Running with armor

In the heat of mid summer, the best time to run is predawn.  The moon is high, the stars are just beginning to fade, and can I hear the crickets chirping on this particularly warm morning when I step out of my car.  Keeping safety in mind on this run in the dark through the wooded trail, I loosely hang my headphones around my neck.  Music will have to wait for the sun.  Besides, I like the peace and quiet as I make my way through the stillness of the moon-lit running trail with only the sounds of my footsteps and my prayers for company.  On long runs like this one, I always start with prayer.  It keeps me focused not only on God but also on my surroundings.  

Rounding the corner behind the golf course and into a clearing at mile 5, I reach for my phone which I keep zipped up in my fuel belt.  Music time.  Something in the distance catches my eye.  Something isn't right.  I pick up speed.  Two people are struggling in the cemetery.

"God, help," I pray.

I dial 911, replace my phone sideways in my fuel belt, bend down and scoop up several large rocks from the side of the trail.  

"Let her go!" I scream while sprinting forward.  "What are you doing in the cemetery?" I ask for the 911 operator's benefit. "The cars on the toll road can see you."

A large man dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt is dragging a woman in her pajamas through the grass towards a coffin storage shed.  He has something, a weapon perhaps, in his left hand. 

"Be true," I pray out loud then hurl a rock towards them.

The man, seconds later, jerks his head up to face me.  He mutters profanities while the woman continues to kick and scream.  He touches the side of his head with his hand then covers the woman's mouth and keeps dragging her.

Still running in their direction, I hurl another rock with the same prayer, "Be true."

This time, the rock causes the man to stop and drop the woman. 

"Let her go!" I order, still running, now within yards of them.  

The man kicks the still form laying in the grass, turns and takes off running down the trail. I make the snap decision to leave the woman and focus on the man. 

"Stop and give up!" I yell.

The man shouts obscenities at me while aiming for the woods.  He tosses the weapon into a bush and keeps running.

"You may as well give up now," I tell him.  I'm only several yards behind now.  "I'm a marathon runner, a black belt, and a Christian.  I'm dressed in the full armor of the Lord and with wings like eagles."

The man snaps his head around and looks at me like I'm crazy, trips, then falls flat on his face.  Less than a second later, I jump on his back, grab my headphones with my left hand, his right arm with my right hand.  Before he has a chance to react, his hands are tied securely.  All my self-defense training comes flooding back to me.  With his belt in one hand I grab his pinky with the other and bend it backwards. 

"Stand up," I order.

"What the hell?" the man mumbles.  "You broke my nose."  He then lets loose another string of expletives while trying to struggle free.  

"Stand up and walk back to the woman you left in the cemetery off the running trail."

Still struggling, but in tremendous pain, the man stands up.  Compared to me, he's a giant.  Pinky firmly in hand and as much pressure on it as I can, I push the man towards the woman.    When we reach her, she is still laying in the grass in the fetal position with her face hidden in the grass.

"Down on your face," I order the man.  I give him a push so falls prone, face down in the grass next to her.   "Miss, are you all right?"  I gently roll her onto her back.  "Are you hurt?"  

The answer is obvious.  Her neck is red and there is a gash on her tear-stained cheek.   

"I'm okay," she whispers. "Now."

"What is your name?"

"Nancy.  Nancy Murray."

"Nancy Murray," I repeat in a louder voice.  "Where do you live?"

"Over there," she says, motioning to the neighborhood behind the cemetery.

"Behind the cemetery next to the toll road," I repeat.  "Did he rape you?"

"No," she said in a hushed voice, "but he was going to."

Sounds from above made us all stop and look up.

"Cops!" the man says in between more expletives.   He struggles to try to get free but I reach back and grab his pinky again.  "I swear I'll kill you both!" he yells, subdued by the pain in his hand.  

"Where did you come from?" says the woman who begins to sob.   She rolls over and places her head on my knee as the sounds of sirens grow louder.  

"You're safe now," I say to the woman while a flurry of activity begins all around us.

Two policemen, with guns drawn rush towards the man. I let go of his pinky. They latch onto  the man and drag him to his feet.  The man snaps his head around and looks at me with wild confusion in his eyes.

"You're crazy!  Possessed!!" he yells as he is drug away.

I simply nod and smile.  Yes, possessed by the Holy Spirit and proud of it, I think to myself while I stand up and back away from the woman who is being tended to by the police and EMS.  "He threw a weapon, a knife I think, into the bushes over there," I say to a policeman who is walking towards me.  He turns and motions for another officer to join him in the search.  I back slowly away, hang up the phone, view the scene for a moment, then I resume my run and my running prayer with, "Thank you Lord for being my hero."   

Squirrels, Deer, and Flashers

My favorite place of all time to run is in a state park near my home.  It has running trails, canoes, horse trails, campgrounds, and a natural spring for swimming. This particular park holds a very special place in my heart.  My husband and I had our second date at this park, our first kiss, and it's also where he proposed:

The saplings were not there the first time we stopped under this tree, however, I've taken at least one picture of it every year. 








This morning I really wanted to run the trails.  It had been so incredibly hot on my street runs.  The trails I knew would be cooler.  


My husband has pretty bad shin splints so he hasn't run with me very often.  Therefore, I suggested he come with me, bring a chair and a book and if he got hot he could get in the spring.


We arrived at the park at 7 a.m.  The gate was open but no one was at the guard station, so we got in for free.

There were a few cars in the parking lot, two runners either warming up or cooling down and squirrels.  Lots and lots of squirrels scurrying about.  No exaggeration, there must have been a hundred.   I warm up and start my run and every few minutes run into spider webs.  Ewww.  I'm watching the ground to keep from tripping and I see lots of little footprints. Several miles later I see the owner of the footprints:

See in the center of the picture.  It's a doe.  I wish I had a real camera with me instead of my phone.  I stopped and looked at her, she at me.  I took a picture.  She didn't move.  I took another. She still didn't move.  We stared for a few seconds then I said good-bye.

A mile or so later I see three more.  I tried to crop this one as far as I could but you can barely see them.  There are actually three young does.  I snap a picture and they just stand there.  Not afraid of people these deer.  Usually I see turkey, but not today.




























Several miles later, after I pass my "special tree" I see the two men from the parking lot.  The are each facing away from the trail.  As I approach I put my head down, shade my eyes and say "I'm not looking!"   as they stand there and continue to pee while I pass by.  Gross.  No picture! : ) 


Finally on the home stretch a passel of high school runners pass me as they start their run.  I was very glad I had started so early.  


Ah, another run, another story, another amazing Gift from God.  What a glorious day!  


"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118: 24




Oh, and just for fun, Oliver: