Last year I was running on a trail close to my home when I encountered two large, aggressive dogs charging at me. From being a dog owner most of my life, I know that most dogs react to people or other animals that run, so I stopped and began walking. Seeing this, the dogs stopped about 2 feet away from me and circled me while barking.

I stood as tall as I could and stomped the ground each time they attempted to inch closer. We were in a standoff, so I slowly backed away from the dogs while keeping eye contact. When I was at a safe distance, I carried on my run. Once I returned home, I called animal control to report the incident and alerted my neighbors walking the neighborhood to be careful.

This situation wasn't my first run-in with wildlife while out running. I've been chased by dogs, birds, angry bees, and the scariest of them all deer. Every animal attack was unique, but some of the things I did to get myself out of each situation unscathed were the same. The first thing I did was remain calm. The second thing was I maintained eye contact. The last thing I did was develop an exit strategy to get away safely.

If you run outdoors frequently, there is a high probability that you will have an encounter with wildlife. It's a good idea to develop(practice) an action plan to teach yourself what to do if you come across a spirited furry friend.

Be safe out there.

Have you ever been chased by an animal while running?