August 29, 2011

Love/Don't Love

On Saturday morning, with the Percy Sutton Harlem 5k race cancelled, I decided to do my 5 mile run before the hurricane started. I headed out of my apartment to make my way to the West Side Highway. This run takes me about 1 mile through New York's West Village, which is a really nice area. Shortly after I left my apartment, I was accosted by a man after accidentally bumping elbows with him. You can read the whole story here. I live in a very safe and pretty touristy area of New York so I was shocked that this happened to me. Especially at 10:30 on a Saturday morning. It was an extremely scary experience and really got me thinking a lot about safety for women runners. My boyfriend noted specifically that this kind of thing has been going on a lot in New York with people targeting runners as they tend to be more vulnerable since they're alone and typically don't carry cell phones. A few months ago, one of my girlfriends was mugged in the same area on a Sunday afternoon. Thinking about all of these events has me really thinking about safety for runners and especially women. I typically don't carry ID with me when I run so I'm planning to order a Road ID this week. I'm also thinking about carrying pepper spray around.

As ridiculous as that may sound to some people, Saturday morning was a truly scary experience for me and I would rather be ridiculous and safe then ever have to go through anything like that again. I'm posting this, not to talk about what happened to me but as a warning that it doesn't matter where you live and how safe you think it might be, anything can happen and the proper safety precautions need to be in place.

So with that Public Service Announcement out of the way, I'll move on to the Loves and Don't Loves of this week:

1. Hurricane Tropical Storm Irene left New York City with very minimal damages and I, for one didn't lose power. I'm thankful that the storm didn't cause as much of a fury as predicted and I'm kind of glad the city shut down for a little bit. Love.
2. While I wasn't terribly affected by Irene, my family wasn't so lucky. While everyone is safe and has minimal damage to their homes, my mom sent me these pictures of what my home town looks like: Don't Love.

This is the main street in my town...
And this is the park that I usually run in.
3. I watched 3 movies off The Movie List this weekend while tucked away waiting out the storm. Love.
4. My gym was closed yesterday, the East River and West Side Highway paths were flooded and Central Park was closed (not that I would've been able to get to CP anyway) and I was scared to go run in the streets after what happened to me on Saturday so I missed yesterday's workout. I went 30 days without missing a single workout and a hurricane that wasn't changed that. Don't Love. 


The East River...one of my typical running routes
5. In advance of the storm, I moved my bed away from the window just in case my window blew open and ripped me apart in the middle of the night. While that clearly didn't happen, I decided I really like having my bed in the middle of the room, so I'm keeping it that way. Love.
6.The Pilot didn't make it home because of this hurricane nonsense so we're hanging on to this long-distance thing for a little longer. Don't Love.
7. So far, I love my new boss and my staff. This is definitely going to help me get over the fact that the last two bosses I've had have been horrible. Love.
8. I'm still not completely settled in my apartment and have two more boxes to unload and a trip home to pick up some more stuff. Don't Love.
9. But I love everything about my apartment. Love.


That's that!
I'm working all day today and then hitting the gym to get in yesterday's missed workout!
What did you do this Hurricane weekend?
Any big plans for the week?

8 comments:

  1. I can't believe all those people just stood there while that man was yelling at you! I like to think that there are people out there who would help in a situation like that, but it does make you realize that a girl's got to protect herself. I used to run with my pepper spray (the same one you pictured, but not in that cute pink) but as I got more confident I stopped carrying it. Sometimes I carry my cell phone, but most of the time I don't. Makes you think twice about everything.

    Glad to hear NYC survived the hurricane. DC fared pretty well to.

    Hope you have some better workout this week!

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  2. Glad you love the new digs and so bummed we didn't get to have our weekend so I could see it myself!!! :(

    Oh girl I just can't get over your run story Saturday. I'm so glad you're getting a road id, and running with mace, while inconvenient, will do wonders for your sense of well being. When I lived in Orlando I ran with mace every single run. That exact pink mace you linked too! There had been a couple of attacks and a friend of a friend was accosted in broad daylight while tying her shoe during a run so I just didn't want to take any chances. Do what you have to do to feel safe and maybe think about picking up a spi-belt or something like that to tuck your phone in to. Big hugs!!!

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  3. Oh. My. Gosh. What happened to you is so so scary!! I cannot BELIEVE that those people just stood around watching. That makes me lose a little bit of faith in humanity. :( Glad to see that you are taking steps to keep yourself safe while running!

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  4. Safety whilst running is something I am always thinking and I think men sometimes take for granted. I'm not a fan of going out after the sun goes down but to hear of something happening on a Saturday morning?? Awful.
    Glad you're OK. Love the blog and following your journey ;)

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  5. I started running with a spibelt recently and they're great even with a big smartphone. I'd be very uncomfortable if it was my sister running in NYC without a phone and pepper spray. Stay safe.

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  6. Um, I am terrified for you! I need to order me a Road ID. I can't believe that you kept running and how rude he was. So unnecessary! On the love note, I'm glad you didn't lose power this weekend! And got to watch lots of movies. When does the Pilot get to finally be up here with you!?

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  7. That is a really scary story and I am glad you are ok! That is crazy that something like that would happen in broad daylight...I usually just get a bit nervous when it is dark out. One reason I am not crazy about the winter! I do have a road ID...but I rotate shoes so often that I usually forget to have it on the right pair. Maybe I should make more of an effort!

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  8. Oh wow, I just read your running story and I would have been SOO terrified!!! I think that's so awful that no one stepped in to help you out...how horrible!! I'm so sorry you had to deal with that.

    Wow, crazy flooding! I'm glad you're ok, and that your family is ok even with all the flooding. Sorry the Pilot didn't make it home :-/ Maybe soon??? Good luck getting the rest of your apartment unpacked!

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