Sunday, January 27, 2008

Fitness is a gift, be grateful


Yesterday I was going to type up a tome about how to eat well when you're in a nutritional minefield (aka Australia Day BBQ at relos)but I have put that on hold to describe today's events.
This morning I went for my morning walk. I left at 5.10am in full sunlight and walked a good couple of kilometres when I decided that to help acclimate my feet to bitumen that I would do a bit of running on the way home. I ran down the hill (about 500m) and towards our local service station where there was a young man in his early twenties loitering towards the path that I take to go home. Being cautious, I ran up the path on the opposite side of the road and decided to cross a good 100m or so in front of him to be safe.
Anyway imagine my horror as I'm crossing the road and here is this guy running toward me as if he is going to spear tackle me. I started picking up the pace as he drew level and he said to me that he wanted to "race me up the hill" (home is uphill all the way). I was getting really worried by this stage and told him I wasn't interested - then he started hurling abuse at me. I thought then that it was time to put the foot on the accelerator and I took off towards home and up the hill with him in hot pursuit. Good news is that I managed to outrun the bastard pretty quickly my thoughts were that he was probably high on something, likely speed, but my overwhelming thought was "thank goodness I'm fit".
I've spent the morning talking to the Police and describing the incident. It's not going to deter me from running, but it does pay to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times.
In Terminator 2, Sarah Connor had a point. Being prepared for anything is a must....

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks goodness you're okay and fast. :o)

Anonymous said...

Im glad that you are ok and managed to get away from him. What a horrible experience to have to go through. Hope the police are being helpful

xo

Ronnie said...

Bloody hell. Thats not good Liz. Especially given all the crap that has gone on on the cycle way down there. Glad you were able to keep your wit's about you and get home safely.

Anonymous said...

that guy sounded like a complete freak. lucky you are a super woman!!!

leslie said...

Oh Liz ... I'm so happy you're safe! Years ago two men commented, "Maybe we could rape her" to me as I ran by. No, it didn't stop me from running, but it certainly has kept me alert.

Honestly, I feel like I want to beat someone up (in a motherly protective sort of way!)

Sending a virtual hug (())

Unknown said...

Sounds like a scary experience. Its a shame when a person can't even go for a run without getting harassed - good on you for outrunning him!

BeepBeep said...

What a freak. That is a complete invasion of personal space. I would have been furious.

little rene said...

I second that Liz: Thank God you are fit!

He sounds like a scary man :(

Hope the Police catch up with and give him a scare like he gave you.

Take care xxx

Anonymous said...

Wanker......why are there so many of them around? I unfortunately have to ride down Oxford Street every day and either get stuff thrown at me, dickheads on the road trying to race me on foot, dodge spew, etc etc..... fair dinkum i reakon someone just has to get me on a bad morning and i'll friggin head butt them....ANYHOW i'm lucky i'm on a bike Liz, I dare say your adrenalin levels were firing!!! As you say, lucky you are a pocket rocket....!!!!

jodie said...

How scarey?! Thank god you can run fast Liz. It sucks that we can't be left alone when runnning or walking outside.

Pip said...

Thats horrid Liz! Yep, that's why you need to be able to run fast! Glad you are OK! Really don't know why there are spaced out losers hanging about at early times of the morning. I come across them too when I start work and taxis never come on time. Luckily so far, nothing really freaky, - I do get asked for change but after a 'no' they back off.

Pip

Magda said...

Hi Liz,

I too was harrassed by a couple of hoons in a car when out running 1 morning. They drove past me shouting something unpleasant and then some minutes later when I was several streets away and tucked into my suburb they came past again, slowed down and gave me a hard time again. They would have had to have turned back and driven around to find me which was the scary part.

I dont run near main roads now early in the morning.

Glad you're ok :-)

Cheers

Magda

Kathryn said...

What a horrible experience. I get very complacent around my area cos there are so many ppl out running and biking but you're right, you do need to be prepared for anything.

Combat Girl said...

thats scary Liz, lucky you are fit and were able to run.

You can only imagine what could have happened if it was someone else.

Glad you're ok.
xx

Dianna Broeren said...

Wow, that is seriously scary Liz. Thank goodness you are ok.
XX

Cherub said...

So pleased you're ok. Unfortunately it's incidents like this that put a lot of people off training. Glad you're stronger than that.

Raechelle said...

Definitely a scary event-and yes, that goodness you are truly fit as opposed to many other women that he could have encountered!

Bud said...

What a complete loser, I don't think they even consider how it would make the other person feel. in terms of personal space, safety/security. I had a similiar experience out running early one morning, noticed the same white van passing me a couple of times on my run. I noticed it had stopped up ahead. I decided to run at full pace on the drivers side away from the sliding van door. The driver yell something to his mate in the back and got really pissed off as I flew past. I still believe I managed to escape some sort of assault that morning. They took off at high speed and so did I. Why can't all the dickheads leave us alone so we can exercise in peace. Glad you are ok and had your wits about you and mananged to outrun the freak!!! Big hugs babe.

stacytoby said...

damn Liz, how scary!!! Some people are just freaks, no doubt about it. I get heckled most mornings by at least someone when I run too - so now I run with my dog, who is so protective of me that he would bite anyone who dared harass me whilst we run, he's a bite first ask questions later kind of dog when I want him to be!

Good work telling the police about it, these people simply should not be able to get away with being a**holes!

Em said...

OMG hun, my heart skipped a beat when reading your post!
Thankgod you are a good runner hun!
Do i recall you posting about getting a dog? if so a bloody big one with huge teeth!!!!
I am so glad you are ok :)
Em:)

Tara said...

OMG Liz, that is awful!! I am so glad that yes you are so fit and bloody fast!! I do occasionally worry when i am out and about doing my running etc too. Lets hope that you don't come across that prat again.

Tara xxxx

Heidi said...

Oh my!!! I'm glad your story ended with a successful get away, and that you're super fit!

I hope you never have that kind of story to tell again.

Heidi