Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Running Alone: Stranger Danger

As promised, I am finally getting around to writing my creepy retelling of what happened to me just over a week ago. I hope it encourages you to take precautions - because it was too close for comfort for me.

Running Alone
I have always been an anti-social runner. It's not that I don't enjoy company or competition, but it is just my personal time to clear my head - so I go alone. I have been running circles around Southeast Wisconsin for the last seventeen years, so I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the hazards: the good areas (and the bad,) the big scary dogs, the unsafe intersections, etc. I try to take the proper safety precautions: I run with mace; I stay on main roads; I wear high visibility/reflective clothing; I always let people know which route I'm taking and when to expect me back home. 

I was still caught off-guard last Sunday.

I was running a 14 mile out and back at around noon. The route takes me through the nicest parts of my hometown. The entire length of the route follows Lake Michigan, so it is full of great views, huge homes, busy streets and lots of cute paths. The last 10% of the route gets a little bit isolated - edged on one side by the lake and industrial buildings on the other. Behind those buildings is a rather unsavory neighborhood that has its share of crime. I only entered this area because I needed the extra mileage and I have run there a million times before.

Lake Michigan Lakefront in the summer. Obviously.
As I was running, I noticed a faint squeaking sound behind me, so I turned around. Sure enough - a green Cadillac following fifteen yards behind me matching my pace. At first, I didn't think much of it and I kept running. About thirty seconds later, I turned around - still following me. I started to get scared, because there was nothing I could do - no where to run, no other people around, no secret ninja moves up my sleeve. After about a quarter mile, I finally stopped running altogether hoping that the driver would just pass. He slowed down next to me and made eye contact. He got in front of me a short distance, pulled over and stopped the car. At this point in time, I was freaking out.

HOLY SHIT. What am I going to do?

At that exact moment, two women that had driven passed circled back and asked me if I was ok. They were watching him follow behind me from down the road and thought it was so strange that they came back to check on me. Guardian angels exist! I ended up turning around while they watched to make sure he did not follow me anymore. 


I called the police right away and they wanted to do a formal police report. Even the football player-sized officer was like, "Wow - that is really creepy." And yes - it was. I've never really felt that vulnerable before. But I learned a really valuable lesson about my safety - being aware and prepared is so incredibly important.

Going forward, I vow to follow these safety precautions any time I'm on the road:
1. Stay on main roads with high traffic
2. Let people know the route and when I should arrive back home
3. Carry a cell phone
4. Carry Mace Sport Jogger (If you don't have one - get it today. NOW.)
5. Do not run with headphones
6. Run during daylight hours whenever possible
7. Run with others more regularly

BE SAFE OUT THERE, FRIENDS!
 

15 comments:

  1. I'm glad you are ok and that those women thought enough to go back. I usually run with my Yorkie (he is not always so friendly with strangers) and take pepper spray with me. Usually never take my cell phone but I should.

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    1. I am bad about remembering my phone, too - but this was definitely a time that I wished I had it. You never know!

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  2. Thanks for posting this! I always run alone as well, which gets tough to do in the winter when it gets dark so early.

    I had a scare on the Oak Leaf Trail (not sure which part of SE Wisconsin you are running in) last fall when I was running during lunchtime by myself and there was a man loitering under one of the bridges. I reported him to an officer I saw after I finished my run but I stayed on the lake path for the next week. I'm definitely going to get a Mace Sport Jogger - thanks for the suggestion!

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    1. I have had some weird encounters on the Oak Leaf, although not this time around. Glad you're considering some mace. You can't be too careful.

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  3. It's really scary as a woman to be running alone. I do it, but only in well-lit areas where I know there will be a lot of runners. Even so, I was attacked by a man in New York City on a run...on a Saturday at 10 in the morning in the middle of Union Square. Thankfully I was ok, but I was shoved up against a wall being for at least 10 minutes before anyone bothered to intervene...all while a crowd had gathered to watch what everyone assumed was a domestic dispute.

    I haven't carried pepper spray with me on a run (it was illegal in NY), an I feel pretty safe now that I'm in DC, but your post definitely has me thinking again about what can happen.

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    1. I'm finding that a lot of runners (too many) have similar stories. Yikes! It is a scary world out there.

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  4. That's so scary and I'm happy those women were around! Did you read about the Bia sport watch? It has a "SOS" button. With one press, your coordinates and an alert are automatically sent via text/email to a predefined contact! SO NECESSARY!

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    1. No, I didn't know about that! I'll definitely have to do some research. Thank you!

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  5. Oh my!! I am sooooo glad those women came by.
    That's why I am afraid to run alone when its not light enough. Even if there were cars, people hardly bother to observe what is going on around them.

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  6. Glad you are OK! I admit I may not always be the safest when I run but I definitely do the main things like stay on routes I know, and if I'm going long carry mace and a phone. You are correct though, you never know where something might happen.

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  7. I'm so glad you are okay! That is super creepy!

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  8. Thankfully those women were paying attention! Glad you're okay.

    Here is the link to the lovely stun gun that I run with. It's good to have for trail running too, never know when a wild animal can pose a threat. They have it in pink too. :)

    http://www.amazon.com/STICK-Light-000K-Flashlight-Holster/dp/B0088D0WZE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1363224622&sr=8-3&keywords=800%2C000+volt+stun+gun

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  9. So scary, but thanks for sharing your story. It's so easy to get into a routine and forget about what's happening around you! Thank goodness for those ladies.

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  10. Oh, my word...how frightening!! I think I have an idea where you were, too. And, props to the women for noticing and making sure you were ok!! I always worry when I see runners, especially young women, running with headphones on. I appreciate my music but have turned my music on my cell and since it's on my arm I can hear it without drowning out the sounds around me. When we're in SE WI, my hubby and I tend to run around Sturtevant and surrounding, but even those back country roads (and random industrial streets!)can be freaky! And I've been freaked out here in SW MI by creepers on bikes...thinking my hubby may want me to get that runner's mace, too! Stay safe!!

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  11. My runner friends and I recently took a self defense course through a martial arts studio. I learned a few moves that I hope I never have to use, but I feel better knowing them. Glad you are safe!

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