This is one that gets me every time. “You’ll run faster without a chip on your shoulder.” How many times have you gone out for a run and hear a horn honk or hear teenagers laughing as they drive by. Sometimes I’m quick to assume that those gestures, laughs and honks are intended for me, but maybe the gesture was for another car that pulled out in front of the driver, maybe the teenagers are just laughing because that’s what they often do, and maybe the honk was for the squirrel the driver did not want to hit.
Okay, for those of you that know me…I always want to defend the runner, but sometimes we are not perfect. Sometimes we do things that understandingly annoy drivers: running 2 or more abreast, running with the traffic or wearing headphones (not paying attention to the “madness” on the road), not wearing reflective apparel in the evening (a light is even better).
So, here’s my thought: You are not going to win if the car hits you…is it better to be right or squashed like a bug? Also, why are you running…? You are running because we enjoy it and you want to be healthy. Next time one of these examples happens to you…just smile, relax and enjoy the run.
I had an experience this past fall while running up on Cape Cod that I exercised poor judgement and ran on a section of road that was well traveled and narrow and had cars parked on both sides. I was literally trapped. I should have paid attention to one of my favorite sayings:
“It is better to be a live chciken….than a dead duck”.