Just call me the “fact finder”. I think that’s an actual paid position for some publications but as a blog writer, the fact-finding job comes down to me, myself & I.
The fact-finding mission for today was to determine the validity of a message circling our local Facebook running club pages regarding the attack of a woman on the LaPorte Road access trail in Mokena. Status of the attack = TRUE. The woman had an incident where a man , whom she had previously seen riding a bike in dark sunglasses & a hoodie, approached her on foot/running and attempted to push/pull/drag her to the ground. She screamed and shoved him and he ran off. She was uninjured. The man was in his late teens/early 20s and has not been found.
The Will County Forest Preserve Police have jurisdiction over most of our trails, including this one. I have been assured that they have increased patrols and police presence on the trail and they are visible and alert. In response to the initial emergency call, they had 10-15 officers canvasing the trail the day of the attack; however, never managed to find the attacker. I was also assured by Mokena PD that although the trail is not their jurisdiction that they are more than willing to back up the Forest Preserve Police for assistance at any time.
If you have an emergency on the trail, please call 911 or the Will County Dispatch so they can dispatch the Forest Preserve Police. The Will Co Dispatch #: 815.727.6191, program that number in your cell now (pretty please?). If you have information regarding a situation on the trail that is non emergency, please call: 815.727.8700.
Although I hate to be redundant, I will once again address safety. If you need additional info or a full-fledged refresher, go to my original posts on safety: Tips on Running Safety HERE and Tips on Running in the Dark HERE.
Please be vigilant while running and make eye contact with everyone you encounter. Only use one ear bud with music so that you can hear what is going on around you/possibly coming up behind you. Run with a friend or a group, if possible.
Local Group Runs
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Monday – Running for Kicks, Palos, IL – 6pm
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Wednesday – Frankfort New Lenox Running Club – Frankfort, IL – 5pm
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Thursday – Frankfort New Lenox Running Club – Frankfort, IL – 6:30pm
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Saturday – Park Forest Running & Pancake Club – Midlothian or Frankfort, IL – 7am
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Saturday – Frankfort New Lenox Running Club – New Lenox, IL – 7am
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Saturday – Yankee Runners – Palos or Oak Forest, IL – 7am
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Sunday – Park Forest Running & Pancake Club – Park Forest, IL – 8am
If it’s not possible to run with a friend or group, then decide how you plan to best protect yourself if necessary. Think about what you would do if somebody approaches you and tries to knock you down for an assault. This is not supposed to scare you but help you THINK about what action you plan to take. For me, I have limited knowledge in self-defense and I have made the choice to carry pepper spray but above all, I am always “watching and listening” to what is going on around me. For pepper spray, I have chosen the Wrist Saver from PersonalSavers.com.
I know that pepper spray is not for everyone, I’m not saying its the right choice for you but I feel confident in my ability to use it correctly and be able to flee from an attacker with its aid. Look HERE for the proper ways to use/spray pepper spray so that you will know how to use it, and not lose it to your attacker.
PersonalSavers.com has generously donated a PINK Wrist Saver and a PINK Personal Saver for me to giveaway. The Wrist Saver attaches to your wrist via velcro (see the pic of mine above), bike handle, or stroller handle for easy access & use. It also has reflective accents, an id card and a small light.
The Personal Saver has both a key ring and a clip to attach to your waistband, hydration or Spi-Belt.
If you would like to order from PersonalSavers.com now, use the discount code: TTF for a $1.50 off your purchase and a free Personal Savers microfiber towel.
Another way that a person (YOU) might be proactive about safety is to take a personal safety/self-defense course. Dennis Wright Martial Arts of Midlothian has generously offered two slots in his next Self-Defense Seminar to giveaway. The class is on May 19, 2012 from 12pm to 2:30pm. If you want to be entered in the giveaway for this seminar, please be local or willing to travel. 🙂 Mr. Wright offers classes in a variety of genres from boxing, martial arts to self-defense. He also frequently offers self-defense and/or runner safety seminars to area locals for a low price.
If you know of other locations which offer these type of short seminars, please feel free to share with us! I would love to start a list of places to call for self-defense training. Let’s work together and be knowledgeable about our options for safety and self-defense!
That was long, I know. As a reward for getting this far, all you need to do to be entered in the giveaway for the Personal Saver & Wrist Saver (2 items to be given to 2 separate individuals) is make a comment below. Bonus entry, go “like” Personal Savers on Facebook HERE. If you want to be entered for the Dennis Wright Marital Arts Self Defense Seminar (2 slots for May 19th at Noon) please do so indicate an interest since this is a “local” perk. One comment per person, I’ll sort it out. Giveaway goes from now until Wednesday, April 25th at 9am.
Comment Example: I would like to be entered in the personal saver giveaway, I “liked” them on Facebook, and I would also love to be entered in the giveaway for the self-defense seminar.
Happy “Safe” Running & Good Luck on the Giveaways, Amanda – TooTallFritz
TooTallFritz 
I’d love to win one! Safety first is the way to go.
I would like to be entered into the personal saver giveaway. I liked them on facebook. Thanks Amanda!!
Pepper spray has helped me get away from an attacker before, and I am so thankful I had it.
Great! Do you have any special advice to help the rest of us?
I would like to be entered in the personal saver giveaway! I “liked” them on Facebook. I have a pepper spray container that I bought at running for kicks ages ago, and it fits in my hand (similar to knuckle lights). Not really handy if you’re already holding a leash and a water bottle. Thanks Amanda!
I have an old one that has a case, which I glued a clip on so I could attach to my water belt but most of the time, it goes in my pocket, not handy at all. I wear the wrist saver all the time.
“I would like to be entered in the personal saver giveaway, I “liked” them on Facebook, and I would also love to be entered in the giveaway for the self-defense seminar… “” Does this sound like something you have heard before????? LOL.
PERFECT! Thanks, Lynn! Good luck!
I’d like to win a personal saver! And I liked them on FB. I can’t go to the self defense thing though, I’m attending a wedding that day.
Bummer on the seminar! I want to go to the safety seminar, do you think Michael would anything to the class? LOL!
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Sign me up for the personal saver!!! Our friend’s TKD club offers a self defense class free to women on mothers day. You better believe I plan on taking it.
Good for you! I’d like to take a class too but I’m guessing Michael “might” be a distraction for the others. 🙂
I would like to win the personal saver and like them on FB as well! Also, I would like to attend the self defense class! This would make my fiancé very happy, since he hates when I run alone!
Awesome!
Enter me in the personal saver give away, Please!
Enter me in the personal saver give away, please. Pepper spray is helpful with dogs. Most dogs I come across are just noisy and want to say hello. But I have had a few dogs dart out from under shrubs and take a piece out of my running pants.
I’ve been bit 3x. That was why I first purchased pepper spray.
I would like to be entered on the personal saver giveaway. I worry about it all the time!
I would like to be entered in the personal saver giveaway, I “liked” them on Facebook, and I would also love to be entered in the giveaway for the self-defense seminar.
Please enter me for the personal saver giveaway! I am already a fan of Personal Savers on Facebook. Thank you! arenat80 [at] gmail.com
Enter me in everything please 😉 I loved the self-defense class that some of us went to a few months back….very helpful for the what if’s.
Unfortunately most of my runs I have to do on my own. There have been times I don’t run because I do worry about my safety. I would love to try the Personal Saver. I liked them on FACEBOOK.
I would like to be entered in the personal saver giveaway, I “liked” them on Facebook, thanks for the advise. I REALLY need to get to a run and meet you and the group!
Thanks you SO MUCH for the “heads up”! I run the LaPorte trail alone all the time, sometimes moving off the paved trail to the wooded path. I never dreamed that some sick man would attempt such a thing in broad daylight. You have changed my running habits, God bless you! I would like to be entered for the personal safety givaway.
I would like to be entered into the personal saver giveaway. I liked them on Facebook. Thanks!! And great blog post as well! I don’t run at night very much, and I also have a nice, populated regular route I run, but safety is definitely a concern for fellow runners!
I would love to win a personal saver! I have been meaning to buy somthing like that for my runs/hikes. Safety is definitely a priority especially when I am hiking with my kids or running alone:)
I liked the personal saver pepper spray. Cant go wrong with pink.
Thanks for the reminder and refresher on safety. I am able to do my long runs with a friend however I do go out in the evening by myself. I run in a residential area and feel comfortable and safe (maybe that is not a good thing). As far as safety, I also run with my ROAD ID should anything happen to me- http://www.roadid.com/common/default.aspx?referrer=4623
Please enter me in the contest. I have “liked” Personal Savers on FB too.
Oh my! Please everyone be safe! I’d love to win the personal savers give away.
I have liked Personal Savers on Facebook. I’d also like to be entered in the local giveaway for the self-defense seminar – thank you for offering these and keeping us informed of local events!
Thanks for the info Amanda! I like the personal savers mace much better than the one I have now, so hope I win! Also, I took Dennis’ self defense seminar and it was fantastic! I feel much more confident out on the trails knowing how to protect myself if the need arises. Of course, the most important thing is to always be aware of your surroundings and run with a partner if possible!
Amanda ~ You are the best, my dear!! Please enter me in the giveaway. What a great idea!! Going to like their page now. Keep up the great work! You rock and you inspire me!!
Good job TTF revisiting the personal safety subject. Why don’t you give one of those free “pink sprays” to that gal that was attacked? That would be cool way for the run group to say we are all thinking of her.
Another thing to keep in mind, just the presence of that pepper spray on wrist or strapped to hand ready to use may be enough of a deterrent in itself. Attackers usually scope their victims out and look for those that are the easiest and most vulnerable. They will likely avoid someone with that spray if they are solo attackers. A well-placed shot of pepper spray can render and attacker helpless, sometimes even to the point they can’t see to run away. They won’t want to take the chance of getting caught attacking someone armed with pepper spray. But if you do opt to carry pepper spray….make sure you are well indoctrinated with how to use it.
Let’s all be safe out there and always…always…watch out for what’s going on around you as well as other runners ahead of you. Run swift,smart and safe!
Thanks for the safety tips. Would love to be entered in the Personal Saver givevaway. Liked them on FB.
I would like to be entered in the personal savers giveaway and I liked them on FB. I run alone all the time and do get nervous about it. I try to run only in neighborhoods and not too early and not too late, but you never know . . .
I didn’t read through all the comments, but THIS would be perfect for dogs as well. I don’t have much of an issue running, but when I ride long distance…out in the country..there are some obnoxiously fast and scary country dogs. I didn’t even know this kind of mace existed. I think it is definitely as essential as Road ID, esp once you’re out of the “publics” eye….Glad she was ok. Many are not so fortunate!
PersonalSavers.com also has a cycle saver that mounts to the bike. You may want to check out the website. If you purchase, use the TTF code to get the discount. No $ in it for me, just a savings for you. And dogs are the reason I purchased this initially so that its out & accessible for immediate use. I have used it so much.
Id like to be one of the winners of the personal safety devices.
Thanks for the tips. It’s good to have a reminder to stay safe. I’d love to be entered in the giveaway.
Please enter me for the personalsaver, I have liked them on facebook also!! I have the handheld Pepperspray from RFK and have had to use it reluctantly running the country roads in Michigan, attack dogs running loose….
I would like to be entered in the personal savers give away. I liked them on Facebook.
I would like to be entered in the personal saver giveaway, I “liked” them on Facebook!
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