 |
Wendy and I host this linkup for the sole purpose of supporting active women. We thank you for linking your FITNESS RELATED POST with us! |
*************************************************
I'm back! Thanks again to Marcia for filling in for me last week.
Monday 5.8 mile progressive evening run was odd. Not only did I see the first Christmas tree of the season, I had an unsettling encounter. I was spooked by two young males in my neighborhood park where I had opted to run my last mile. It had gotten dark and they were standing at the bench, waiting on me, where I had stashed my water and phone. At the time, I thought they were holding my phone. Even if they weren't, they were still blocking me from retrieving my items. A few horrible scenarios flashed in front of my eyes so I didn't get any closer and fled back to my house after getting their car's tag number; all the while loudly pretending to make a call for help on my Garmin watch. In hindsight, I'm sure that was pretty comical. PoPo went back and retrieved my phone. After speaking to the young men, he concluded they were innocent. I'm still not so sure... Better safe than sorry.
So, now I have two items on my Christmas list: a Koala Clip for my phone and a Garmin watch that really makes phone calls. Ha ha -- I'm not sure the 1970's Batman and Robin technology is quite there yet. Oh and one more item. Pepper Spray. Or maybe I should just teach Rocky our 85 pound mean-looking (yet big ol' softie) guard dog to run with me. I digress...
My second run of the week was blissfully uneventful. Well...other than the fact is was warm and humid. I ran a slow and steady 5.7 miles before work Thursday. It was a very rainy week and started misting before I finished. It left me hoping for dry and cool conditions for a weekend long run.
The weekend turned out to be one one of those picture perfect, chilly fall weekends. We finally turned on the heat in our house. Saturday was spent out of town most of the day to attend an art show in a gallery where my father in law was being featured. The trip included a delicious meal at a quaint restaurant on the town square in Pine Mountain. The remainder of the day was spent watching college football. Roll Tide.
I started Sunday's long run with no real plan other than to hit somewhere between 10-12 miles. After 2 warm-up miles, I was able to run 10 steady-paced miles averaging 9:48. I'd rather they be faster but it's the reality of where I am right now. I'm OK with that.
And that's a wrap!
Monday 5.8 mile progressive evening run was odd. Not only did I see the first Christmas tree of the season, I had an unsettling encounter. I was spooked by two young males in my neighborhood park where I had opted to run my last mile. It had gotten dark and they were standing at the bench, waiting on me, where I had stashed my water and phone. At the time, I thought they were holding my phone. Even if they weren't, they were still blocking me from retrieving my items. A few horrible scenarios flashed in front of my eyes so I didn't get any closer and fled back to my house after getting their car's tag number; all the while loudly pretending to make a call for help on my Garmin watch. In hindsight, I'm sure that was pretty comical. PoPo went back and retrieved my phone. After speaking to the young men, he concluded they were innocent. I'm still not so sure... Better safe than sorry.
 |
| I'm not sure what was scarier ... the park encounter or realizing Christmas is only 7 weeks away. |
So, now I have two items on my Christmas list: a Koala Clip for my phone and a Garmin watch that really makes phone calls. Ha ha -- I'm not sure the 1970's Batman and Robin technology is quite there yet. Oh and one more item. Pepper Spray. Or maybe I should just teach Rocky our 85 pound mean-looking (yet big ol' softie) guard dog to run with me. I digress...
My second run of the week was blissfully uneventful. Well...other than the fact is was warm and humid. I ran a slow and steady 5.7 miles before work Thursday. It was a very rainy week and started misting before I finished. It left me hoping for dry and cool conditions for a weekend long run.
 |
| Of the 20 plus paintings on display, this one was my favorite. |
The weekend turned out to be one one of those picture perfect, chilly fall weekends. We finally turned on the heat in our house. Saturday was spent out of town most of the day to attend an art show in a gallery where my father in law was being featured. The trip included a delicious meal at a quaint restaurant on the town square in Pine Mountain. The remainder of the day was spent watching college football. Roll Tide.
I started Sunday's long run with no real plan other than to hit somewhere between 10-12 miles. After 2 warm-up miles, I was able to run 10 steady-paced miles averaging 9:48. I'd rather they be faster but it's the reality of where I am right now. I'm OK with that.
 |
| As seen on my run... HAPPY VETERANS DAY! |
Have you experienced an unsettling encounter on a run?
Did your football team win?
Do you have special plans for Veterans Day?
And that's a wrap!
I'm glad you were okay after that scary encounter! And I'm glad that you had an event-free Saturday long run.
ReplyDeleteNope, my football team is terrible this year and we got blown away yesterday. :-(
Thanks for the linkup!
It is hard to watch your team lose. My son's college had a BIG loss this weekend.
DeleteGlad to hear you are safe and your incident wasn't as bad as it could have been. Totally scary, though, that's for sure! My Hawkeyes lost (ugh) and so did my Spartans (double ugh), but the ISU Cyclones won (actually, they are the UofIowa Hawk's big inner-state rivals, but our oldest daughter went there...so, we're Cyclone fans when they aren't playing our Hawkeyes). Thanks for this wonderful link-up ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had to watch our team lose very many times over the last few years. Although, I know that won't last forever. Our day is coming. I just hope it isn't soon.
DeleteNo veteran day's plan and thankfully no disturbing instances. Although there were a few sketchy guys on my walk back to the car today . . . but they didn't do anything. No one else was around at the time, though.
ReplyDeleteNot a football fan. Luckily my husband isn't that much into it either.
We seemed to have skipped fall and gone into winter. Seriously, there was hardly any Spring OR Fall this year. :(
Our little neighborhood park has always felt so safe. I'm sure I got spooked and made more of it that it really was.
DeleteSo sorry about your scary encounter, that's awful. I don't leave anything anywhere - just not safe to - I stash things in my recycling bin or house lobby and loop back to get them if I need extra fuel etc. Glad all other runs were safe and hope you weren't too rattled.
ReplyDeleteRe Remembrance Sunday, we did two minutes' silence privately at home. I have no family members who have fought in any war, but it was a particularly moving one this year of course.
Prior to coming into the park, I had hidden my phone in its usual location and had just retrieved it to enter the park for my last mile. I should have kept it in my hand but wanted to run a speedy mile and laid it down. It was completely invisible so they must have watched me place it.
DeleteOh I've had plenty of potentially unsettling encounters on my runs, but they too turned out to be nothing! I guess as runners we are always on high alert! I am surprised that you would leave your phone tucked away somewhere while you ran. I feel my park is safe but I would never leave any of my stuff unattended. Not even a water bottle because I would be thinking the whole time that someone is putting something in it,,, but I guess that's just me being hyper vigilant! hope you have a great week. Thanks for the link up! -M
ReplyDeleteI don't normally wear my phone on training runs (I do in races). But, I usually hide it in a location that I loop by very often. Even though I only occasionally run there, our little park (inside our neighborhood) has always been safe. Except for one corner, you can see the whole trail at all times. I'd never worry about anything I laid down during the day.
DeleteSince I run in the local preserves, I have had my share of unsettling encounters--there are creepers everywhere. I"m so glad yours turned out ok. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteYou can make phone calls from the Apple Watch! I don't run with mine because it's the old model, but the newer ones have GPS. It's pretty nice!
I assume it must have to connect with your phone though. So, you'd need your phone on you too. I'm waiting for the technology where the watch is enough to make the call. Surely we will get there one day? I mean, Batman and Robin had it. Come on.
DeleteGo Irish! THey are the only thing right with my sports season (Yankees, NY Giants)
ReplyDeleteThat situation sounds frightening even if they're just innocent nuisances. Glad you had someone to go back for you and get your stuff.
Way too early for Christmas decorations
I think our teams may be meeting up during post season play! That will be fun to watch.
DeleteI would be hesitant too in that encounter. Better safe and laugh at it in hindsight than risk something real! I hope next week is scare free. Chilly weather hit us hard this weekend with the first sub 20 degree days!
ReplyDeleteI didn't care about my phone at that point. I was concerned about my personal safety. Heck -- take my phone. I need a new one anyway. LOL.
DeleteThat does sound scary. I think you made the right decision to just run home. If you run with your phone and headphones I think Siri can make a call for you, but I don't think any Garmin makes outgoing calls. How cool that your FIL was featured in an art show!
ReplyDeleteI was hoping the guys wouldn't know I was faking that call. It's funny because a couple of minutes after my "call" I could hear police sirens coming in the distance while running up the hill toward my house. I wonder what they were thinking then? HA HA.
Deletethose 2 guys probably would have freaked me out as well. I always carry my phone when I run bc you just never know plus selfries :)
ReplyDeleteYou don't and I usually keep it more available on my runs. But let me just say, they could have easily grabbed me in the dark and I'd never had the opportunity to use my phone at all. It would have been inside some pocket or belt.
DeleteThat situation would have made me nervous too. You did the right thing by trusting your gut! I use a koala clip and its great. I find its so much better than wearing a belt.
ReplyDeleteI really want to try that clip. I've never found a belt that would stay put. I have hips.
DeleteWhat a strange but scary encounter. I am glad nothing serious happened...
ReplyDeleteMe too. It really shook me up. My husband is always reminding me to be more aware of my surroundings as I get too comfortable running in the safety of my own neighborhood.
DeleteWell that encounter made me nervous reading about it! I have the Koala clip but like it only when I'm running in a tank. Otherwise I have a spibelt that really doesn't bounce. I think you can make phone calls from the new apple watch?
ReplyDeleteSince I run in a tank about 75% of the year, I think I'd like the Koala clip. I wish I had a belt that wouldn't ride up. They all do. It drives me nuts.
DeleteYikes! That is unsettling for sure. What the hell were they doing there?? Glad you turned around and that Popo went and retrieved your stuff.
ReplyDeleteExactly. What the hell were they doing there? They had watched me from their car. Maybe they were just curious to see what I had stashed at the bench? It was darker than dark and they freaked me out.
DeleteYeah, better safe than sorry. I think the Apple watch can call using your phone... I'm not sure since I have the Garmin. I've seen Christmas lights, and I'm planning what I want to do this season.
ReplyDeleteIt's a cool watch, but I don't know of anyone who likes the Apple watch for running though. I'm sure the technology will soon catch up and we'll all be making calls from our wrists.
DeleteReally glad you went with your gut instinct about those guys. Yikes. But I'm curious - you stash your phone somewhere along your route? Why not carry it with you? I'd be afraid someone would see me stashing it and steal it.
ReplyDeleteSince I always run inside the confines of our small little neighborhood, I've never felt the need to have my phone on me. I have a hiding spot for hydration, fuel, phone that's at a center point on my flower shaped route along the streets. My phone is never far away and I pass it often. When I run in the park, I've never thought twice about laying down items in the daylight. You can see the whole trail at all times. I just wasn't thinking about it being dark on this evening.
DeleteWow. That was scary. I am lucky to have never experienced that. I always carry my phone!! But I'd like the new Apple watch because you can call from it.
ReplyDeleteI have to work tomorrow. :(
We don't have fall weather. it feels like Winter. Not ready yet!!!
If I were running elsewhere, yes absolutely -- I'd have my phone on me. Although, I'm sure if I was being grabbed it would be of no use. I do keep it nearby at all times even running in my little neighborhood.
DeleteEeep that is a little scary. I'm glad you are ok! I always run with my phone, but I'm not sure I'd be able to make a call in an emergency situation ... it just makes me feel better knowing I have it. Half of my teams won- college didn't but the NFL did!
ReplyDeleteI usually keep it handy on my running route but I don't like wearing it if I don't have to. And, always running inside my small (relatively safe) neighborhood, I've never felt it necessary, especially in the daylight.
DeleteUgh, how scary! I'm so glad you are ok, but I definitely think that phone needs to be on you, rather than stashed. Even if you hold it in your hand the whole time.
ReplyDeleteAlso, teens these days are HUGE! I'm not a dainty woman (I'm 5'10" and solid) and I am seeing even middle school kids who would make me more cautious if I ran into them in the dark. I'm so glad you are safe.
All three of my teams disappointed me this weekend. I preferred to watch the Hallmark Christmas movies, instead. :)
The phone really wasn't the issue other than I thought they were holding it. I seriously thought they were going to attack me or something. Having a phone in my pocket or in a belt would have done no good. Well, except to call for help if I had survived. And you are right! Kids are huge nowadays.
DeleteWow, that sounds very unsettling - though I think that if they were up to something, they most likely would have run off before PoPo got there. But who knows for sure. I hate running in the dark because it makes every unexpected thing 10x scarier.
ReplyDeleteI had already gotten spooked in the dark thinking someone might be hiding behind the large trees. I don't know why! But then I saw them standing there and freaked out!
DeleteUgh, the park encounter does sound strange, I would have been wary of that too :( Sounds like it was a good idea to keep going and send someone else for the stuff later! I've been thinking about the pepper spray but don't really know how I would carry it while running...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how you carry spray either. And, I'm not sure I could actually use it properly and/or quickly when I needed to.
DeleteI'm sorry you dealt with that encounter during your run...ugh. So glad that you are safe though! The last time I ran in my hood a guy catcalled me and totally ruined the experience.
ReplyDeleteI think the scariest thing is that Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK! I am so not ready lol!
I'm definitely ready for the Thanksgiving food, but not for the madness that comes after the day is over.
DeleteThat is super scary and I would have done the same thing! I once had a guy follow me on a bike and make lewd comments. I hate when people do things like that.
ReplyDeleteI've had the same vehicle pass by again and again. That unsettles me too. I'll just walk up up to a house, pretending that I live there until they pass by.
DeleteYikes what a scary situation! I think you made a smart choice to just keep moving and get home. Glad you're safe!
ReplyDeleteI probably overreacted but it was better to err on the side of caution. I didn't need to be the next news story.
DeleteThat is an unnerving encounter! You were smart to be cautious and follow your gut instinct. Glad you are safe!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it would have been stupid to interact with them. You just never know.
DeleteAfter my cousin and I were mugged on a trail race, my husband bought me pepper spray (in a nice pink bottle, lol), but have never carried it with me because I am always terrified my clumsy self would end up spraying myself if ever I needed to use it.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same - my husband has bought me this alarm thing you pull the string and I just know I am going to think o what is this string as I run and accidentally pull it WEEEOOOEEEEOOOOEEEEEOOOO.
DeleteI worry about the same thing. I'm not sure I could use it property or even quickly enough to make a difference.
Delete