This lady tried to MACE me tonight!!!

was she hot?

I've always assumed that this is going to happen to me at some point. People always freak out when I run up behind them...usually in a park where they should be expecting runners!

I would have punched her in the face and claimed self defense.

How about the ones on the track that get lapped every six or eight minutes (or less), yet always act startled when ya whip by.

Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.

My default habit after years of trial is to say hello in a cheery way. They don't freak out but turn and look at me like I am a big goof, but that is better than getting maced or scaring them.

It's always funny when you blitz past a tough looking black guy doing the "cool limp walk" and he jumps and screams like a little girl.

humpty wrote:

I've always assumed that this is going to happen to me at some point. People always freak out when I run up behind them...usually in a park where they should be expecting runners!

I know exactly what you mean, I expect to get maced when I pass women walking by themselves. Even if they don't have headphones on, most don't hear me coming. Sometimes I'll give a verbal indication but sometimes I just whiz by 'em hoping that they won't have time to react until I'm already gone.

A guy once turned around in some kind of Kung Fu stance on me once, but really, you run up behind women or anyone these days and you can't blame them for being scared. As far as you being PISSED, that seems like an overreaction, especially if she was apologetic. I pass women up fast, and they don't have time to mace me.

Grow up, no reason to be pissed.

On semi secluded trails its common to startle slow runners or walkers when you pass from behind. I sometimes try to make some noise.

I've had the startle reflex when passed by bikers. No big deal.

I was runnning through the city one evening ad came up behind a large black guy in a big poofy coat. He didn't hear me until I was right next to him, but when he did he quick whipped around and his arm shot into his jacket like he was reaching for something. He never took it out but I ran off wondering, did I just about get shot there?

It's just a reflection of fear and anxiety of that seems to be becoming more common among people. I frequently go on night runs. There are usually two types of people I see on these runs. Some people hear me coming and are prepared. Other people are oblivious to the world around them. It's the second type that tend to freak out when you pass them, sometimes they'll laugh about it, other times they'll be like: "F$ck You scared the living sh$t out of me!"

...Then there's the third type, people with dogs that crap all over the place (sometimes even on the path).

Well, at least you didn't get maced so no reason to be pissed off, and she did apologise (for what it's worth, mace is illegal in the UK and that pisses me off because I can see situations for a lot of people where it would be legitimate in terms of safety). I feel fortunate all of my training is on the track or in the gym, and I don't have to go out on solo runs, especially around where I live, when it's dark. If I did MD or LD I know I'd have to do this. It would be suicide, to be honest - sooner or later something would most probably happen given the amount of crime.

The thing is, he can't warn her if she has music on. I don't really know what the answer is to that.

This happens all the time with me mainly because I have a damn near toe strike and don't make much noise when running, so startle alot of people when I pass them. Earlier this week, I passed a girl that had her iPod on and jogging rather slow, she jumped and shrieked when I passed her, I apologized and then she apologized and said "thats what I get for wearing my iPod"...there are some smart people in the world afterall.

WithMeSoFar,

There is a 4th type... The kind that think we should not be running.

I was running on a 2 mile loop in the mountains, I was running about 6:30 pace, and tried to swing wide everytime I came up behind a hiker/walker...

One time, I came up behind this family walking, and they are all abreast across this path.

I cough loudly... Nothing.

I cough again... Nothing.

I just run by, attmepting to be loud so they hear me, and scare the s**t out of the whole family.

I look over at the dad and he is giving me the most hateful look, and screams at the top of his lungs, "HEY watch where you are going. You can't just be out here running behind people."

I just smiled, waved (like I knew him) and kept running. This obviously pissed him off because he then yelled, "I don't think your allowed to be running on this trail. It is a walking trail."

For the record, it is a public paved path greenway made from the Rails to Trails project. Many runners out there, not sure why he would have thought that...

pdk wrote:

Grow up, no reason to be pissed.

On semi secluded trails its common to startle slow runners or walkers when you pass from behind. I sometimes try to make some noise.

I've had the startle reflex when passed by bikers. No big deal.

I think that startling a slow runner and having them jump a little is a lot different than having someone try to mace you. I'd be pissed too.

But it should be a lesson to all the women who think they can listen to music and not pay attention because their mace will protect them. Nothing is a substitute for alertness.

pdk wrote:

Grow up, no reason to be pissed.

On semi secluded trails its common to startle slow runners or walkers when you pass from behind. I sometimes try to make some noise.

I've had the startle reflex when passed by bikers. No big deal.

wrong. you had every right to be pissed, dude. mace is no joke. Besides, SHE was the moron wearing headphones. If you have a weapon like that (yes, i do think of mace as a weapon), then you should use it responsibly. Clearly, listening to her ipod had greatly diminished her ability to do so. Her fault.

On a similar note, I can't tell you how many times i've seen chicks running/walking in this park by my house, on a heavily wooded trail, between the river and some railroad tracks, at dusk, listening to their headphones! Every time I run by one I think to myself that this is a 48 hours whodunnit episode (or whatever) waiting to happen.

Guess Again wrote:

Second Guessing wrote:

You should have just raped her...or at a minimum grabbed her ass on your way by.

Don't just rape her...rape the hell out of her!

This isn't even a remotely funny joke. It's disgusting, unnecessary and disrespectful. I don't know if you're being an ass, satirical, or just plain stupid. To me, it doesn't really matter. Grow up.

Make ipods illegal. A simple and effective solution to the problem.

I was running down a bike path once in a very wide, safe area, and this huge dude (maybe crazy?) was walking slowly with a huge stick. As I came up, he went into a karate stance and swung the stick and said, "DON'T MESS WITH ME MAN! BETTA WATCH YO SELF!" I was terrified. I didn't even look back, just sprinted off as he yelled at me more for scaring him.