Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Why You Should Never Let Your Guard Down While Running Outdoors

I honestly really hate that I have to tell this story. I hate that it happened at all. And while I can look back on it with a mixture of relief that it wasn't that serious, and humor because let's face it, it's funny now, I still feel like I need to share.

Saturday I had an eight mile long run on the schedule so I got up early and got ready. Brad and I were visiting my family in KY for the weekend and my dad was the only person up at the house. He and I don't get a chance to talk one on one very often so I took my time getting ready and stretching while talking to him. I think I ended up leaving the house around 9am. And just like I was still young, he asks where I was going and how long I'd be, because he's my dad and he worries. I can't begin to list all the times my parents have given me that 'warning tone' when I mention running outside alone... And as usual, they were right.

Our hometown has a major bypass that will take you from one end of the town to the other and there is a walking path that runs between the road and the river. There are only a few spots on the trail that you can't be seen from the road. I've been on that track thousands of times. 


I run out and back on the trail, and it is about 0.8 miles, so I settle in for a while. I've got a great playlist and while I have both earbuds in, the volume is very low. The first person I pass from behind is an older man, probably in his 70's, walking from McDonald's with his coffee. I don't pass another person until I'm on my way back (passed from the front), I passed a young boy who looked about 12 years old. I smile and wave and he nods. I continue to run.

I passed this kid really close to the turn around point so I quickly lap him from behind as I go out for another loop. He moves when he hears/sees me coming and I go on. Everything's going great, the weather's perfect and I'm really getting into my run. I'm running a faster pace than usual and taking the small hills with ease. I loop around and before long see the boy again. I really don't think anything of him being as we've already acknowledged each other, but I do look up at him and he nods again.

Right when I get by him, I feel this sharp smack on my left butt cheek. I am shocked out of the happy little world I was in and turn on him. He turned to run when he realized I was coming towards him but then he stopped. Either I'm not very scary or he realized he was running from a girl. I yelled at him, "who do you think you are?" and "who made you think it's okay to treat a woman like that?" (don't ask me where I get this stuff, I was in the moment). I kept asking him how old he was also. Like I said he looked about 12 and while I wasn't really thinking, I remember the thought, 'if I hit him I'll get in trouble for assaulting a minor.' (No it didn't occur to me that he'd touched me first).

He answers me that his dad taught him that he could treat women like that and he said he was 17. I was fuming. He obviously didn't have a good example at home, but that still didn't give him the right to touch me. He kind of smiled and walked off. I turned and started walking, and even put my ear buds back in... But then I thought, 'No, he's not getting away with this." So I called 911 and told them what happened. (Sorry I didn't have the PD in my phone). They sent two cops out and I was so pleased when I realized I went to school with one of them.

Long story short, they told me that I was right in calling (I was worried I'd blown it out of proportion) and they took me very seriously. They found the boy and he first denied it, then he admitted everything. He ended up being fourteen years old. I didn't press charges and the officers made him get in their car so they could drive him home.

So looking back... Yes this is a very funny story. Some little kid got grabby with me. Big deal.

But the whole incident has set in very heavily for me. I know you can't play the if's and but's game, but really. That just goes to show you. People can surprise you. I thought just because I was out in the open where people might see me that I was fine. I didn't have my pepper spray or ID. I had both ear buds in. Essentially I was in my own little world and that cannot happen!!

I hope you find the humor in this story, but I really hope it'll scare you a little like it did me.


Be cautious. Be prepared. Be careful. Be aware of your surroundings. 

14 comments:

  1. Great post...it is so easy to forget about your surroundings when you are "in the zone," so it is great to be reminded!

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  2. One of the places I walk has some areas that freak me out at times. I always make sure I have my phone and on days it looks busy out there I will only put one ear bud in. Sure glad you ended up safe and that the cops took it seriously and hopefully it scared the kid enough not to act like that again.

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  3. While a little funny and largely "what's wrong with kids these days??", this is something I'm guilty of - assuming certain people are "safe" and nothing to worry about

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  4. I'm sorry that happened:( I cannot believe a 14 year old boy would be so disrespectful to a woman! Good job calling the police, you never know what could have happened and I'm glad they took him home to talk to his parents. Hopefully he learned a lesson and I'm glad you are safe.

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  5. Wow....I would have seriously had a problem with this! I had a young man, probably 17ish follow me once. I had no idea what to do but it was obvious he was following me. Finally I turned around and asked if I could help him. He asked me if I wanted to go on a date...I told him I'm married and no thanks...I start to walk away again and he says "Do you want to cheat on him?" Seriously?! WTF!

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  6. this is such a good post. i am so sorry that happened to you. i dont even think i would have been brave enough to act like you did even if it was just a little kid. i have been running on the river trail more...the trail known for several attacks made on women running alone. yesterday i even saw a sign from the PD that was warning people to watch out. i debate every time i decide to go out on this trail because i know it "could be dangerous" but its so gorgeous, peaceful and MEANT for running...I usually decide to go...it makes me mad I even HAVE to have this debate. but i know its important to be safe.

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  7. I'm sorry this happened to you but in the end it really isn't a funny story. Rapists can be 14 years old unfortunately. And yes 14 year old boys are just as disrespectful as full grown man. I'm glad you are safe now!

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  8. And to add another point, I think you did the kid a favor by calling the police. They can have a little chat with him now, when he is 14 and show him what he did was wrong and unacceptable, and ILLEGAL. Maybe, hopefully, he has learned this lesson and he will go straight from here on.

    I am so happy it didn't turn out worse for you. But, in a sad way, you learned an easy lesson, too.

    Stay safe out there!

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  9. ugh, I hate when people think it is okay to do things like that. It is so degrading. I am glad you called the police on him, hopefully it taught him a lesson he won't forget.

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  10. Wow I can't believe that happened. That's crazy, what the heck was that boy thinking?!
    I'm so sorry that it happened and you were right to call the police, I'm glad they took it seriously!

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  11. Glad you had him picked up! I know he's young but maybe this'll scare him into straightening up?? I often run in a place that's secluded, it's a running trail and others are on it but I always get a freaky feeling when I see some man walking alone. I just pray that all the speed work I've done will get me away if I need it too :) Stupid thinking right??

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  12. I can't believe he did that but thank goodness it wasn't worse! I would have called the cops too but the only difference is that I probably wouldn't have remembered the whole assaulting a minor bit until after I hit him and had him pinned to the ground. Thanks for the reminder to be more careful!

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  13. oh my goodness that is a crazy story! i cant believe that kid did that and I probably would have done the same thing! seriously makes you wonder why he would ever think that is okay and I am glad you were able to show him its not!

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  14. Oh wow...that's craziness. You totally did the right thing in calling in. How did you know it wouldn't of escalated to something crazier? Glad it ended up being nothing too serious!

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