, and it works fine. It offers neither the punch of the 9mm Luger, 30 SC, or 327 Federal Magnums nor the added capacity of a 22 WMR, but there are lots of affordable 380 Autos on the market. Essentially a shortened 9mm Luger, the 380 Auto produces mild recoil, but it’s important to choose a suitable defense load. I prefer Speer’s 90-grain Gold Dot 380. With a muzzle velocity of 1,040, it produces more than 200 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, considerably more than a 22 WMR.
Whatever firearm you choose, select top-shelf self-defense ammunition like Speer’s Gold Dot. Reliable performance is critical in a defensive situation, and Gold Dot’s long history of class-leading performance means you can count on this ammunition to stop a threat.
The Holster
Don’t forget about this one. I’ve tried just about every carry holster designed for runners, and most of them did not work for me. Belly bands are one of the most popular choices because they are concealable, breathable and lightweight, but I haven’t found one that offers great security, and most rub uncomfortably against the body when I run. Arrowhead Tactical makes a pair of joggers with an internal belt that offers good security, but it can be challenging to find a belt that fits comfortably.
In recent years I’ve exclusively relied on running packs for carry, specifically the Marathon Gun Pack from Elite Survival Systems. I chose it because it was designed for distance runners and looks the part. Some carry packs look tactical, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I don’t want to draw any more attention than necessary. The Marathon Gun pack actually comes with hydration bottles, and it holds my phone, ID, and keys. It also offers rapid access to my firearm and my spare magazine. Most importantly, it’s comfortable enough to wear on long runs.