It was a Wednesday. I was on a business trip and was at my desk finishing up a few things for the day when my phone suddenly went off like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Ding. Ding ding ding. Ding. Ping. Ding. Ping. Almost simultaneously, I received a slew of text messages and private Facebook messages in rapid succession. What was staring back at me on the screen was almost beyond my comprehension.

It was a local news story. Several stories, in fact. A man I knew had been indicted for allegedly stalking a woman he had been training for a triathlon with by placing a GPS tracker on her car. The news story said the woman became suspicious when he started showing up at many of the same locations she was at quite frequently.

I was shocked because the man was a friend I’d trained with quite frequently for a year. He was someone I met through the local running and triathlon community and regarded fondly as a supportive training partner – someone who was encouraging, helpful and pushed me during many tough runs. We often chatted about our families and work, but most of all running.

I have no idea what has transpired since the story broke several months ago. I don’t know if he is guilty or if there is a logical reason to explain this scary story (I certainly hope that is the case). But either way, I realized that this could have been me. This man and I met frequently to run together, including when it was dark out and not always with other runners. We ran on paths and trails that while busy, could be secluded.

Since I’ve moved to Florida, I’ve felt safe for the first time in a long time. Although I’ve never shared openly on runladylike.com about the crime in Atlanta, Mr. rUnladylike and I were the victims of a lot of unfortunate and upsetting situations during our years there – from house and car break-ins to auto theft to being held up at gunpoint. There was never a time I wasn’t constantly looking over my shoulder.

When it came to running alone, I was even more vigilant.

Today, I feel safer than I have in years. But the story about my “friend” is a reminder that no matter where we live or how safe we feel, dangerous situations can happen to all of us. We must be vigilant to protect ourselves. I’ve written a lot about staying safe while running and marathon training. Taking a self-defense class for runners and carrying personal safety products are two things I think are important. You can read more about staying safe on the run here:

9 Tips to Stay Safe on the Run

Become a Running Powerhouse: Self-Defense for Runners

Gear Guide for Running Safe

Escaping a Running Attack

Last year, I began working with a family-owned company called SABRE that has more than four decades of experience in the personal safety industry and makes a variety of personal safety products, including a line for runners and athletes. I have their products with me the majority of the time (note, I’m receiving NO compensation or incentive to write about SABRE in this post).

This chilling story that hit too close to home made me think this is the perfect time to give away a personal safety product to a rUnladylike reader.

Running Safety Giveaway: How to Enter

Visit sabrered.com and check out their line of personal safety products for athletes. Then post a comment below telling me which of the following items you want to win:

Pepper Spray Alarm with Key Ring (This is one of my favorite things and it is always on my key chain.)

Runner Pepper Spray

Cyclist Pepper Spray with Adjustable Bike Strap

You must use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter and track all your entries (mandatory). Simply log in with your Facebook account or email. Once you’ve left your comment, check it off in the box below to unlock additional options to enter, such as sharing the sweepstakes on social media, following rUnladylike and SABRE on social media and more.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This sweepstakes is open until 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, June 12. The winner will be announced by Monday, June 15, 2015.

Good luck, and run safe.

No purchase is necessary to win. Must be 18 or older to enter. The sweepstakes is open from Monday, June 8, 2015 at 1 a.m. Eastern time until Friday, June 12, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. To enter, you must visit sabrered.com and leave a comment below sharing which product you would like to win: Pepper Spray Alarm with Key Ring, Runner Pepper Spray OR Cyclist Pepper Spray with Adjustable Bike Strap. To be eligible to win, you must submit your entries through the Rafflecopter widget featured on this page. To do so, you will need to provide your email address or log in with your Facebook information. One winner will be chosen at random and will receive the product of their choice from the three mentioned above, with a maximum total retail value estimated at $13.99. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. The winner will be selected by Monday, June 15, 2015, and will be contacted via email. Winners will have 2 days from the time and date of the email sent to claim their prize. rUnladylike, LLC, has the right to obtain the winner’s name through the Rafflecopter sweepstakes widget and via runladylike.com. The winner agrees to allow rUnladylike, LLC, to share the winner’s name. The prize will be emailed to the winner from Jesica D’Avanza of rUnladylike, LLC. The winner and all sweepstakes entrants hold rUnladylike, LLC, and SABRE harmless in the event that the prize or sweepstakes in some way negatively impacts the winner, and the winner agrees to use the prize at his or her own risk. This sweepstakes is hosted by rUnladylike, LLC, of Georgia, who can be contacted at runladylike@gmail.com. Void where prohibited by law.

Visit sabrered.com and leave a comment below sharing which of the three items featured in this post you want to win.