At least bring a combat knife or small gun when running and hiking in such wild areas. Don’t depend on battling it out unarmed with a mountain lion. They might weigh less than a human but they are built out of muscle and sinew and have claws.
“Adult male mountain lions usually weigh between 110 and 180 pounds, while females typically weigh between 80 and 130 pounds.”
a juvenile - 80 pounds - he probably strangled it.