Following the sad end to the Mollie Tibbetts case today, I start to think about the risks for solo runners, especially females, are exposed to here.
20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts, a student at the University of Iowa and cross-country runner, was reported missing after an evening run on July 18, which then started an extensive month-long search in the region. Her body was discovered by investigators 5 weeks later after they were led to the scene by the captured suspect, where an autopsy confirmed her identity.
Such a tragic loss of a young life who could have had such a bright future ahead, now cruelly snatched away from her and her family.
I love going off the beaten track myself, exploring the unusual routes to find new ways of clocking some mileage. Finding new flora and fauna landscapes in a build-up, urban city like Singapore is special to me. I want to rediscover the raw, beautiful but rare natural settings, from what is left of the land that had been so heavily developed in our tiny island country.
Going off-route
Earlier this week during the public holiday, I took the opportunity to do so. Starting from Chestnut Nature Park, I was planning to find a route to cross the reservoirs to link up to Upper Thomson Road. I was hoping there is some track I can take without having to use the paved traffic roads. I don’t enjoy doing laps at all. So this was really for my eventual grand plan to search for a route that covers the entire greater Central Water Catchment Area in a loop, without having to re-trace on the same trails.
Heading up north and reaching the Observation Tower, I was still on track (so to speak). Happily continuing my journey, I was enjoying the greenery and perfect weather. I reached Gali Batu Flyover and realised then I missed the path earlier and it had been too far for me to turn back. Well, I thought since I came all this way, let me go on this Mandai T15 trail that I heard so much before but never been to.
There were 3 paths to be exact. One was clearly up towards Mandai in a well-trodden way – plenty of mountain biking enthusiasts and runners that passed along this way. Another was somewhat in the direction back to where I came from? And the final looked like a water pipe way that looked relatively safe to explore to me.
No guesses for which route I picked then. I thought I should be able to reconnect back on T15 when I reach Mandai Road and will head back that way later. So I did.
On this trail, there was not a single person. It was the appreciation of Singapore’s nature at its best; tranquil and peaceful, that was truly enjoyable for me. I had to navigate some muddy parts, crossing some really tall lallang bushes.
My buffalo encounter – true story!
And I had the strangest encounter of a buffalo calf crossing my path! It was an adolescent; light grey hide with nervous eyes watching me as he dashed across from one side of the undergrowth to the other. Standing almost as tall as I am, it was barely 10 metres away from me as we converged on the trail. It happened in an instant and I was utterly surprised.
How can this large creature exist, living in the wild and it escape the knowledge of the authorities all this while? Needless to say, it was too sudden to whip out my phone to take a picture and in a few seconds, all that was left were the mad rustling of the tree branches and bushes in its wake.
The lonesome path, with the majestic rain tree towering ahead
[Update: I had been advised that the animal I saw was probably a sambar deer. Looks about right, judging from the filed images, size and colour of hide!]
The danger that lurks
Thinking back, I now felt how risky it could have been for me that day. With absolutely no one else around, any screams or shouts will be futile. Yes I had phone with me but this is useful only if you get to use it to reach for help. What if I had slipped and fell unconscious? There was a high chance I could have been bitten by a snake as I traversed the thick bushes when I reached the end of the track – a dead end.
In a safe city like Singapore, security is often taken for granted. Look at the number of times bags are simply left at the table to chope a seat, valuables left exposed so that the owner can make an order at the cafe.
I admit I was too nonchalant about the dangers. As much as I enjoy solo runs, running with a close buddy into uncharted territories would be the better option. And when running alone, I ALWAYS put on my music. This is not a good idea at all – not only are you not aware of someone who might be approaching, you might miss the runners or cyclists trying to over-take you and end up colliding.
A quick search on the reported cases of assaults that happen to runners in Singapore are a mere handful. But let’s not add to the statistics as much as we can.
There are good tips on how you can play the defensive and protect yourself during your runs, like this article from RunSociety. I like the one that says “Don’t worry about being rude; worry about staying safe.”. In the face of potential threat and danger, trust your instincts and forget your Asian apologetic, non-confrontational upbringing. If a person gets too close to be comfortable, it’s is not wrong to tell him (or her) to back off.
As for the recce-ing efforts, if anyone is kind enough to guide me in that area, then that’s one less risk I will need to take?
Add a hashtag #MilesforMollie to your running posts on social media to fight against fears of females running solo. How about dedicating your miles this week with a girlfriend buddy runner to support this cause?