It's common for women to feel unsafe running or walking alone. Whenever my husband runs trails, he tries to keep a safe distance from any women running alone and give a friendly hello or nod, and then run past them.

He says sometimes if he sees them, he can see their shoulders stiffen up when he approaches, so he does his best to not make them feel unsafe.

Smart to trust your instincts. And yes, appearing confident and taking big strides is wise advice.