14 | The Killer on the Trail

Rune Kolbeck found his truest self in the quiet expanse of nature, spending an idyllic youth roaming the Midwest's cornfields and timbers. But when he moved to Anchorage, Alaska, seeking a new home in the wilderness, he found himself in an unexpected nightmare. Within weeks of settling into the "big city," a casual run in a public park turned terrifying as he stared down the barrel of a gun. He recounts how he "kept being surprised that I wasn't dead yet".

In this haunting episode of Alive Again, Rune takes us through the surreal moments of his near-death encounter, battling confusion and fear as he stood face-to-face with an unknown assailant. He shares the chilling revelation that followed: learning from a newspaper article that the man who had spared his life was, in fact, a serial killer operating on the very trail system where Rune had been.

Rune’s story isn’t about a heroic escape or a tidy conclusion; instead, it's a raw exploration of living with enduring psychological impact and unresolved trauma that has changed who he is. He speaks candidly about the burden of a story that doesn't fit the typical hero's journey, acknowledging his own imperfections. He shares his experience as a testament to those who find themselves “in the middle"—not heroes, not villains, just survivors wrestling with a reality that offers no neat ending. His powerful narrative reminds us that not all brushes with death lead to immediate clarity; some leave us grappling with the profound, unsettling truth that life doesn't always provide the resolution we seek, but that sharing these stories can help others realize they're not alone.

* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at aliveagainproject@gmail.com

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