Tragedy on My Local Trail

This week has been busy at work but pretty good for running and getting better with strength training.  I ran everyday and made it to the gym twice for strength, hoping to go tomorrow after our long run, we have planned.  Today hubby, who is now back to school, had to go to his school and finish painting some Gator Prints on the walkway for the kiddos.  So I headed out to Silver Comet Trail to do my three miles.  I had not really intended to do a training run, but felt pretty good so I went for it.  It was remarkably easy, compared to the 4 mile race a couple of week ago.

This week was yet another sad one for the running community.  Tuesday on Silver Comet Trail, a popular mixed use trail that runs from Cobb County all the way to the state line, a woman, Tina Waddell, was out doing what many of us do, getting in her after work run when a man approached her from the front took her into the woods and beat her to nearly unrecognizable.  She somehow managed to fight him off and make her way back to the well traveled trail where a biker found her.

Today I ran Silver Comet,  I live right on Silver Comet, in fact it is one of the reasons we moved here.  I have never felt unsafe on Silver Comet and I have done my long half marathon training runs all by myself, of course because my husband does not do long distance.  Today I wore my "I Run Like a Girl Hope You Can Keep Up" T-shirt in honor of Tina.  All the women on the trail were "saying love your shirt" and giving thumbs up.  There is definitely a different vibe on the trail.  Everyone is friendlier, less wrapped up in their own training.   It is like everyone is watching out for everyone. I think the fact that it happened in broad daylight, and on a spot so many of us run it made everyone think and united all of us.

It is a good reminder to stay aware of your surroundings, but also an alarming example that it does not just happen at night on an isolated road, and even aware you may not be able to fend off someone hell bent on hurting you.  Some people are bold and crazy.  I for one won't let some nut stop me and I am pretty sure right now Silver Comet is the safest place in the ATL to run.  Still as a runner and a woman my heart goes out to Tina and I am also so awed by her strength that she fought back and somehow got herself to safety.  Enjoy running ladies, but be careful.