Running the return portion of an out-and-back last week I encountered a group of teenage thugs, dressed in black, hoodies up, skull and cross bones and bad attitudes on display. On my right a busy road, on the sidewalk thugs, on my left a jungle embankment. I move to the right-most edge of the walkway, incorrectly assuming they would give me single-file space. They did not. Instead they body-checked me, sending me flying toward the aforementioned traffic and over on an ankle still tired from my 18K trail running introduction. Fuelled with adrenaline I quickly recovered and scampered away as they hurled unintelligible insults at me. They did not give chase. I’m reasonably confident I could have outrun them. Of course I had the advantage of not being weighed down by accent chains. My own gang of runners, somewhere behind, failed to notice the confrontation, which explains why no one came to my rescue. I was a little ahead of the pack and it seems the thugs skulked away before the rest of my group passed by. I can only assume they (the thugs, not the runners) were in the bushes doing the sorts of illegal things thugs do in bushes.
Title Reference: Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit. 1991.
That’s awful! Hope you’re ok, physically and emotionally.
Had you not been almost 2 full minutes ahead (or had at least remained in view), I’m sure the ‘punks’ would have been on the receiving end of a 4:40 pace elbow to the head!
Perhaps there’s a new run clinic topic buried somewhere in there?
I think I can credit them with my nearly 3 minute negative split.
I was worried that I angered them and that everyone following would suffer the consequences. I still can’t figure out where they disappeared to.
I’m pretending this is the reason I’m never in the lead.
I always think insolent little punks will recognize that I used to be one too and treat me like one of their own– but it never happens.
Good point, I need a bicycle escort. If you run in you skulls and crossbones maybe you’ll get some respect.
If you had been dressed like Hawk or Animal of the Legion of Doom, I think they would have stepped aside.
I have no idea who/what that is.
That’s horrible!! Lucky you didn’t roll an ankle. In future, avoiding people who are wearing black hoodies in this heat is probably a good idea. No one dress like that is in their right mind. I hope you recovered well!
Interesting point. Perhaps it was some sort of temperature-induced rage. I hear murder rates go up during heat waves.
Thank you all. My ego is a bit bruised, but otherwise I’m fine. I do have a strange new aversion ot black hoodies though ….
So wearing your black Lululemon hoodie is a form of aversion therapy?
Either that or I secretly moonlight as a thug.