A photo I took for his website.
Years ago while I was still going to ASU I had a incident happen to me that has really changed me as a person. Sorry if that sounds a little alarming, the story I'm about all works out in the end...
One afternoon I was riding my bike home from school, I only lived about a half mile from campus. On this particular day I was slowly peddling and sort of daydreaming with my head down. Then all of a sudden I felt someone grab a hold of my backpack, that was on my back. The next thing I remember is staring at my bike tire turing towards the car tire. All I was worried about was preventing my bike and me from going under the moving car tire.
This guy was hanging out of a moving car from his waist up and he grabbed a hold of me for I'm sure what only was a few seconds. But this incident is still very clear to me... As they drove off I looked up once my bike was steady (I never fell off) I saw the guy hanging out of the window screaming pumping his fists in the air. This was the first time I got a look at him or the car, it hit me that I should get the license plate. By then it was too far and I just couldn't focus. I looked around to see if anyone was around, there was always other students riding down College Ave but not that day.
I rode my bike home to an empty house and didn't know what to do. It felt like maybe it didn't happened because I was alone... I know the guys in the car were only trying to scare me. But they did. I haven't really told this story to really more than a hand full of people. I'm only talking about it now because since then I've been reluctant to run alone and I really hadn't run much since then.
I use to run alone all the time and it was such a peaceful enjoyable time for me. If ever I needed time to think I could guarantee you I'd do it with a good run. I've always said if I could get the first three miles out of the way I could run 10-15 miles no problem... Since the "incident" I only ran on treadmills, at the track on campus (where lots of people are) or in groups. Sometime at the gym I'd be separated from the group (on a outdoor run) and the whole time I'm looking behind my back to make sure no one is sneaking up on me. Mind you I go to the gym at 5:30am and the sun isn't always up at the time. A lot of times I just won't go to the gym on running days...
My brother Tommy has created a running group, Crush Your Sole. He is a great runner and probably why I started running in the first place and I always looked up to him. Then once Vincent (my twin) started running I had to run too!..
Anyway I've been running with the Crush Your Sole group on Saturday mornings. We did a run on McDowell and it felt so great! Geesh, a country mile feels so much better than any track mile! I forgot how much I loved running and how much I missed it...
Now in the beginning I said this was a good story, and it is. I'm still to this day scared to run alone and I think that's ok. I never run with headphones and I rarely (almost never) ride my bike alone at night. Because I live in a large city I do need to be cautious. Running has really taken a back seat in my life and having this group to run with once a week is a right for me. I had always thought if you're born a runner you'd always run. I guess for me that's not how it worked out. CrossFitting has become a great love for me and I'll keep my running on Saturdays.
Check out the site, like the page if you'd like ot get involved. I think there will be some great runs coming up before the year is out!