Earlier this week, I attempted one thing that I don’t usually do. After work, I threw on some additional layers—and a headlamp—and headed out for a simple 7 miles in the dead of night. I usually keep away from running at night as a result of my small metropolis has poor lighting and potholed sidewalks. But I actually didn’t really feel like doing senseless miles on the treadmill once more.
Running in the dead of night could be an journey. It’s somewhat unnerving when you’ll be able to’t fully see your environment, however it’s enjoyable to dart between the shadows. I loved the run much more than I assumed I’d.
As I used to be heading again to my residence and turned on to a half-mile gravel part of the native greenway, I seen two units of yellow eyes in my headlight. A lady was walking her dogs towards me. Well, “walking” isn’t the fitting phrase—they weren’t on leashes. The two mid-size hounds took off in my course.
I’ve by no means owned dogs, however I do know from expertise that more often than not they only need to play or get a scratch on the top. As they approached me, I slowed right down to a walk, not eager to be chased, greeting them gently. But the dogs began barking angrily and lunged at me. At first, I attempted to brush them off, telling them to get down, however one among them jumped on me, clawing my left calf.
Okay, screw this. I screamed at them to again off, livid that the woman let her dogs attack me. Not as soon as did she inform them to get down or apologize to me. Unleashed dogs are sadly a typical prevalence, and, not eager to make the scenario worse and in a state of adrenaline, I continued on my method with out speaking to her.
About 100 yards later I noticed my calf was hurting greater than a easy scratch. I regarded down and blood was beginning to drip from the gash. I’d been on this scenario earlier than—4 years in the past (to the precise day) I used to be bitten by a canine on a path. I needed to go to the hospital as a result of I’m severely allergic to canine saliva. So once I regarded down on the mark, I used to be nervous the canine had bitten me. Ultimately, I made up my mind it was solely a scratch and headed home, replaying the encounter in my head.
The canine left a nasty gash in my left calf.
The incident ruined a wonderfully good run, and I used to be in a foul temper the remainder of the evening. Furious. I wasn’t mad on the dogs, however I used to be irate on the apathetic proprietor who clearly felt entitled to let her untrained pets wander round—animals that had been clearly both simply startled or aggressive towards others. The subsequent morning, I couldn’t run as a result of my calf was so sore.
As a stern reminder to the canine homeowners on the market: Leash your dogs once you’re out in public. I don’t care in the event that they’re pleasant. I don’t care in case you’re walking them in a place the place there aren’t individuals round. Show some frequent courtesy by exhibiting the remainder of us that they’re beneath management.
Theo Kahler is the information editor for Runner’s World. He is a former all-conference collegiate runner who’s based mostly in Easton, PA. Previously, he labored because the newsletters editor at Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics.
