it has taken me a couple days to get to where I can share this:
on Sunday I was doing mile repeats on the local track and a decent # of people using the track but by no means crowded. 2 other runners were doing repeats or intervals of some kind too, wasn't really paying attention to what. I am doing my work in lane 2 when they arrive but notice they are running together so I move out to lane 3. no big deal.
on a rest, they tell (not ask) me to move to lane 5 because they are going to run side by side in lanes 1 and 3 or something like that. I tell them I was here first and already moved to lane 3 for them without being asked. They tell me again I have to move because it isn't safe "at their speeds". I politely said I did not have many laps left and was gonna finish in lane 3, cause moving to 5 would throw it off.
they scoff and me and curse me. I just ignore them.
So after a couple of laps as I am slowing in 3, they come through in 1 and 2 and they clip my heel so I go sprawling and some nice burns on my legs and hands
they keep running and curse me (clearly intentional)
I sat there stunned then just packed it in as they left rather than come around again, I am feeling emasculated even though I was blindsided
I run there regularly and am concerned about going back by myself, I usually have a running buddy, but not always. It is bothering me such that I am basically intimidated to go back on my own, but I know I need to do it for my sake. Anyone ever deal with this? I am literally taking at times when I think about trying to go back.