Anything I can do about this woman?

likitisplit

I'm wondering if I would be tempted to run over a person who called me a *kitten*. I think it's possible.

And this is how vendettas start.

You try to run me off the road
I call you a *kitten*
You hit me
My brother plants a car bomb....

2bassets

I would run with my phone. When she is coming down the street, I would stop, turn around and video tape her as she is coming past me and keep taping her until she is past me. It's gonna be great to see the look on her face when she realizes that you are taping her!!!!

If that doesn't work, I'd go with the mooning!!!!!

DAM5412

It's Friday...where is the OP?

If she listened to half of these post, she's in the hospital.

What's funny, and I see this mostly with drivers, not runners/cyclists, but people will act a certain way (tough) while in the safety of their car or when they feel a bit anonymous (like on the internet), however in real life they are very non-confrontational/timid. Don't try and "act" tough, because it will put you in the crosshairs of someone who might just actually be "tough" or crazy. It's just not worth it.

likitisplit

It's Friday...where is the OP?

If she listened to half of these post, she's in the hospital.

What's funny, and I see this mostly with drivers, not runners/cyclists, but people will act a certain way (tough) while in the safety of their car or when they feel a bit anonymous (like on the internet), however in real life they are very non-confrontational/timid. Don't try and "act" tough, because it will put you in the crosshairs of someone who might just actually be "tough" or crazy. It's just not worth it.

Mark Remy once pointed out that intimidating runners causes them to become aggressive. Which means that the runner will now post an angry message slamming bad drivers on facebook for all of their running friends to "like."

We are distance runners, not MMA enthusiasts. By and large, we were picked last for sports teams throughout our school career. I think that all of the adults on here (barring JoRocka) are clear that these are "do not try it at home" activities.

Shan_Lindsay

Air horn.

It will scare the bejeezus out of her.

I like this idea haha.

cstringfellow2013

In for the update!

dbmata

If the OP is a smart person, they've talked to the police. If they aren't.... well, in for the update.

MamaGab92

I'm also checking back for an update.

yogicarl

Run against traffic. It's safer, you can see the cars coming towards you and it will solve your *kitten* problem.

- the obvious solution

likitisplit

Run against traffic. It's safer, you can see the cars coming towards you and it will solve your *kitten* problem.

- the obvious solution

That she was already doing.

dbmata

Run against traffic. It's safer, you can see the cars coming towards you and it will solve your *kitten* problem.

- the obvious solution

That she was already doing.

Yup.

totes obv.
l2f.

stealthq

Can you try running with the traffic? Not ideal, but at this point the same people are probably driving by you every day. People know that there are runners on the side of the road. I know all of the people who normally jog on the sidewalks on my commute; I actually know I'm running late if the grandma who doesn't wear a bra has reached a traffic circle before me.

Just to clarify, I am running against traffic. I actually started out running with traffic and it scared the crap out of me. One, I like music so I don't hear the cars coming and I hate being "startled".. as well as that, I don't trust drivers to see me first. I prefer to zone out but still be aware with my eyes.. which is why I switched to the other side of the road.

These suggestions are fabulous. You guys have me cracking up.

I do like the stick idea but whoever mentioned physics made a great point about me breaking a wrist. What if I had the stick kind of behind my back, so if it did hit her car in some way, I can let it go and it will fling behind me?

I didn't think about high viz gear. I'm running in "bright" clothes - I'm usually in a orange, or bright pink. I don't have reflectors but now that I'm running regularly it sounds like an essential purchase I need to make ASAP.

I realize you're joking around, but don't.

Physics again. Imagine your hand/wrist as a fulcrum and a 65mph car hitting one end of the lever. Either you let go immediately, in which case there's no effect, or you don't, and a super-fast stick whips around and spanks your *kitten*. Driver laughs herself to death.

Oh, and the air horn thing - If you do pull this stunt, wait until the car has passed you. If someone did this to me, it'd be 50/50 whether I swerved at the noise, or away :ohwell:

ETA: basically your best bet is to report her, whether you take a pic or not.

likitisplit

Can you try running with the traffic? Not ideal, but at this point the same people are probably driving by you every day. People know that there are runners on the side of the road. I know all of the people who normally jog on the sidewalks on my commute; I actually know I'm running late if the grandma who doesn't wear a bra has reached a traffic circle before me.

Just to clarify, I am running against traffic. I actually started out running with traffic and it scared the crap out of me. One, I like music so I don't hear the cars coming and I hate being "startled".. as well as that, I don't trust drivers to see me first. I prefer to zone out but still be aware with my eyes.. which is why I switched to the other side of the road.

These suggestions are fabulous. You guys have me cracking up.

I do like the stick idea but whoever mentioned physics made a great point about me breaking a wrist. What if I had the stick kind of behind my back, so if it did hit her car in some way, I can let it go and it will fling behind me?

I didn't think about high viz gear. I'm running in "bright" clothes - I'm usually in a orange, or bright pink. I don't have reflectors but now that I'm running regularly it sounds like an essential purchase I need to make ASAP.

I realize you're joking around, but don't.

Physics again. Imagine your hand/wrist as a fulcrum and a 65mph car hitting one end of the lever. Either you let go immediately, in which case there's no effect, or you don't, and a super-fast stick whips around and spanks your *kitten*. Driver laughs herself to death.

Oh, and the air horn thing - If you do pull this stunt, wait until the car has passed you. If someone did this to me, it'd be 50/50 whether I swerved at the noise, or away :ohwell:

ETA: basically your best bet is to report her, whether you take a pic or not.

If the driver laughs herself to death, then the problem is solved, right?

Once the bruise heals and you can run again, that is.

DYELB

ETA: basically your best bet is to shoot her...repeatedly...with a bazooka.

yogicarl

Run against traffic. It's safer, you can see the cars coming towards you and it will solve your *kitten* problem.

- the obvious solution

That she was already doing.

I read the OP again, but it not obvious the car is oncoming or approaching from behind. In the UK there is sometimes a solid white line at the verge edge as well as the middle of the road.

Anyways - usually safest to run against the traffic flow.

edit: changed "always" to "usually"!

curlygirl513

4.) Just because she drives, doesn't mean she is well mentally.

:laugh: Truer words have never been spoken!:laugh:

donyellemoniquex3

Is there a reason, you can't run a little later ?

CSARdiver

Realize I'm late to the party, but can you have someone run behind you and video her behavior.

If she's veering towards you or intentionally closing the gap to scare you this is actionable.

May_Rose

Start running with a big pointy stick so if so if she gets too close she will get a big old scratch down the side of the car - kind of like they used to do on Roman chariots

^YES!

likitisplit

Run against traffic. It's safer, you can see the cars coming towards you and it will solve your *kitten* problem.

- the obvious solution

That she was already doing.

I read the OP again, but it not obvious the car is oncoming or approaching from behind. In the UK there is sometimes a solid white line at the verge edge as well as the middle of the road.

Anyways - usually safest to run against the traffic flow.

edit: changed "always" to "usually"!

She explicitly stated running "into" traffic. This means against traffic flow.

castlerobber

The exception to this ideal situation is this one sour-puss faced *kitten* in a black Chevy Cobalt who travels the road every morning when I'm about 3/4 of the way through my run. She doesn't slow down. She doesn't scoot over. I could deal with those two facts except she seems to be inching closer and closer to the white line each morning.

I had one guy start doing this to me on a quiet residential street, speed limit about 35, in our small town (pop. < 2000). He was deliberately coming closer each time, I could see him adjusting his lane position. I turned one day to get his license number, throwing up my hands in exasperation as I did so (using all my fingers, not just one). He slammed on the brakes and started backing up.

I asked the guy why he kept driving so close to me, and the doofus driver started yelling at me for walking against traffic! Said it was illegal [it isn't], but all us stupid runners and walkers insisted on doing it anyway, and all those stupid cyclists he saw on the roads were riding with traffic instead of against it, and THAT was illegal [it isn't]. He was the only person who knew the law, and we were all wrong.,he said. Then he scratched off up the hill.

So when I got home, I called the police and reported him. They came right out, took his license number and vehicle description, and said they'd talk to him. They were as good as their word, calling back later to tell me they had "discussed" the law with the driver.

A few weeks later, at our town's fall festival, my husband and I ran into the police chief. She brought up the incident, told us the driver's name, and reiterated that the problem was taken care of. Turns out that the guy was a known pot-head, with a record for use and possession of marijuana. Maybe that's how he's so knowledgeable of the law. LOL

I almost never see the guy on that street any more.

Jerrypeoples

congrats everyone on the great advice...i found her today. the lady ran into her before she could blow the airhorn or use her sharp pointy stick

likitisplit

congrats everyone on the great advice...i found her today. the lady ran into her before she could blow the airhorn or use her sharp pointy stick

What the hell kind of shoes are those?

The lady was probably just trying to figure that out and accidentally veered towards her.

SLLRunner

Since you are running against traffic, in the future just move over if you can when you see her. Do not confront her in any way because she has come close to hitting you already, and how you describe it makes it sound like she's intentionally driving close to you.

For now, call the cops and tell them what has happened, where, car make model, her description, and tell the. You'll give them the license plate when you next run.

Also, isn't it dark at that time of the morning? If so, make sure you wear plenty of reflective and/or bright clothing.

smantha32

Waiting on an update from the OP. ..

VeryKatie

Call your county police and ask if you can set up a speed trap at that time. I know my city has options for people who are interested in doing so.

VeryKatie

Run against traffic. It's safer, you can see the cars coming towards you and it will solve your *kitten* problem.

- the obvious solution

That she was already doing.

I read the OP again, but it not obvious the car is oncoming or approaching from behind. In the UK there is sometimes a solid white line at the verge edge as well as the middle of the road.

Anyways - usually safest to run against the traffic flow.

edit: changed "always" to "usually"!

She explicitly stated running "into" traffic. This means against traffic flow.

Yes, and her dog is on her left in the grass. Picture it...

jjb_227

How about driving in your car to another location to run, like another neighborhood, a school track, or a park? My walking group picks a different neighborhood to walk in every morning. My favorite is when we meet at Starbucks, walk and then have coffee afterwards.

WalkingAlong

Buy a treadmill.

Honestly, I bet the driver isn't intentionally moving toward the jogger. It sounds like she's just driving and the jogger expects acknowledgement and a wide berth. I imagine the driver's actual legal obligation is to not cross into the oncoming lane since it's been described as having a double line. So the law might be on her side, assuming she's never actually driven on the shoulder.

castlerobber

Honestly, I bet the driver isn't intentionally moving toward the jogger.

Obviously you've never run, walked, or ridden a bike on the roads. People most certainly do drive their cars intentionally at cyclists and pedestrians. They think it's funny to scare them, or want to "teach them a lesson."

When you're watching a car come at you on a long straightaway, where it's maintaining proper lane position, and see it move toward the white line as it approaches you...every day...then it's safe to assume they're doing it deliberately.