The topic of where to stash a key during a run came up when we were in Niagara Falls for the women’s half-marathon. Race day morning had nine women pondering what to do with our plastic credit-card-size room keys. I told them that I always stuff it in my sports bra.  This may not work for more, ahem, well-endowed women, but it works for me. The key stays put because running bras are, by definition, compression clothing, so I don’t have to carry it in my hand or worry about it falling out of my pocket.

When I drive to meet friends for a run, I always take the car key off my ring and pin it to my shorts and then, continually and obsessively pat my hip throughout my run to make sure I still have it.

Among the group of women I run with one carries her key on a lanyard, one palms the key the whole time, one stashes it in the wheelwell of her car, one threads her key through a shoe lace.  It seems everyone does something different, so I asked local runners — “Where do you stash your key during a run?”

Where I stash my keys depends on the distance I’m running. For a short run, I’ll keep it in the small waistband pocket in my shorts. For long runs and trail races I wear a Nathan hydration pack and keep my keys and phone in a large zippered pocket on the back of it. — M.

I always keep my key in the little pocket provided in the running shorts.  In the winter, I usually put it inside one of my gloves. — T. T.

I have one of those things that hook onto your laces on your shoes for keys. — S.R.

I tie my key fob on the strings of my shorts, I hope they are getting
a thrill being on the “inside”!  — S.B.

Pocket of my shorts or in my running belt. — A. C.

I strap my key right into my shoe laces, and my gel packs, I safety pin into the inside of my shorts if they don’t have a little inside pocket. I make do with what I have. — L.H.

Simple, I just hide them in the car. —P.D.

In my pocket with a safety pin, detached from the main key ring of course. — J.M.

If a runner would turn car thief, they would be golden, I would say 90% are in the gas door or in or on top of ten tire, mine are usuallin in the tire/rim — T.B.

I loop it in the laces of my running shoes – if you want to steal my minivan, you’ll have to catch me first – LOL! —S.S.

My arm band carries my ipod and key for car. — K.G.

I don’t tend to stash it. I usually have my hydration pack and it has a compartment for it. —C.

My car has the keypad on the door, so I lock my keys in it and unlock with the code! Love it! — T.

Tied to my left shoe! — L.S.

Mine is either in my water belt or I carry it in my hand. I was used to running while holding a CD player just 2 yrs ago — A. M.

Ha! Same here! Just take the single vehicle key and loop it into my laces then tuck it in. — J.K.

Secret pocket in my shorts, only woman have access to it   — T.

Heather when my car gets broken into, I blame you! LOL. If I told you, I’d have to kill you! — K.

No key for me. My garage door has one of those keypads for entry. If the power goes out while I’m running…screwed. — R.

My key goes inside the trailer hitch. — C.

In the wheelwell of my vehicle.  Heck, if you wanna steal my hoopdie, feel free! — K.