Several years ago, while riding my bike on a road I’ve ridden thousands of times, I was attacked and nearly killed by a stranger. The attacker was almost 20 years younger than me, several inches taller and about 50 pounds heavier than I am. The attack lasted about 90 seconds, and my mind raced in a million directions. I tried to recall techniques from a self-defense course I had taken years ago, but in addition to all the physical advantages my attacker had over me, I was recovering from a knee injury. Ultimately, my life was saved by another cyclist (who I had met the day before on the same road) who happened upon us, and the attacker was arrested and put away.
The experience gave me a few lessons to ponder, and I wanted to share them:
1. You never know who you might meet one day who may end up saving you the next.
2. Take a self-defense class and review techniques periodically.
3. You don’t need to be physically stronger to survive an attack, but you do need to be prepared.
4. “Why” this man wanted to hurt me didn’t really matter.
5. I fought hard to live and I will not now allow myself to live in fear. I continue to ride this path, but with a large can of pepper spray in my front pack.
Dr. Laura, keep telling your stories and giving your opinions. You never know when or how they might ring true for a listener on any given day.
Diane
What I Learned After I Was Physically Attacked