A morning training session turned into a real-life survival race for professional marathon runner Moninda Marube in Auburn, Maine, when he found himself face-to-face with two black bears.
On Wednesday morning in 2017, Marube was about six miles into his run along a nature trail near Auburn Lake when he heard rustling in the woods.
Moments later, two black bears emerged just 20 yards away.
Marube recalled,
“I had to think very fast. I knew I could not climb up a tree because bears can climb a tree. The only solution I had at that time was to be able to run.”
A Sprint For Survival
Drawing on his years of elite marathon training, the Kenyan-born runner sprinted back toward a vacant house he had passed earlier.
As he ran, he screamed in hopes of deterring the bears.
The chase brought them within 10 yards of him before he reached the home’s screened-in porch, slamming the door behind him.
Marube said,
“They started sniffing the door. It’s not the house that helped me. It’s God.”
After a tense moment, the bears lost interest and wandered away, giving Marube a chance to escape unharmed.
Animal experts say black bears can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, making such encounters extremely dangerous.
“You never run from a bear,” warned animal trainer Doug Seus, noting that running can sometimes trigger a chase instinct.
Not His First Close Call
Marube, who has lived in the United States since 2010 and studies at the University of Maine at Farmington, is no stranger to wildlife encounters.
While in Africa, he once came across a leopard perched in a tree while running alone. He said,
“I don’t fear lions. But a bear is scary.”
The runner, who finished third in the 2012 Maine Marathon and won the 2013 half-marathon, says the experience left him with a deeper appreciation for life.
Marube reflected,
“Just make peace with people. You never know when your day comes.”
Officials have warned that bear encounters are on the rise nationwide, with recent sightings from Alaska to California and even rare back-to-back maulings in Alaska.
