A few weeks ago I was out for a weekday AM run. It was just barely light enough out that I didn't need a head lamp to see, maybe around 6:15. I live in a sleepy suburban neighborhood where almost nothing ever happens, and I probably take that for granted more than I should.
Anyway, I was about 2 streets away from my own, and saw this van approaching me really slowly. At first I thought it was a newspaper guy, given the hour, speed, and random stops. The neighborhood was dead quiet. But when I went to run past him, he leaned out his window and tried to talk to me. I remember hearing HEY. ...in, like, the tone I use when Puppy Derkins has not come inside from the yard after the 14th time I've called her. I can't describe it well, but it was really threatening-seeming. I had an iPod on and just kept going, but it really shook me. I told Calvin when I got home, and he was kind of 'eh' about it.
But then a few days later there was a report of an attempted abduction of a 14 year old girl out running around the same time of day, on the road that our neighborhood is accessed from. And then another report in a nearby town. Same pattern.
Eventually the guy was arrested on a couple of burglary and attempted burglary charges. Everyone is pretty sure all the incidents with the girls are the same guy. Once he was arrested, the reports stopped coming. Calvin told me this week that while he was being held in the county jail, he hung himself.
I never shook the feeling of how profoundly creepy this guy was, and how unsafe I felt after that. After how casual Calvin originally was about it, I feel sort of vindicated that I was right, he was worrisome. But it was definitely a reminder to trust your instincts, and if something weirds you out, there's probably a reason.
How scary, I 'm glad that you are okay and hope all the others are too. We are the opposite; H think everyone is trying to hurt me and is super defensive/protective and I am not cautious at all.
Post by Wines Not Whines on Oct 30, 2014 9:02:59 GMT -5
Yikes. I'm very cautious when I'm out running by myself in the early morning. No ipod, and if I pass/see someone, I look at them straight on and usually say hi so they know I saw them. There are a couple of people who hang out on/near my local trail who seem sketchy to me.
Ugh, that's scary. Can I add my own safety PSA here?
Watch for cars, especially now that a lot of us are running at dusk/in the dark. I was seriouslythisclose to being hit by a car on Tuesday. There was a wall blocking the road up to the intersection so I couldn't see him and he wouldn't have seen me if he had even looked. I stopped suddenly, slid partly into the street, and managed to back up onto the sidewalk. He was turning right and looking left - he never even looked my way, made a brief pause at the stop sign, and pulled out.
Everyone be careful! And look both ways when you're driving!
Post by CallingAllAngels on Oct 30, 2014 9:14:33 GMT -5
This is a great PSA. I actually stopped running alone in the mornings because of a similar incident and almost getting run over a few times because people do not look for pedestrians in the morning.
Post by finallykrisb on Oct 30, 2014 9:18:07 GMT -5
I called the police after being followed through my neighborhood on an early morning run a couple of years ago. I run a loop and there's no reason for me to see the same car drive by more than once (it was 3-4 times) unless it's the paper guy.
OMG that is so scary. That would have scared the crap out of me. I'm glad they caught the guy.
Seriously though, take your own advice. You really shouldn't be running with your headphones in the semidarkness. Said completely with love and for your safety.
It's funny how different the sun rises. It would be pitch black here at 615.
Wow that's scary! I went on my first night run the other day and I really wasn't feeling it. It makes me sad since the only time I can run is after work. With the time change it'll be dark when I leave work.
That is so scary- and your post is very timely. With the dark mornings (and evenings now for that matter) I find myself taking for granted the safety of my neighborhood.
Another thought for the dark mornings is that, while we as runners WANT to be visible, and wear blinkies, etc. if someone is out for no good that's the opposite of what they want. I can't tell you how many scares I've had by seeing people walking in the pitch dark, with no lights. Yeah, they're neighbors out with their dog, but they just as easily could be creeps- and by the time I see them it's too late.
I know the easy answer- run inside. But I live for being outdoors, so I'm trying to balance that with safety/awareness.
I've considered a personal alarm, but not sure how effective that would be where I live. Does anyone run with pepper spray? I've considered it but am afraid it would be turned on me in a situation.....
Post by chitownbelle on Oct 30, 2014 9:30:27 GMT -5
Wow, creepy, glad it didn't develop into anything more for you. On a side note from all of the responses, always try to run with your cell phone easily accessible and ready to speed dial 911 if needed. I never used to run with my phone, and still don't a lot of the time if it's broad daylight, but it's a habit I really need to develop. I only take it on long runs when I'm wearing a belt...eek.
Post by fluffycookie on Oct 30, 2014 9:41:40 GMT -5
That's really scary. When I am running in the morning I try to stick to main road since they also have sidewalks and have more cars because the high school and junior high kids are getting dropped off.
One of the trainers at the gym was telling me the other day that a friend of her's was hit running over the weekend. The driver was texting and swerved into her and she couldn't get out of the way. I wear the most obnoxious colored cloths when I run outside so that I am more visible. I know its working because several people have told me they drove by me out running.
That is so scary - good for you for trusting that gut. Creepy.
I run on a college campus an now that it's dark in the mornings , I've altered my routes so that I'm only running along roads (as opposed to footpaths which get kind of lonely and isolated in some areas) because I feel vulnerable on my own without other people/cars around. But some of the roads don't have sidewalks and god knows people can't stop checking their fucking email while driving.
Then the other day I saw an advisory that there was a mountain lion sighting along the road. I told my husband I was getting pissed off now that I have to watch out for potential rapists, people that are too important to focus on driving, and now mountain lions.
Post by libbygrl109 on Oct 30, 2014 11:27:34 GMT -5
That is so scary! Was it the same one who attacked the woman on the bike path, or someone else?
The more I've gotten into running, the more insecure I feel about running on the roads I do - they're usually quiet suburban neighborhoods. Not sure why, maybe it's because I'm hearing these stories much more often now.
How terrifying! I don't run in the morning anymore with my new(ish) job, but when I did I'd get SO mad when cars wouldn't see me while backing out of their driveways. Now that I leave my house when it's still dark out, I have a little different perspective. I obviously look both ways to the point of being paranoid, but sometimes it's SO hard to see! My neighborhood is fairly well lit, but if someone's not wearing a blinking light it's still hard.
Basically the point of that is just to be so aware! Especially now that running in the dark is harder to avoid, I will always be assuming people can't see me.
And labbie, I run with pepper spray. It could get turned on me, but at least it gives me more of a chance to defend myself than if I'm not running with it.
Sometimes I do get freaked out on my roads in the dark. They are so quiet that I usually see no other people and only a handful of cars. If I did see someone I'd probably jump a mile high. I take my phone, and H keeps talking about mace. We'll see. He says wild animals are probably a bigger danger, and I'm inclined to agree. That said, we used to have some people in the "neighborhood" (probably 3 miles from us) who are now in jail for murder. I try to stay very alert, but I also refuse to let the dark keep me indoors all late fall & winter.
Definitely trust your instincts! Several years ago, I read this awesome book (kind of freaky in a way) called The Gift of Fear. It's kind of hard to explain, but it's basically about how your instincts are learned and kind of dissects certain situations to show why you had the feelings you did. The writer would be able to tell you exactly what you saw that made your radar go off, even things you didn't realize you picked up on about his behavior. I'm not explaining it well at all, but it's an absolutely fascinating book that every person should read. It's also a nice easy read and not all technical. I'm glad you stayed safe!