PROBLEM:
A man was walking along a railway track when he spotted an express train speeding towards him.  To avoid it, he jumped off the track, but before he jumped he ran ten feet towards the train.

Why?.
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HINT 1:
Question: Could the man have run less than 10 feet and still avoided the train?

Answer: No.
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HINT 2:
Question: Was the train steam-powered?

Answer: Yes



Question: Did the train's whistle blow just before the man started to run?

Answer: Yes 
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SOLUTION:
The man was walking through a train tunnel and was almost at the end when he heard a whistle and spotted the train coming towards him.  He therefore had to move forward, towards the train, so that he could jump clear safely.