Have had way more guns pointed at me in "redneck" areas (4), than in any "ghetto" area (0).
Liar...
Go to a rural area that you don't "belong" in. See how you're received. Think of all of the bumper stickers you see with pictures of rifles threatening to shoot you if you tailgate or signs in people's yards threatening to kill you if you step on their property.
Obviously 90% of them are a joke, but the other 10% definitely are not. First time was in the Adirondack Park, I was running and saw a group of 8 or so deer, looked closer as I passed and they were all at what I believe to have been a salt lick, but it may have been food. A few minutes later I get passed by a truck that stops in front of me. Guy gets out with a rifle and tells me if I run on that road again he'll run me over. In this instance I supposed I'm a liar because it wasn't actually pointed at me.
Second time was in western Virginia. I was there for work surveying residents related to possible contamination of the aquifer (they're all on well water). At the time I was still running a lot and to me it made sense to run where I was going to be surveying the next day. Got stopped by two folks, both of whom aimed their rifles at me and said we were done and that they don't need the government interrogating them. We told the county sheriff and they were like "oh yeah, that's name1 and name2, they're harmless". We did not continue the survey the next day.
Third time was in Madison County, New York. There was a trailer full of apples and a bunch of deer. Guy drives by on a Gator with 2 deer on the back, gun roughly pointed in my direction as he had one hand on the wheel. Tells me to keep running or he'll be giving me a ride back. This was the scariest one because the guy really seemed unhinged, swerving while trying to drive and aim his rifle at the same time.
Fourth time was in north central PA near Tioga. I was running on trail in the winter, blaze orange vest, blaze orange hat. Guy passed me on a 4-wheeler saying "careful, someone might think you're a deer". Probably 2-3 miles later I notice someone on the side of the trail training their rifle on me as I run by. Not sure if it was the same person or not.
In cities, I've been threatened, called slurs, asked what I was running from, and all sorts of other stupid things, but never physically and never with a weapon.
It would be tough to pick whether parts of Philly, Norfolk or Baltimore were the worst. I’ll go with Baltimore because the desk worker at the Y I ran to said “You have no business running in this neighborhood. Let me know when you’re done working out and we’ll get someone to give you a ride.”
I was working on a project down at the Naval Research Laboratory for a time, and a few times I'd bring my shoes and go for a run after work...mainly to avoid the DC rush hour. First few times I just ran around Anacostia Park, and that was fine. After that got boring though I ventured out into the surrounding neighborhoods....not a good idea. I don't know what that particular area is called other than Southeast DC. I had a couple guys yell "We gonna kill you (insert racial slur here)". I didn't push my luck any further. That was the last time I ran down there.
Ten years ago, I was at a conference in DC at Gallaudet University. Upon exiting the Metro station at street level the night before the conference began, I knew this was going to be trouble. I checked the crime statistics for that area and found that there was a lot of violent crime within several hundred feet of the location. The conference organizers issued an email warning people not to leave the con fines of the university. So I only ran on the treadmill in the health center.
I'd say my most "dangerous" runs have been in Atlanta as well, although I've never really had a problem while running, only while walking around. I think the area around Ga Tech is pretty good these days (although someone was just shot and killed 3 blocks from campus 3 months ago) but I could still see someone having a problem in all of those areas, especially early in the morning.
None of those areas in ATL that Atlien mentioned are really dangerous. I'm not saying there isn't crime there, but there are waaaay worse places in ATL and tons of other cities.
I was running a loop in Buckhead during the 90's and would sometimes cut through an office park. Early one evening I was running through the deserted office parking lot and came up behind two guys who were walking along. Apparently, I was "too close" even though I was off to the side. One of them yelled at me that I had "better not do that again". This was back when Buckhead was relatively safe.
Go to a rural area that you don't "belong" in. See how you're received. Think of all of the bumper stickers you see with pictures of rifles threatening to shoot you if you tailgate or signs in people's yards threatening to kill you if you step on their property.
Obviously 90% of them are a joke, but the other 10% definitely are not. First time was in the Adirondack Park, I was running and saw a group of 8 or so deer, looked closer as I passed and they were all at what I believe to have been a salt lick, but it may have been food. A few minutes later I get passed by a truck that stops in front of me. Guy gets out with a rifle and tells me if I run on that road again he'll run me over. In this instance I supposed I'm a liar because it wasn't actually pointed at me.
Second time was in western Virginia. I was there for work surveying residents related to possible contamination of the aquifer (they're all on well water). At the time I was still running a lot and to me it made sense to run where I was going to be surveying the next day. Got stopped by two folks, both of whom aimed their rifles at me and said we were done and that they don't need the government interrogating them. We told the county sheriff and they were like "oh yeah, that's name1 and name2, they're harmless". We did not continue the survey the next day.
Third time was in Madison County, New York. There was a trailer full of apples and a bunch of deer. Guy drives by on a Gator with 2 deer on the back, gun roughly pointed in my direction as he had one hand on the wheel. Tells me to keep running or he'll be giving me a ride back. This was the scariest one because the guy really seemed unhinged, swerving while trying to drive and aim his rifle at the same time.
Fourth time was in north central PA near Tioga. I was running on trail in the winter, blaze orange vest, blaze orange hat. Guy passed me on a 4-wheeler saying "careful, someone might think you're a deer". Probably 2-3 miles later I notice someone on the side of the trail training their rifle on me as I run by. Not sure if it was the same person or not.
In cities, I've been threatened, called slurs, asked what I was running from, and all sorts of other stupid things, but never physically and never with a weapon.
I was working on a project down at the Naval Research Laboratory for a time, and a few times I'd bring my shoes and go for a run after work...mainly to avoid the DC rush hour. First few times I just ran around Anacostia Park, and that was fine. After that got boring though I ventured out into the surrounding neighborhoods....not a good idea. I don't know what that particular area is called other than Southeast DC. I had a couple guys yell "We gonna kill you (insert racial slur here)". I didn't push my luck any further. That was the last time I ran down there.
Ten years ago, I was at a conference in DC at Gallaudet University. Upon exiting the Metro station at street level the night before the conference began, I knew this was going to be trouble. I checked the crime statistics for that area and found that there was a lot of violent crime within several hundred feet of the location. The conference organizers issued an email warning people not to leave the con fines of the university. So I only ran on the treadmill in the health center.
That area has changed a lot in the past few years. There's now an elevated running trail that runs roughly north-south through the area. I work in that area and sometimes run-commute and am comfortable doing so in the daylight. (I would not run there at night, but I believe some do).
I live in a low crime area but I've had a few random bad experiences that stand out.
The worst was when I was running on the river bike path and saw these two gangster looking white guys. One had his back to me and was using a machete and flint to try and light a blunt. The other had what was clearly an uzi in his sweats and put his hand on it like he was ready to take it out and just glared at me as I approached. To try and look like less of a threat I smiled and put out my hand and said "hey, how ya doin?" Like the SpongeBob meme. He just gave me a more intense glare. Then once I pass them, I hear him say "f***ing white people man."
Other less scary things were when I ran by a police stake out, when I ran by a drug deal and they all just stared at me as I ran by, the time an off leash dog tried to attrack me on a trail (it lunged and missed then I sprinted away), and the time a homeless man on drugs said "I'll kill you, you're dead" when I passed him on an out and back trail (I sprinted flat out when I passed him again coming back).
Go to a rural area that you don't "belong" in. See how you're received. Think of all of the bumper stickers you see with pictures of rifles threatening to shoot you if you tailgate or signs in people's yards threatening to kill you if you step on their property.
Obviously 90% of them are a joke, but the other 10% definitely are not. First time was in the Adirondack Park, I was running and saw a group of 8 or so deer, looked closer as I passed and they were all at what I believe to have been a salt lick, but it may have been food. A few minutes later I get passed by a truck that stops in front of me. Guy gets out with a rifle and tells me if I run on that road again he'll run me over. In this instance I supposed I'm a liar because it wasn't actually pointed at me.
Second time was in western Virginia. I was there for work surveying residents related to possible contamination of the aquifer (they're all on well water). At the time I was still running a lot and to me it made sense to run where I was going to be surveying the next day. Got stopped by two folks, both of whom aimed their rifles at me and said we were done and that they don't need the government interrogating them. We told the county sheriff and they were like "oh yeah, that's name1 and name2, they're harmless". We did not continue the survey the next day.
Third time was in Madison County, New York. There was a trailer full of apples and a bunch of deer. Guy drives by on a Gator with 2 deer on the back, gun roughly pointed in my direction as he had one hand on the wheel. Tells me to keep running or he'll be giving me a ride back. This was the scariest one because the guy really seemed unhinged, swerving while trying to drive and aim his rifle at the same time.
Fourth time was in north central PA near Tioga. I was running on trail in the winter, blaze orange vest, blaze orange hat. Guy passed me on a 4-wheeler saying "careful, someone might think you're a deer". Probably 2-3 miles later I notice someone on the side of the trail training their rifle on me as I run by. Not sure if it was the same person or not.
In cities, I've been threatened, called slurs, asked what I was running from, and all sorts of other stupid things, but never physically and never with a weapon.
Tioga sounds desolate as hell.
I don't know if it's desolate, it's just rural. Also to clarify, this was west of Tioga.
Go to a rural area that you don't "belong" in. See how you're received. Think of all of the bumper stickers you see with pictures of rifles threatening to shoot you if you tailgate or signs in people's yards threatening to kill you if you step on their property.
Obviously 90% of them are a joke, but the other 10% definitely are not. First time was in the Adirondack Park, I was running and saw a group of 8 or so deer, looked closer as I passed and they were all at what I believe to have been a salt lick, but it may have been food. A few minutes later I get passed by a truck that stops in front of me. Guy gets out with a rifle and tells me if I run on that road again he'll run me over. In this instance I supposed I'm a liar because it wasn't actually pointed at me.
Second time was in western Virginia. I was there for work surveying residents related to possible contamination of the aquifer (they're all on well water). At the time I was still running a lot and to me it made sense to run where I was going to be surveying the next day. Got stopped by two folks, both of whom aimed their rifles at me and said we were done and that they don't need the government interrogating them. We told the county sheriff and they were like "oh yeah, that's name1 and name2, they're harmless". We did not continue the survey the next day.
Third time was in Madison County, New York. There was a trailer full of apples and a bunch of deer. Guy drives by on a Gator with 2 deer on the back, gun roughly pointed in my direction as he had one hand on the wheel. Tells me to keep running or he'll be giving me a ride back. This was the scariest one because the guy really seemed unhinged, swerving while trying to drive and aim his rifle at the same time.
Fourth time was in north central PA near Tioga. I was running on trail in the winter, blaze orange vest, blaze orange hat. Guy passed me on a 4-wheeler saying "careful, someone might think you're a deer". Probably 2-3 miles later I notice someone on the side of the trail training their rifle on me as I run by. Not sure if it was the same person or not.
In cities, I've been threatened, called slurs, asked what I was running from, and all sorts of other stupid things, but never physically and never with a weapon.
Go to a rural area that you don't "belong" in. See how you're received. Think of all of the bumper stickers you see with pictures of rifles threatening to shoot you if you tailgate or signs in people's yards threatening to kill you if you step on their property.
Obviously 90% of them are a joke, but the other 10% definitely are not. First time was in the Adirondack Park, I was running and saw a group of 8 or so deer, looked closer as I passed and they were all at what I believe to have been a salt lick, but it may have been food. A few minutes later I get passed by a truck that stops in front of me. Guy gets out with a rifle and tells me if I run on that road again he'll run me over. In this instance I supposed I'm a liar because it wasn't actually pointed at me.
Second time was in western Virginia. I was there for work surveying residents related to possible contamination of the aquifer (they're all on well water). At the time I was still running a lot and to me it made sense to run where I was going to be surveying the next day. Got stopped by two folks, both of whom aimed their rifles at me and said we were done and that they don't need the government interrogating them. We told the county sheriff and they were like "oh yeah, that's name1 and name2, they're harmless". We did not continue the survey the next day.
Third time was in Madison County, New York. There was a trailer full of apples and a bunch of deer. Guy drives by on a Gator with 2 deer on the back, gun roughly pointed in my direction as he had one hand on the wheel. Tells me to keep running or he'll be giving me a ride back. This was the scariest one because the guy really seemed unhinged, swerving while trying to drive and aim his rifle at the same time.
Fourth time was in north central PA near Tioga. I was running on trail in the winter, blaze orange vest, blaze orange hat. Guy passed me on a 4-wheeler saying "careful, someone might think you're a deer". Probably 2-3 miles later I notice someone on the side of the trail training their rifle on me as I run by. Not sure if it was the same person or not.
In cities, I've been threatened, called slurs, asked what I was running from, and all sorts of other stupid things, but never physically and never with a weapon.
Yeah, none of that happened. Why do people like you feel the need to lie to try and make rural areas sound more dangerous than inner cities?
Go to a rural area that you don't "belong" in. See how you're received. Think of all of the bumper stickers you see with pictures of rifles threatening to shoot you if you tailgate or signs in people's yards threatening to kill you if you step on their property.
Obviously 90% of them are a joke, but the other 10% definitely are not. First time was in the Adirondack Park, I was running and saw a group of 8 or so deer, looked closer as I passed and they were all at what I believe to have been a salt lick, but it may have been food. A few minutes later I get passed by a truck that stops in front of me. Guy gets out with a rifle and tells me if I run on that road again he'll run me over. In this instance I supposed I'm a liar because it wasn't actually pointed at me.
Second time was in western Virginia. I was there for work surveying residents related to possible contamination of the aquifer (they're all on well water). At the time I was still running a lot and to me it made sense to run where I was going to be surveying the next day. Got stopped by two folks, both of whom aimed their rifles at me and said we were done and that they don't need the government interrogating them. We told the county sheriff and they were like "oh yeah, that's name1 and name2, they're harmless". We did not continue the survey the next day.
Third time was in Madison County, New York. There was a trailer full of apples and a bunch of deer. Guy drives by on a Gator with 2 deer on the back, gun roughly pointed in my direction as he had one hand on the wheel. Tells me to keep running or he'll be giving me a ride back. This was the scariest one because the guy really seemed unhinged, swerving while trying to drive and aim his rifle at the same time.
Fourth time was in north central PA near Tioga. I was running on trail in the winter, blaze orange vest, blaze orange hat. Guy passed me on a 4-wheeler saying "careful, someone might think you're a deer". Probably 2-3 miles later I notice someone on the side of the trail training their rifle on me as I run by. Not sure if it was the same person or not.
In cities, I've been threatened, called slurs, asked what I was running from, and all sorts of other stupid things, but never physically and never with a weapon.
Tioga sounds desolate as hell.
How so? Because people hunt there? Learn the definition of words before using them.
A few years back I was in Arizona doing a 3 x 2-mile road workout and a few teenagers kept yelling profanity at me whenever I would pass on my loop. I ignored it until one of them spit in my face. I finished up my final repeat looped back to where they were at and busted him in the face. I was 24 at the time fresh out of college but his behavior was uncalled for and he got what he deserved.
Go to a rural area that you don't "belong" in. See how you're received. Think of all of the bumper stickers you see with pictures of rifles threatening to shoot you if you tailgate or signs in people's yards threatening to kill you if you step on their property.
Obviously 90% of them are a joke, but the other 10% definitely are not. First time was in the Adirondack Park, I was running and saw a group of 8 or so deer, looked closer as I passed and they were all at what I believe to have been a salt lick, but it may have been food. A few minutes later I get passed by a truck that stops in front of me. Guy gets out with a rifle and tells me if I run on that road again he'll run me over. In this instance I supposed I'm a liar because it wasn't actually pointed at me.
Second time was in western Virginia. I was there for work surveying residents related to possible contamination of the aquifer (they're all on well water). At the time I was still running a lot and to me it made sense to run where I was going to be surveying the next day. Got stopped by two folks, both of whom aimed their rifles at me and said we were done and that they don't need the government interrogating them. We told the county sheriff and they were like "oh yeah, that's name1 and name2, they're harmless". We did not continue the survey the next day.
Third time was in Madison County, New York. There was a trailer full of apples and a bunch of deer. Guy drives by on a Gator with 2 deer on the back, gun roughly pointed in my direction as he had one hand on the wheel. Tells me to keep running or he'll be giving me a ride back. This was the scariest one because the guy really seemed unhinged, swerving while trying to drive and aim his rifle at the same time.
Fourth time was in north central PA near Tioga. I was running on trail in the winter, blaze orange vest, blaze orange hat. Guy passed me on a 4-wheeler saying "careful, someone might think you're a deer". Probably 2-3 miles later I notice someone on the side of the trail training their rifle on me as I run by. Not sure if it was the same person or not.
In cities, I've been threatened, called slurs, asked what I was running from, and all sorts of other stupid things, but never physically and never with a weapon.
Yeah, none of that happened. Why do people like you feel the need to lie to try and make rural areas sound more dangerous than inner cities?
Oh no, statistically, you're much morel likely to be the victim of a crime in a city. I'm talking about running specifically. Have you ever run in an area where people don't normally run? In any city, even in the bad parts, you're not the only person who has run by that day. You're probably not the only person who has run by that hour. You're not unusual. Everyone know what you're doing. In the rural areas you draw attention to yourself by running.
I accidentally ran through a bad area of Nashville. I was turned around and asked two random dudes for direction. They were super sketchy and actually asked/told me to give them money for their worthless "help". I was wearing running shorts and a tshirt. I literally had nothing of value for them and when I pointed that out they seemed to lose whatever predatory interest they had. Also, I felt I could easily run away from them if needed, but what would be the point of them chasing me anyhow.
this would be different if i were a woman, of course
I've ran in Atlanta / Buckhead and had no problems at all. I've ran in Detroit a few times but never made it further north than Comerica Park. Did a ton of runs in the north Chicago, but never ran south of Soldier Field. I've also ran in NYC in Central Park, Seattle, Tampa, Miami, Austin, Omaha, Denver, and all throughout California. I used to travel a ton for work and was not harassed once in the cities I've mention.
That worst places I've ran were Mokena, IL. A bunch of racist conservatives live there and one guy rolled down his window to call me a f*ggot about 10 feet away. He then chucked a Mt. Dew bottle at me when he drove off. A mile later, another redneck screamed something at me but I couldn't make it out what he said.
The other was running up Hillsborough St. in Raleigh and I was screamed at by a group of rednecks who called me a q*eer. Of course, they always do this stuff together and in a crappy car driving at least 40mph so they wouldn't risk getting beat up.
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