Runners - Walkers a PSA about safety... My close call

Saturday morning I went to our local park to run. It was about 9:00 in the morning. Definitely light out, but still the world was mostly asleep. 

The area I like to run in usually has lot of people out and about. Yesterday there were some senior citizens, but not the usual runners and speed walkers. 

There is a one mile loop around some soccer fields and then some smaller loops that go into the woods and wind around. None of these loops are deep woods, but they tend to get isolated in spots even on busy days. 

I ran the big loop and then veered off to go on the smaller loops in the woods. As soon as I rounded the corner I saw this man and his little lap dog at the other end of a bridge. In that split second he creeped me out. I turned and ran back out into the open before I even got into the woods. A split second decision. Lesson #1 - Listen to you gut. 

I ended up running to the entrance of the park and then across the street and through some neighborhoods. As I entered the park on my return he was sitting in the entrance parking lot. 

I stayed on the main road through the park and then headed back to my car. At this point I did not see him so I ran the big loop again. As I came around the final turn there he was sitting in his car grinning at me in the most obnoxious way. 

I ran straight to my car. By the time I got there he had pulled his car behind mine essentially blocking me in. I called my husband and spoke loudly to him as I got into my car. Lesson #2 - call the police, not your spouse. In thinking back on this, I was afraid I was wrong and he was just an innocent man. However, I was scared enough to make my husband write down a full description of his car and face. This should have been my clue. 

I put my car into reverse and he moved. I was prepared to go forward and through the grass. I thought I lost him. I went the opposite direction, but as soon as I got to the exit of the park there he was at the 4-way stop. It was a stand off. I forced him to go first by waiting him out until a car came up behind him. At that point I gave dh his license plate #. He turned into a neighborhood and I started to drive home. 

At the next light I noticed he was behind me again. I twisted and turned through town and he followed. He did not stop until I pulled into the police station parking lot. 

It is now the next morning. As I reflect on this I still have to wonder why have I not reported this to the police? Why am I so scared of being wrong? I will be reporting it to my cop friend today. Small town perks.  

Lesson #3 - If you are out by yourself, please buy some mace or pepper spray. I bought some last night at Dick's. It has a hand strap for running. Plus, it has a UV dye. If I use it and the person gets away the dye will show under black light even after showering. 

Here's hoping I don't accidently spray myself! 

ETA...
I called my friend. He took down all the information and made a report. He was going to also contact the parks department so they could be aware. I asked him what the next step was and he said...

"I make sure he never thinks about doing that again."