I feel like I’ve been voted off the island.
Last weekend, I could still jog whenever I saw other people on the trail – which was frequent. Then I walked when no one was looking. I made it 5 miles and even passed a couple other joggers along the way. I was happy. Then I was sore for days.
Despite my greatest aspirations to run until the day I delivered, I think that I’ve crossed over the line of doing more damage (to me – not the fetus) than good, so today I walked. Unfortunately, my 8-months-pregnant belly is not yet bigger than my pride, so I’m a little sad to be out of the club.
You’ve probably noticed that runners typically acknowledge an oncoming runner with a quick wave or grunt or something…anything. At 3-years-old, my daughter even noticed that runners generally acknowledge one another in passing with a quick greeting: “Hi!”, “Good morning!”, or “Nice day!” “How about 'Macaroni and Cheese'?” she suggests. So for the rest of that day we said “Macaroni and Cheese” to each person we passed.
It seems, however, as soon as you are a “walker” you become invisible to these other runners. I’ve now noticed this phenomenon at different times and in different places, with and without my jogging stroller, and whether or not I attempt to greet them first. Have you noticed this?
I can’t remember specifically, but I only hope that when I was out running miles and miles, I gave an equal-opportunity grunt to runners and walkers alike.
6 comments:
I say hi to everybody! You know, realizing that makes me feel good.
I LOVE this post.
as I walk a whole lot more now that I used to Ive noticed the same thing.
*sigh*
perhaps I need to just wave like a madwoman?
grin like a Cheshire cat whilst doing so?
Carla
funny - you're totally right about the walkers being ignored. I'm a big fan of the Galloway method (or running/walking in intervals) and I've noticed it on my "walk breaks."
or maybe they are just scared you'll go into labor if they make you wave back? :)
I love you decided to say Macaroni and Cheese to everyone you passed. If someone said that to me, I'd probably spend the next 10min trying to figure out what they just said, cuz by golly, it sounded just like Macaroni and Cheese, but who says that to someone when they pass them? LOL
For what it's worth, I say hello or good morning or whatever to EVERYONE whether they are running, walking, or on a horse (something I happen across on my normal route). :)
Okay, so I went running at NOON teh other day in 100 degree whether and 100% humidity. It's not as if I'm super fit anyway, but after teh first 2 miles I did more of a run-walk. Same person. Same clothes. Same sweat. I swear I only got nods when I was running! I think it's just because runners give "a shout out" to like minds but it's weird to do that to walkers. After all, we all know how to walk...But, maybe we should start a new trend! Especially when running!
But, if you really want to see the extremes of this, try being a run-walker in a marathon. It's positively hostile! My first marathon was done that way, and I raised several thousand dollars for charity to do it. I was not even close to the middle of the pack with my group, but a lot of runners were still pretty mean when we walked. We tried to be careful not to abruptly stop in front of anyone. I think some peopel take themselves too seriously. That first marathon turned me into a runner though...and now I'm back to square one again. I get frustrated with myself when I walk, but maybe t's cause I'm taking myself too seriously?
I love saying hello as well but I get fired up when a walker doesn't say anything back....I mean, if I can get a "morning" out in between gasps, can't they at least acknowledge me?
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