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Today I did my five miles. I did it alone. In the dark. This is when I do my normal daily run. As most of you know, Micah True was found dead in New Mexico after not coming back from a 12 mile trail run. My question to all of you is - Will you run alone? Do you run in places you are not familiar with? If so, why? If not, because of stories like this?
My personal opinion is that everyone has their predetermined time when they will pass away. If it's your time, it's your time. Daily I run in the dark. Granted, it's fairly close to my home but I don't thing that makes it any less dangerous. People can come out of the woodwork anywhere. I ran in Pittsburgh in the dark and in an area I had no idea where I was. I did not run with headphones as a precaution but still ran. Last month I ran in Mexico in an area I did not know and a City I did not know. It was fun. Was I concerned? I guess a little but again, if it's your time, it's your time.
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| My Pittsburgh Run on the bridge The hotel guy said be careful before I left |
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| Part of my Mexico run - scary area |
My final thought is that this has gotten lots of press time. Personally, I think that Micah True would not want us all to stop enjoying what we love - running! It's a very unfortunate world we live in --- bad things happen to good people. It's very sad but I won't stop my life because of this.
I'd be interested to hear your opinions.
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I also posted a new photo of the moon on Detroit Runner Photography too!
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Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!
I run alone every time I run, unless it is on race day. Also with living an hour from work and working 6am - 3pm, running is usually at night (before work). I run around my neighborhood usually, but there are many lakes in my area and I usually run around a lake. I will leave my husband a note with time I left, approx miles I am hoping to do and which lake I am running. I would like to venture into different areas/farther from home but right now I stick with areas I know. As it stays lighter later I will venture into different areas. I do not plan to stop running unless I am injured.
ReplyDeleteIf I run in the mornings I run along, and sometimes on the weekends I run alone... I just plan on being faster than anyone else on the road, then I feel safe!!!
ReplyDeletejust don't be stupid, I don't know the story of Micah True, how did he die?
Coach, they were doing an autopsy for cause of death on Micah. I think most of us run alone and now have the appropriate ID in case of emergencies. If not, then by all means get it!
ReplyDeleteLike!
DeleteI do most of my training runs alone and in winter that is always in the dark. I also do trail runs alone. I never run with music and always stay as alert as I can or remember to do. As you say, when it is your time it is your time. I never miss a run because I don't want to run somewhere alone.
ReplyDeleteI am in the minority it looks like because I very rarely run alone. My husband and I enjoy running together so we adjust our schedules to have that happen as much as possible. When I do run alone I am really cautious though and make sure I am in a populated area and that my husband knows what route I am taking. Better safe than sorry I guess!
ReplyDeleteYou bring up an interesting debate, here. I tend to run alone, mostly because I enjoy the solitude. However, I never run alone in the early morning or late at night (read: when it's dark) because as a female, I'm always worried about my safety. Yet Micah's story brings to light the fact that no one is ever 100% safe while out on a run, male/female, young/old, etc...
ReplyDeleteI start off my morning runs with a running friend or two, but always finish up alone. They have to be done running by 6am, where I can run until 6:30am.
ReplyDeleteI also run in the evenings by myself, usually around my neighborhood.
I have run alone in unfamiliar cities. I ran in Charlotte, NC and ended up in a "not so great" area, so I turned back. I also ran a couple times in Hawaii on my own as well. I never really felt like I needed to worry about what would/could happen to me.
I run alone almost all of the time, though it isn't exactly in the wilderness (there are a couple lightly traveled dirt roads though)
ReplyDeleteI let my family know, at the very least, which direction I'm going or route I am taking and when I expect to be back. I also now try to always have a phone with me, so if I twist an ankle, I can call someone for help. I also keep id on me (which will be easier when I get my 1BandID).
I run alone all the time, on the road in my neighborhood and on the trails. I always tell someone where I am going and when to approx expect me back.
ReplyDeleteI run as I dream - alone. (that's a spin off of a Joseph Conrad quote from the heart of darkness.)
ReplyDeleteyes, he died doing what he truly loved, and lifed a heck of a passionate life.
Scariest run I ever took, and most exhilirating maybe, was in a dark trail in san diego. Before I got to the path, a man walking dogs suggested I may need them. The trail was full of sleeping homeless men, their bodies were strewn about the path alongside their shopping carts, but I ran it for miles to the ocean and back. The whole thing has inspired me to start a new novel about a simple training run where the runner gets chased by meth head cannibals who were pushed through secret tunnels from Tijuana to live amongst the homeless men in san diego. Odd, I know. Look for the movie version in 2017.
I should maybe mention that I was joking (or mayber dreaming) regarding the movie version.
DeleteI agree, take precautions but don't let fear stop ya or take what you love away for sure. You are right, sometimes exploring is 1/2 the fun:-) I prefer to run on my own but mostly cause I'm still learning or gaining the ability to run so I'm slow and run out of breath quite often:-)
ReplyDeleteI often run in the dark. It is the only time I get after the kid goes to bed and all the chores are done. I once was running in a park ,adn my headlamp ran out of batteries. It was creepy, yet strangely calming to run int he complete dark. The blog post about it is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://run-thru-life.blogspot.com/2011/11/working-on-my-night-moves-or-creepy.html
Great story! I enjoy the dark as well but seeing is a nice change of pace on the weekend.
DeleteI agree. To many of my friends' horror, I (a woman) run alone in Detroit. Now, I live in a nice neighborhood, am never far from home, stick to populated areas, wear my RoadID, tell my husband when to expect me back, etc etc etc. But the day I'm afraid to run around my own neighborhood is the day I either move or stop running. I wasn't put on this earth to look out the window and watch life pass me by. (Although, Jeff, I have jumped out of a perfectly good plane once.)
ReplyDeleteI do try to run when I am visiting some place new. I was just in DC for business and ran twice. There are millions of runners in DC so I felt right at home. I've also gone for runs visiting San Francisco and Chicago. It's about being smart, taking precautions, and making sure you have at least an idea of where you are going. I've gotten to see parts of cities that I didn't think I would have had I not gone out for a run.
Kristin - I would love to run with you sometime. Running in Detroit is fun!
DeleteLooks like a struck a cord! Thanks everyone for their input. I'm glad to hear you have not stopped running - even the ladies!
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