Thwack!

There are a few perils in running in the dark. Over the years I have managed to identify them and find ways to avoid said perils:

Pitching sidewalks - run on the street
Sprinklers - run on the street
Dogs barking behind fences - run on the street
Cars on road - run on sidewalk or right next to curb
Driver's turning where you are - okay, I've thumped a few hoods but really I just
stop and stare (glare) as they look startled
Prius - not as much noise so a bigger threat. Feel vibrations first and note engine
so listen to your feet and see above.
Dogs chasing me
A. Small dog - out run it or turn around and give it a swift kick* (typically
missing but the dog gets the drift)
B. Medium dog - Stare it down but if it keeps coming stand still and yell at
the idiot owner who is saying, "He is just playing. He won't
actually bite you!".
C. Large dog - Stand very still as it barrels towards me and hope it doesn't
knock me down while I yell at idiot owner. (see above)
D. Pack of dogs - Yes, this has happened. I turned a corner where 5 dogs were
running down the street towards me. I stopped but didn't
lose eye contact with the "leader". I yelled, clapped and
generally took over and sent them home. I didn't continue
down that same street ... just in case.
Raccoons - As long as you are loud they run away. I accidentally got in between a mom
and her babies in a tree once and got a pretty good threat but again, run
in the street.
Bicyclists - watch for them as they can't be heard and move quick!
Other Runners - cross to opposite side of street and generally avoid
*Note to dog lovers - I am not a dog hater I just hate being bitten. I am not out to injure the dog just to get it away from my achilles tendons. I am annoyed with owners that think, "my dog won't bite you". Dogs are predators and a runner looks like prey.

In spite of my wisdom of the ages once in a while I still miss something. This morning it as a bush branch that had sprouted out over the sideway. Right above my eye level. Thwack! It was just woody enough as to sting the second time it hit me - this branch was really long! I felt it on my forehead and put out a hand to push it away, caught part of it but it bent out of my hand, hitting me again and gave me a nice welt.

Thank goodness for bangs...