Jogger heard a stranger say ‘I’m on it’ while running with a friend — when she stopped to confront him, her worst fear came true
A walk through a busy city can feel harmless when friends are together and surrounded by other people. However, for one singer and comedian, Danae Hays, a daytime run through downtown Nashville with their friend Jen became a frightening experience during a music festival. The area was crowded with visitors, music, and activity, so the two individuals decided to leave the busiest street and take another route home. The Instagram user noticed a man near a building as they passed, then heard him say, "I'm on it." When they later stopped and confronted him about following them, their biggest fear quickly became real. They later shared the experience on July 29, 2026, through @danae.hays on their social media account.
The situation changed when Hays heard the man quietly repeat the phrase. They and Jen continued walking, but Hays soon became concerned that he was following them. They pretended to stop and tie their shoe, and the man stopped nearby as well. They then changed direction, yet he followed them again. Soon they decided to walk up a small set of steps to see if he would continue, and he did. Hays then confronted him in front of a nearby group and told him, "Quit following us. I know you are following us." The man immediately became angry, clenched his fists, and threatened them before he started running behind them.
The duo immediately raced toward the busy part of downtown as the man ran after them. They moved through the crowd, trying to reach somewhere safe. Hays then spotted a police officer on a corner and headed straight toward him. They told the officer that the man was following them and pointed in his direction. He was about 20 yards away at the time. Once the man noticed the officer, his expression changed, and he quickly turned around. He then ran in the opposite direction. Quick decisions can make a major difference when someone feels unsafe.
The experience left Hays deeply shaken and changed how they and Jen move around Nashville. They decided not to walk alone and have avoided traveling downtown on foot since that day. They shared how they also waited a month and a half before speaking publicly about what happened because they were unsure about the stranger's intentions. The uncertainty made the incident even more disturbing. For them, the lesson was to trust warning signs, stay aware of what is happening around you, and act fast when something feels wrong.
A normal day can also become dangerous when one is alone in public, especially as a woman. In another incident, a solo runner noticed a stranger behind her shortly after they crossed paths. She had simply acknowledged him and continued running, without thinking much about the interaction. Then, suddenly, about 40 seconds later, she looked back and realized the same man was now following her. She immediately confronted him by asking, "Why are you running after me?" When he denied following her, she firmly told him, "Get back!" before he finally walked away.
For more interesting stories, follow @danae.hays on their Instagram account.
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