I encountered this man on a bike very early into a twenty mile run I was doing in preparation for a marathon. I have a training log so I know for sure it was September the 18th, 2010. I left our house on Hosea L. Williams Dr. and went towards Candler, turned left and on that immediate down hill he was biking and startled me. It was before 8am and no one else was out. He said hi and asked me where I was going, if he could run with me and was generally creepy. This happens every once in a while in our area so I just was polite but tried to be dismissive. My now husband was at home and I had my phone so I just thought he’d leave me alone.

Flash forward to College right near Acadia and he finds me again… keeps talking to me, saying hi, and asking if he can run with me. I am getting more freaked out but I didn’t want him to sense my unease. I know I need to go to Stone Mountain on the path and that is remote and not safe, but this was a big run and I was stupid. I got on the path in Scottsdale and he kept literally popping out of the word works…. talking to me and creeping me out. I have my phone in my hand, tried my husband, but just kept running. I encountered a few other people and he would disappear. Only to return. He followed me all the way till I crossed 285. I tried to imply that me husband would be joining me shortly and talk to other runners like I knew them but he was really persistent. He did not directly threaten me but he followed me for a great distance. My gut was don’t freak him out or he will hurt you. I am now very thankful that other people came out as the morning grew later. I am not sure if you know where on the path this is, but I recollect a Police Department on the far side of 285 as the neighborhood turns more Asian in make-up. I was going to stop there but I never saw him again.

I have not run on the path since because of him.