A normal run. A familiar track. And the fear women know too well. 

Going for a run should be a spectacularly ordinary experience. We lace our shoes, tie up our hair, and plod along a well-worn pathway we've tracked a hundred times before. 

We should be able to do it alone. 

We should be able to do it at any time of the day, but especially on a warm Sunday morning in broad daylight. 

A routine run should be just that — ordinary. 

But there's a report today that makes every woman shudder. One that makes those methodical, rhythmic steps along a familiar pathway feel less like home. 

Police officers attended a call-out at Yeppen Lagoon at The Range in Rockhampton at 10:30am on a Sunday morning, following a report a young woman had been raped. 

Detective Acting Inspector Kevin Mawdsley said the woman, just 27 years old, had been out for a run when she was allegedly attacked by a man she didn't know. 

Mawdsley alleged that after attacking the woman, the offender pulled her toward the lagoon and attempted to drown her, before fleeing the scene on foot. 

The woman tracked down a resident in the area who called police, saying she had entered their property asking for help, per an ABC report.

Police attended the scene and on Monday arrested a 27-year-old Victorian man in Hervey Bay. He has been charged with three counts of rape and attempted murder. 

The woman was later taken to Rockhampton hospital for medical treatment and forensic examination.

"[It's a] horrific [alleged] incident ... she's certainly displaying a huge amount of courage at the moment," Mawdsley said.

Police said the man had only been in Rockhampton a few weeks, lodging in the area temporarily. He remains in custody and will face court next month, per ABC.

Police are appealing to the public for information or footage, especially pertaining to a dark blue 2008 Toyota two-door sedan around the lagoon at the time. 

"We're always open for more assistance. The investigation isn't finished. We intend to potentially revisit this area," Acting Inspector Mawdsley said.

"If anyone believes they have information or may have sighted this vehicle... we would be interested in that. There is a gap in the timeline of our offender's movements prior to the [alleged] offence."

Mawdsley said police believe the alleged incident to be isolated, but were looking to do patrols of the area. 

"Be alert but not alarmed, take appropriate precautions when out and about, whether it's exercising... walk in groups if you can, but obviously that's not possible all the time," he said.

"We believe the area is safe for the community to go back to." 

Feature image: Rockhampton Council.