(Note: Original post has been edited to include Running food review of the week label and disclaimer.)
A couple of weeks ago, I was running on my local trail and a wave of obscenities, coming in at a low volume, started towards me. It grew louder until its source appeared, a raggedy-dressed cyclist who must have been drunk, nuts, angry, or some combination of those states. My hackles were up but we passed without any issues.
The week before this, there were police cruisers on the trail due to reports of a suicidal person with a loaded gun in the area. I stayed alert but didn’t see this person. One morning when it was still dark and I went through an underpass, there was a sleeping bag under which someone was thrashing wildly. On my way back, I detoured onto the road above.
I’ve seen odd characters dressed all in black meandering on sidewalks/roads in the wee hours of the morning, mentally ill (presumably) people shouting direct threats, etc.
All of these things occurred in good areas. The trails and paths I use, while going through some industrial spots, don’t go through neighborhoods known for crime and yet, strange things happen.
The chances of something happening to you are slim. However, you still want to be careful. How? Be aware, be smart, and be flexible. If you don’t already, carry a phone. Pepper spray is an option. In a pinch, you can always grab a rock or two.
Be courteous to others, not just in terms of trail etiquette but also by giving them a heads-up on a credible issue, such as a dangerous wild animal or an unstable/dangerous person. I’ve had to warn others about a mountain lion, coyotes, and snakes.
If you’re running in the dark, have a headlamp and/or flashlight with you. This should be an obvious accessory in the dark anyway, but besides illuminating the path in front of you, it also allows you to see an upcoming area where there aren’t street or other lights. Thus, you can sweep a spot that looks dark and sketchy before passing it.
If you see someone or something odd, be flexible in your route and take a different way, if possible. This can be frustrating if you have a very specific workout planned, but it’s better to take a small detour than end up on the evening news. As I pointed out in an earlier blog post, if you’re training for a race, weird things can happen on race day so it might work to your mental advantage if you have to make an unexpected change to your training run. It’ll prepare you for aggravating adjustments.
Coincidentally, at my local run club last night there was a brief introduction to self-defense. Everything above is in the vein of being aware and proactive and avoiding issues. Self-defense classes are another option. My initial takeaway was that there are some basic tactics you can use for self-defense but that you would probably need to practice them regularly in order for them to remain effective. Of course, if you take regular classes you would likely get more proficient at these skills.
As I said, be aware, be smart, be practical. It’s not guerrilla warfare out there (and the aforementioned incidents occurred over a period of several years, not daily), but it’s not always issue-free, either.
A more pleasant topic for next week…
Running food review of the week: (note–gels, bars, chews, and other items affect everyone differently. Try them on a short run before using them for a key training run or race): Clif Shot Mocha: Bring out the fork and knife. This stuff is thick. It would be not be good during a run, especially one like a marathon where you may be trying to ingest it quickly. It does have 50mg of caffeine so as a pre-early morning run boost, it could be outstanding. I had a very empty stomach prior to starting my run when I used this but I felt good the whole way. Considering how thick it was, it was kind of like a meal.