I was back out on another run very early this morning. I can’t say that there are any fitness issues to deal with, but I still feel that my runs are physically challenging and it’s a bit frustrating 🥴.
I’ve been trying to run locally early in the morning and zone out of the early morning traffic around me. I have also tried a quiet path a few times, but it’s not the same fun or adventure as when I do a park run (I don’t mean the Saturday morning group runs) 😕.
Today, I did my pre-run exercises, plus a walk through the traffic to the quiet path. I’m so glad to be out there and keep going out, even when it’s cold and icy 👍🏽, but I’m still not feeling that I’m able to go out for long. That’s where the frustration is coming in I think.
I did get a bit startled by a man who seemed to appear from nowhere coming down a hill towards me while I stopped to stretch as guided by my app. He didn’t do much to alleviate my slight worry about where he had come from and why he was heading in my direction. I had some fight or flight calculations going on, so I gave him a bit of a hard stare 😠. I’m no petite woman, and he did carry on down the path once he reached it, so I stopped for a bit longer. An over-reaction on my part possibly! 🤷🏽♀️ But if he’d even said “hello”, that might have helped. I tried to just move on in my head, but I think that just put me slightly on edge. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, so I took a diversion after that. I didn’t fancy catching up with him again and running past 🙅🏽♀️!
I felt a bit stiff after my run today, which wasn’t for very long, just 3k. I did my post run exercises too.
Whatever I do, I want to enjoy it and feel safe! Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer to that at the moment! It may be that my feeling of stiffness has nothing to do with the run and I should stick to running with the traffic?!
I’m probably making this sound more scary than it was, but I certainly don’t feel energised by that run today! 🙃
Happy and safe running Runners! Tomorrow is another day! 💪🏽❤️
Written by
Fabulous450
Graduate10
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Oh dear Fab! I know what you mean about feeling safe. Because of my heart arrhythmia I tend to do a lone-worker type thing with someone, or run in areas where I know there is passing traffic or dog walkers, if anything happens. There are apps like RoadID and Google location tracking which might help. Hope you find a route to suit you soon!
It's good to be aware of potential threats but I suppose you just have to trust your instincts. If the man had said a cheery hello, that might have reassured you but a creep could also say hello? I used to feel a bit twitchy running on my own in the woods, especially off the main paths but now they are so familiar they feel safe. Of course, I always carry my phone but it is more so that I can call for help if I have a bad fall than worry about would be attackers. I was reading something in Runners World recently about this and I thought how sad that we even have to think about this stuff.
Thanks so much Debston! 🤗 I’ve done so much running on my own, in quiet places. I’ve run past many a walker too. I don’t think I even considered that it could be unsafe until today. But I guess seeing him come from a direction that wasn’t quite understandable why he would be coming down from all the way up there was what had me a bit twitchy. It’s probably some sort of short cut he’s taken from the houses above. 🤷🏽♀️❤️
Because I’m normally running with a dog on the countryside, I generally have a dog whistle round my neck. If it’s not round my neck it’s in a pocket. If I had to I’d like to think I’d have time to blast it in someone’s face, but it’s highly unlikely I’d ever need to as the most populated route I do in the dark only has the odd cyclist heading to or from work. And you know... I’m running with a dog!
I tried running in a local park solo once and I didn’t like it at all as the occasional lamp post made the dark stretches in between feel much darker and ominous.
Have you got someone you could run with? Or a local social running group you could join?
My son’s run, but they generally run at times that I wouldn’t be able to join them. And in fairness, running at my level would be a huge sacrifice for them 😂. I’m sure they would be happy to help me out if they can though. I think I’ll have a word later and see what we may be able to do together.💡
Oh dear what a shame . It is very easy and natural to go into fight or flight mode. Perfectly understandable. Running has to be fun and as you say I'm sure your feelings are affecting your run rather than your fitness. Winter running is very challenging with cold and dark. I hope you can soon find a happy safe place to run. Take care x
I think go with your gut feeling Fab, and today yours was to avoid meeting that man again. I agree, a good morning greeting or even just a nod would have taken away the tension. You did the right thing today I think, even though he was more than likely totally harmless. Shame it made your run a little less enjoyable though ..... 👎
You’re right, tomorrow is another day and you’ll have your trademark Fab mojo back. 😘
Thank you Cheeky! I didn't really have time to think, but think it's better to go with your gut too! In total contrast I saw a man walking his dog on my diversion, still no one else around, but he did smile as I approached and said hello as I passed. Language can often be silent. Maybe some people are just a bit more aware of how they might be perceived. ❤️
I have run in the dark quite often recently, in the woods or up hills, with the aid of a head torch. I guess in circumstances like that being a man (although I am 67 and 73k wet through!!) probably alter the dynamic. I would always acknowledge anyone I met in those circumstances; just polite and puts everyone at their ease. Maybe he was wrapped up in his own problems🤷🏻♂️. I posted last week about seeing a curious flashing red light weaving about in front of me in the forest; turned out to be a spaniel with a flashing collar...so disappointing...thought it was my first alien 👽 encounter! ☹️
😂! Maybe I had an alien encounter today! I agree, he could have just been in his own world. Perhaps if he wasn't walking so directly towards me, I might have not been wondering what's your game?🤔❤️
Well done on your running, and that sounds SCARY. I have had a few problem encounters myself and it always unnerves me. From wjhat you are describing I wonder if your body is tired? It can creep up gradually? Also have you tried going super slow on the runs where you just want to enjoy it and go for a long time?
I’ve been going slow. I was concerned about the hamstring tightness. Now I’ve got other aches from yesterday. I just can’t get the energy levels to stay up.
You know what ju-ju?! I think you’re right. This body is tired at the moment. And that’s ok too! 🤗❤️
Oh Fab...not having a running route you enjoy is a real bummer! i hope you are able to plot something out around you where you will feel safe. I know what you mean about running on the streets, i also find it distracting and a little dull tbh much prefer a park, but with it getting dark and wet it gets more challenging. Is there a way you can combine the two - make it a hybrid - i have been fortunate enough to be able to do this so i get the best of both
Agree, the dodgy man would have put me on edge too, I guess people don't consider that they could look menacing when out doing their thing...
I don't think too much about it when i'm out but am often suspicious when i see men walking around the lake on their own (with no dog) but then think maybe they just like an early morning walk 🤷🏻♀️ i tend to speed up for a while until i have passed them and put enough distance between us.
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
