At that point I broke into a full run, heading to the best-lit area I could find. The other person ran too. At the corner I ran to the center of the street and ran straight down the yellow line to draw as much attention as possible. The other person turned and walked the other way. Even though I have trained for several years to fight, I always have and always will prefer to run rather than fight.
Fighting is risky business.
For further information on this type of fear try The Gift of Fear by Gavin DeBecker. And most important, people will never have the chance to hear the significant things you have to say. If you fear being hurt or looking silly in a certain sport, you will miss out on something you would enjoy. This is a common response I hear from women who would like to train in something like martial arts or self-defense. Their fear not only keeps them from having fun, it also leaves them more vulnerable to attack.