The joys of running in the dark

[mightypieboy]

5am start this morning and as I headed off towards the aths track for some speed work, I heard a fairly beefy sounding bark emanating from across the road somewhere. Not to worry, I thought..... must be behind a fence in someone's back yard. The next thing I knew, a slavering bull terrier was bounding towards me, teeth bared and hungry for blood. As I backed away, performing the first of my speed reps earlier than planned, I noticed that the big dope's tail was wagging furiously and he was skipping after me merrily. I checked my leggings for obvious signs of distress (thankfully I couldn't find any) and as I headed back towards the track, my new running partner stayed with me for about a km before returning home to scare his next unsuspecting victim.



A few minutes after that I noticed another dog headed towards me, this time being led by it's human friend. Just as I was about to pass them, the human looked up, shrieked and jumped into a bush beside the footpath. I am over 6ft and 93kgs but I didn't think I was that scary. I guess she didn't see me coming

[JH]

I am over 6ft and 93kgs but I didn't think I was that scary.

Were you "slavering"?

[mightypieboy]

I was breathing heavily but no slavering. It wasn't even cold enough for snot-ciclles.

[runningaway]

I get out for a run early or to walk the dog and I spend a lot of time shrieking and jumping into bushes- I just don't expect anyone else to be up at that hour.

[supersam]

Just as I was about to pass them, the human looked up, shrieked and jumped into a bush beside the footpath. I am over 6ft and 93kgs but I didn't think I was that scary. I guess she didn't see me coming

I used to scare a lot of people when I used to run. I don't scare too many people now I've stopped yelling out "Gottya!!" when I'm right behind them

[Sharon]

I have scared people when running too. The only problem I have with dark morning running is the dogs, I am terrified. I notice the ranger is out at that time too.



I carry a small dog alarm that has helped protect me a few times.

[lebusqp]

I scare dozens of roos and the occassional wallaby on my pre-dawn or post dusk runs. Not too many of Heathcote's 2600 people around to scare. The occassional walkers that I pass don't seem too bothered. I guess the lack of street crime etc. makes people less jumpy. Also most people in town just assume that it is Linda's crazy husband out on one of his runs (every one knows me as Linda's husband )

[Sharon]

lebusqp, the more I read about your running environment, the more envious I feel!

[lebusqp]

SJ, most people only stop for lunch in our town. They are usually on their way to the Murray River at Echuca.

The forests are a bit scrubby, much of it reclaimed and regenerating from years of mining and wood cutting. They are a drier more sparesly wooded forest than those in the south of the state. Rugged rather than pretty. Perhaps reminiscent of some of the WA forests. Some great ironbark and grass tree/black boy stands. The ground is pretty rocky. It is not everyone's paradise but I love it. Not too much happens here -the local weekly paper struggles to fill out 8 pages We do apparently produce some of the best shiraz in the world however. Must be those dry, rocky hillsides.

[Clarkey]

Had my first really bad running in the dark experience tonight.



Crossing a road and went to run between some posts, when at the last all too late second realised there was a cross bar



Collected one elbow, one bicep and a little in the chest...... no real damage just a little bruising, more the shock value.....



I'll have to be a bit more careful in new places....