  I wouldn't say is running from a sweeper marked him as a wimp. Rather, it's smarter for him to run than to fight. Even learning martial arts, there would always be a chance the sweeper might be more proficent or just plain get lucky and take him down. Not to mention fighting is going to take up valuable time. Even a few seconds would be time Jarod might not be able to spare as he could not be absolutely certain that in that time more sweepers, or Miss Parker, would be able to close in and catch him. Fighting also carries with it another risk for Jarod. That being getting injured. Even if he were to win the fight and get away before the sweeper could get help, and injury might slow him down enough that he couldn't just disappear or out run pursuit. Thus while there is a chance of someone being able to out run him, running still offers him a better chance to escape capture.