Today’s run was just for me. I haven’t run in 3 days (slight knee tweak from trail run on Saturday) and I was starting to feel gross. You know that feeling? It’s like the cells in your body are caked with gunk and they’re just not awake like on the days when you run. Plus I was getting PMSy and a scratchy throat and crabby and no one likes that. So, I had a little date with myself in the hopes of getting that lovely high. 13 miles and many-a-snot-rocket later, I was singing out loud to P!nk on the Nano, clipping along at an 8:20 for my last mile. It was dreamy.
Except I think I was invisible.
No other runners said hello to me! (Well, the older ladies in their Ewok trench coats mumbled something, but I couldn’t quite tell with the hoods and all.) Everyone was all bidness-like; head down, pointless stare. Remember that article in Runner’s World about how runners greet or not greet each other? Seriously, HELLO people!
But the animals were friendly!
And they were so not afraid of me. Another reason I think I was invisible. At one point, I looked up to see two not-very-small deer running ON the trail straight for me. They must have felt my stealth body heat cuz they veered left at the last minute. I saw mister deer on my second loop and snapped his photo.
And then there were the turkeys. Super nice. What a lovely sound these ugly creatures make. I think I heard one of them say, “You’re such a kick ass runner and your double chin isn’t nearly as unattractive as mine.” How neighborly is that?
Ok, wait, I take it all back…I forgot about Ingrid.
Ingrid is the gal who sets out water jugs with clean cups every day for runners and their dogs and keeps it all in a nice cooler at the north end of the trail. (This is doubly nice right now as the water fountains are already turned off for the season). I had the rare opportunity of seeing her pop out of her house (about 20 feet from the cooler). Yay! A friendly face! I thanked her profusely since I was so thirsty running an impromptu half marathon on Rexius. I can’t tell if she heard me though. She was all bidness checking her paper tube for the newspaper. Or maybe it was because I was invisible.
If you haven’t seen The Flight of the Conchords Business Time – treat yourself!
So, the obvious question – do ya greet runners on the trail?
runmommarunnews.wordpress.com 