Old Man saved my life and others, I think but I'm still creeped out.

Im not sure why I didnt think of writing this before today. <br><br><br>When I was in my mid 20's I used to go running in a really nice nature reserve in japan that was part of temple grounds but had its own entrance. The paths were well maintained and far enough to give you a good run almost a 6km loop. <br><br><br>I ran there multiple day a week, it was a beautiful place and so much different to back home. After a while I noticed some of the staff and I think some of the monks would wave at me. Not a big deal but nice and I'd obviously wave back. It was weird I never saw other people so often that I would know them. <br><br><br>I ran there for a few months, i'd have to push my day running back in summer and run early hours cos it was getting too hot. <br><br><br>Usually I I'd start at around 11am and go through until I got to the exit/entrance. There I saw the guys that sell fresh watermelon everyday at 12pm. I'd buy a slice and eat it and then head home. <br><br><br>One day, my run was cut short, i was in the middle of running and it was hot. I think it was around 15km so i'd gotten around 11km done and it was getting far too hot. I was already dying of heat but decided I'd just carry on. I'd gone through almost all my water bottle and started to feel sick. <br><br>I thought i was almost there though and tried to run more but it was getting worse. Suddenly I almost passed out but luckily I saved myself. I got to a bench and sat down and realised that I was in deep trouble. I now had less than 1 liter of water. It was almost noon, I still have around 3-4k left to carry on and the heat was far to dangerous. I'd be dehydrated and I was likely to pass out before long. <br><br><br>I knew I couldn't carry on, I'd never made it to the beginning from the middle before so my only hope was to get back. I had gone around 8km of the path so back is 3km shorter than to the end. I got up and started to slowly walk, I was violently sick and was worried for my life. I'd never been in heat stroke before but I knew for sure now that It was a reality. <br><br><br>I threw up multiple times, almost blacked out a few times but thankfully I just made it back to the car in time. I got in and was gone, I was acting on autopilot, I had nothing in my brain. <br><br><br>I remember thinking it was strange I didn't see any other runners in the park and felt really strange and like something was wrong with my car but I didn't stop and sped away. <br><br><br>When I got home I went straight to bed and the next few days were a blur, I got heat stroke and stayed in bed the whole time. After a few days I tried to run again and got around just over 2km before having to stop, I continued for weeks like that. I tried to go back for a while but I think the heat stroke almost ruined running for me for a while. <br><br><br>The first time I got heat stroke was the worst I ever felt in my life and the fact that I was in danger, I don't think I could explain. <br><br><br>I stopped going for a while and almost forgot about everything. Several weeks later I went back to the park. I got there and it was closed down. I knew they'd now be getting rain so why was it closed. I checked the news and the previous day I got to the park the river that runs through part of the park had burst its banks and gone through the park, the level was so high it had actually gone over part of the path where I was running. I don't know the exact route of the river but if you ran towards the beginning you would have been likely swept away. <br><br><br>The rain was so unpredictable we'd have days with no rain and then days with storms, though no one would have thought it would be that bad. I was so relieved I got to the park the day before and my heat stroke was incredibly lucky. Not dying of heat stroke would have been very disappointing.<br><br><br>But why does this make me feel creeped out? <br><br>Well I went back and the people I used to see and bump into that would wave at me? They don't exist. I also found out that the watermelon guys have been there longer than the park. Which is impossible! I started running and they were there. But now I've gone back multiple times around the same hours I used to and never found anyone there. <br><br><br>When I run and feel tired and want to give up I always think of this experience and think what kind of world this is and how strange it is. But its a day I'll never forget and running is my favorite thing in life. <br><br>Sorry I forgot to add, why I think the old man saved me: <br><br><br>At the time I used to run to one song everyday, it is almost a 9 minute song and it was my first song. everyday I heard it the amount of times i'd have to hit next track at the end to finish the run is how much was left. now that song doesn't bring me any bad memories and not once does it but it always brings me to that day. I just can't run it and don't get creeped out about it.