LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WJW) - Vani Shukla, 24, knows the Rocky River Reservation well. It's where she trains for races and clears her mind.

"I ran like I normally do when I go to the reservation. My friends have my location. Everyone knows when I'm running."

But on Saturday evening, the trail she loves became the scene of a terrifying attack.

"It was around mile 17/18 when all of a sudden, out of the blue, I felt hands on my shoulders and someone was strangling me from behind my neck. I couldn't even scream."

Vani, who is 5'10, said a large man wearing a hoodie and gloves grabbed her neck with both hands from behind near the 8 mile marker along the trail just before sundown, then threw her to the ground where she blacked out.

But not before putting up a fight.

“I tried to reach for my phone

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