Running Into Fear: 3 Creepy True Horror Stories from Joggers
Running Into Fear: 3 Creepy True Horror Stories from Joggers
Jogging is supposed to be healthy—a way to clear the mind, strengthen the body, and enjoy the quiet of early mornings or late nights. But when you’re alone, vulnerable, and exposed to the open world, a simple run can turn into a nightmare. The YouTube channel
Story 1 – The Man in the Woods
The first story takes us to a forest trail, a peaceful shortcut used daily by a young man to save time on his runs. For weeks, he noticed nothing unusual—until one morning, he realized he wasn’t alone.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a man in a dark hoodie, weaving between the trees. At first, he assumed it was another jogger, until he noticed the stranger wasn’t running on the trail but through the woods, keeping pace with him silently. Each time he slowed, the man slowed too. When he sped up, the shadowy figure darted forward, always maintaining distance but never breaking eye contact.
The jogger broke into a sprint, bursting out of the forest into a populated street. When he glanced back, the man had stopped at the tree line, staring, unmoving. The police later searched the area but found nothing. The runner never took that shortcut again, haunted by the thought of how long the man had been watching.
Story 2 – The Van on the Road
The second tale belongs to a young woman who jogged in her neighborhood every evening. At first, she felt safe—familiar streets, neighbors nearby. But one night, she noticed a white van slowly cruising down the block.
She thought nothing of it until she saw the same van again on the next street… and again on the one after that. Her heart raced when the vehicle finally pulled up beside her, the passenger window sliding down. A man inside leaned out and called to her, insisting she come closer. She ignored him, picking up speed, but the van followed.
Panicked, she sprinted toward a lit convenience store, bursting through the doors just as the van screeched away. The clerk later told her similar vans had been reported in the area, suspected of attempted abductions. To this day, she can’t jog without scanning every passing car, fearing one might slow to a crawl behind her.
Story 3 – The Abandoned Track
The final account is perhaps the most unnerving because of its familiarity. A college athlete preferred to practice late at night on the school’s outdoor track, enjoying the solitude. One night, as he completed his laps, he heard the faint sound of something metallic striking beneath the bleachers.
At first, he dismissed it—probably an animal. But then, he noticed movement: a pair of legs shifting in the shadows. His chest tightened as he realized someone was crouched beneath the stands, watching him.
Pretending not to notice, he slowed his run and casually grabbed his belongings. As he left, the figure emerged, stepping onto the track. It was a man, disheveled and barefoot, walking quickly toward him. The runner sprinted off into the night, escaping to safety. Campus police later confirmed there had been break-ins near the track that week, but they never caught the man. The student switched to daytime practice, shaken by how close he had come to danger.
The Unease of the Open Road
These stories share a chilling theme: exposure. Joggers often find themselves isolated, with little protection beyond their endurance. They may be far from help, unarmed, and vulnerable to anyone with darker intentions.
Unlike ghost stories, these tales strike at the real, human dangers of being alone: stalkers in the woods, predators in vehicles, strangers lurking in familiar spaces. They show how quickly a peaceful jog can turn into a fight-or-flight nightmare.
Why They Stay With Us
What makes these accounts truly terrifying is their plausibility. Anyone who’s ever gone for a run at night knows the eerie feeling of being watched, the paranoia of footsteps behind you, or the unease when a car slows nearby. These aren’t distant fears—they’re scenarios that could happen to any of us.
The joggers in these stories escaped, but only narrowly. And the uncertainty—what would have happened if they hadn’t sprinted, if the store hadn’t been open, if they hadn’t noticed the movement under the bleachers—continues to haunt them.
Running From Shadows
Mr. Nightmare’s storytelling thrives on this tension. His calm, steady narration lures you into the ordinary before plunging you into the horrifying. What begins as a jog for health and clarity ends as a reminder that sometimes, the real nightmare isn’t in your imagination—it’s watching from the trees, driving slowly behind you, or waiting in the shadows for you to pass by.
These three stories remind us of a simple, chilling truth: when you’re out jogging alone, you’re never truly sure who else is out there with you.
