Met a friend at the coffee shop yesterday. Chatting about running she asked if I was worried running on my own so early in the morning and that in the last week 2 joggers (one a 14 year old girl) were molested in separate incidents. It was in the city 80 km away, not here. I told her I wasn't worried as my white hair would probably be a deterrent.
However this morning while heading down the park with my iPod on, empty street, no cars, people still sleeping, plenty of trees, water, fresh air, the world felt all mine. I was actually running on the road, less than 1metre away alongside the footpath, when suddenly two loud noises : whack whack, and a dark shadow on my right,... a runner passed me. Now, all I heard was two"whacks" and saw a shadow. Terrifying. So close to me that I am sure the hairs on my arms must have whoosh. What a fright. In a split of a second I imagine myself being grabbed by the throat..... I mean, the guy had all the space on the left... Why on earth did he pass me in the narrow space between me and the footpath. Never mind he was a runner so it is ok. He looked professional. The back of his legs were strapped vertically with fluoro green tape. He was quick. I did not stop to recover but my heart was beating. He appeared to be running the same route as me.
As I circled the carpark of the boat ramp I had expected to see him flying on the other side of the lagoon but no one was there. It had been about 10 minutes since he passed me. Suddenly whoosh, there he was, passing me again. Where did he come from? Ahhhh, got it, (chuckles......), toilet block by the boat ramp. Didn't we talk about "pit stops" on this forum a few days ago? I wonder if all the runners in my part of the world know which toilet block is open and which is closed...
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nhs2015
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Ha ha ha, scared by a man who needed the loo.... If I listened to all the scaremongers in France, I'd never go anywhere (and probably lock my children up, too). You've got to be sensible, without being over-sensitive to dire warnings. Nice to know you're out running again - how far did you run?
I once had to say loadly: 'sorry runner on your left'. As i sloooowly jogged past someone. She WAS walking admittedly, but i was so proud i passed someone with a bit of confidence teehee
It frustrates me when people telling me running alone in the dark isn't safe. Especially as it's now dark at 4 in the afternoon so no one would go anywhere if that were the case! I always think something could happen to someone who is walking to the shops or walking their dogs or something along that route on a winter's evening then there's no reason I shouldn't run it. Sensible, yes, but stop running, never!
Well it shows he's normal I guess! Once a runner whooshed past me in the middle of nowhere and I was scared because I didn't have my earplugs in and thought I would hear someone behind me, but no I didn't! We need a little wing mirror on our heads 😊
Now that's an idea IP, cute little mirrors coming out of our ears? And a horn for overtaking. My husband bought one for my bike as a joke. I should strap it to my head 😄 All we need then is antennas... Beep beep... Oops, watch out the men in white coats are coming
Don't know about horns, but there are nifty little bells that you can put on your finger to warn people that you are coming up behind them: run-bell-co-uk.myshopify.com
I have thought of this too, as a lone female runner but then life equals risk and there's more chance of heart disease, osteoporosis or a stroke by being inactive and doing nothing about weight rather than attack/molestation. Sensible approach needed!!
Yes i remember it was discussed before. It would be handy in populated area but not along an isolated beach or bush / forest track. Or vineyards for that matter
What a fab idea! I could put on my lippy whilst running then! 😉LOL 😂 😂 Can you imagine, a crazy wobbly line all over, people would think I was one of those scary clowns.
Yes, that's more like it! 👮🏼 "Excuse me miss, what do you think you're doing? Dressed as a clown, in the middle of the night?" "Oh, just running and keeping any potential attackers at bay," Big, cheesier grin than normal, due to clown face smile!
I will have to watch out then because our boys in blue usually go to pick up their coffee by the beach towards the end of their night shifts, (while patrolling of course.)
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If I listened to all the scaremongers in France, I'd never go anywhere (and probably lock my children up, too). You've got to be sensible, without being over-sensitive to dire warnings. Nice to know you're out running again - how far did you run?
It's still a RED January 👀
W6R3: knew I'd done it when theme to Monty Python started! Yipppeeeee
W6R3 - An emotional ending to a tricky week :) 
WK6 R3 - 25 minutes, it was soooooooo hard!!!!!
Scared to leap to week 5!
