We are not in a good city for running. Most roads are too narrow and we have few sidewalks or running trails. I run down a main road near my house that does have a sidewalk. Cheryl likes that because she feels I’m safer. The problem on the main road is that cars are constantly pulling in and out of businesses along the busy stretch of road.
Today I was approaching a business entrance and a jeep was pulling out. The driver was on her cell phone but at the time couldn’t pull out because of heavy traffic. I thought we made eye contact, so I went to run in front of her. About that time an oncoming car turned on his blinker to turn into the same business entrance. When the jeep saw the blinker she took off quickly (The kind of take-off that would normally squeal tires) to pull in front of the other traffic. The only problem was that I was now in front of her car.
It all happened so fast, but basically as the car went to hit me I jumped up and towards the hood of the car. I don’t know what motivated me to do so, but had I not I would have been knocked backwards into oncoming traffic or run over by the jeep. As I landed on the hood of the jeep I obviously scared the driver half to death. She slammed on her breaks, I jumped off, stumbling to my feet and twisting my ankle, but I was able to somehow keep going.
I never stopped and neither did she. I’m sore tonight with a slight headache, but otherwise seem to be okay.
Perhaps driving yourself to a track would be a better option? Even out in the country, I have had to jump into a ditch to avoid an oncoming car!
all this preaching on Superheroes recently must have given you special powers… aren’t you glad you’ve been practicing your spiderman skills?
Glad your alright
I am so glad that you are okay. Personally, I would have been really ticked off. At least I was when I was hit by a car on my bike in a similar situation.
Glad your ok, Ron!! Did you hurt the jeep? 🙂
Joe
http://www.joecase.com
Wow! Glad you’re ok! Maybe you need to carry an air-horm so that you can let people know you’re coming … or a mega-phone and you can give them a holy word or two as you pass. 🙂
wow! so glad you are ok.
dang. i hope you are indeed just fine. that is exactly why cyclists don’t ride on sidewalks.