Discussion: Attack in Balboa Park

https://www.10news.com/news/elderly-hiker-found-un...

Best wishes for Donna's speedy and full recovery. The Gookins are friends of all orienteers.

My heart sank when I read this - when one seems to have to worry less about bears in the Yukon than human beasts in parks. Speedy recovery, Donna, and best wishes to you and Ed.

Heartbreaking. Wishing Donna a swift recovery.

Very sad we can’t walk in a city park safely. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Will be thinking good thoughts for the Gookins.

Best wishes to Donna and Ed. So sorry to hear of this.

Terrible news. Thinking of Donna and Ed!

It takes a special kind of sub-human to attack an elderly person...

Best wishes for Donna and Ed to be made "whole" again as soon as possible.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Donna. But hold on! No one knows HOW she became injured...really. If she diverted to take a less-steep trail, apparently she was a bit unsure in that area to begin with. Her nervousness may have led her to fall.

In the same situation, I certainly have. On a remote XC ski trail at below zero conditions. And I came to more than half an hour later, skiing like crazy, glasses all twisted, face bloodied, and miles from my last memory...which was skiing solo into a steep, icy downhill curve.

Balboa Park is one of the US's most attractive urban parks. Let's not condemn it, or the citizens of San Diego, without more evidence.

Word is that Donna is resting at home, but is in pain. The San Diego Police are investigating. Donna & Edwin are our long term friends and the most remarkable couple I have ever known.

chitownclark: Reading the article and watching the film clip you will learn from Ed Gooking himself that the only visible injuries were to her face. Her clothes were not scuffed or dirtied. You and I have probably fallen many times during orienteering events, me most recently in the NAOC relay. Always signs of the fall are visible on the body, legs and arms before the face. We all do everything we can to protect our head during a fall. What happened to Donna was no fall. But yes get more evidence and catch the guy with the rocks in a sock. Where does that comment come from? Watch the video.

Well Gord, I have the highest regard for you, and your contributions to our sport...as I do for Edwin and Donna. I did watch the video. Who knows? But until some evidence to the contrary is presented, it looks to me like a face-plant.

Recently I sense that a/p is becoming politicized somewhat...between 'city mice and country mice.' And being one of the few 'city mice,' I just wanted to slow the tongue-clucking and the 'rush to judgement' by KGTV and all the a/p country mice, about those 'dangerous' city parks.

Yes, you could be right what tilts me to the attack side is the report of a very similar situation a day or so before where the victim was smashed in the face but in this case he was able to identify the assailant as someone carrying rocks in a sock.
But the main reason for this post was to let APers know something had happened and to wish Donna a full recovery.

Yes, wishing Donna a full recovery. A terrible situation.

This is a sad and horrifying story! The Gookins are wonderful people and have done a ton for orienteering. Wishing Donna a quick and full recovery and a definitive answer to what happened.
Ugh, was just in Balboa Park last month. So beautiful; so sad for (potentially) such an ugly crime to take place there.

Hoping for a speedy recovery to Donna! She’s a women’s distance running legend!

http://balboapark8miler.com/history/

Wishing Donna and Ed all the best!