Saskatoon woman details assault while running behind RUH

Jen Kripki admits her guard was down.

It was 10:30 a.m. CST on a Monday morning, and she was running on the paved Meewasin trail behind the Royal University Hospital parkade.

She didn't think much of the man coming toward her on a mountain bike. He didn't have a mask on, or trigger any warning bells.

After he crossed her path, however, she realized that he had turned around and was riding behind her. Her suspicions grew when the bike never passed her.

"So I moved over a little bit, I didn't look behind me and I was starting to wonder why it was taking so long for the bike to pass me," she said in an interview.

"So, it was at that point this man came up beside me and he cycled very slowly and grabbed me a few times in some inappropriate places in a sexual manner."

Kripki yelled at the man and he took off. She continued to run and, as she crested a hill, she saw the man hiding in some bushes, again.

"I knew he was there, so I kept screaming and yelling at him again, hoping to draw attention."

The man fled.

Kripki doesn't want anyone else to go through a similar experience. Her advice is simple.

"Just be aware of your surroundings, knowing what's going on," she said. She already avoids running early in the morning or late at night. 

"Definitely, if you have music, try to run with just the one ear bud, or have the music really low. And cellphones, really good to have that with you." 

Kripki said she will also try to run in numbers and use the trail on the west side of the River where there is more traffic. 

Police are still investigating. ​The university said it notified all of the students about the incident by email so they know to be cautious and keep an eye out. Security has also increased its bike patrols in the area and notified police.