What happened to runner’s acknowledgement? Every time I come across a fellow runner I’m ready to give a friendly greeting, a wave, smile, head-nod, or any combination thereof. But nearly everytime, the runner just stares ahead or gives me a glare like I’m the enemy!
Dog owners, the nemesis of the runner, give me more friendly waves and smiles than my running sisters and brothers. I’ve ran in many other canadian cities where I’m happy to say that runners are nice to each other. Here we are in Halifax, arguably, the best running city in the country, and we can’t smile at each other?
This article appears in May 1-7, 2008.
Dogs are killing, runners dyin’,joggers hurt and they are cryin,why dont that mutt go on a leash,keep him from eatin’ my ass cheeks?-Black Eyed Peas
It’s a shame. I jogged/ran for almost 30 years in Halifax before my knees bummed out and experienced, for the most part, exactly what you’re talking about.
Hey, I recently began running – I’m really struggling with it. I go maybe once a week, and do maybe 1 mile at a time (running – I spend the rest of it walking). Do you guys have any advice? Whenever I feel like exercising, I normally bike or go rollerblading, bu I REALLY want to be a runner.Off topic, I know, but I’m desperate.
I don’t know if there is any wilderness area where you live, Qwerty, but if there is, trail running is a great way to beat the monotony of running. The boredom of running along a sidewalk is my biggest enemy. Another good boredom buster is hill sprints. You start at the bottom of a steep hill, and run as hard as you can for as long as you can. Stop just long enough to catch your breath, then do it again, all the way to the top of the hill.
Try the running room classes to train you for a 5K or something. They can help train you to be a better runner. Another thing you can look into is a heart rate monitor….it lets you know if you are overexerting yourself which can really affect stamina. I found that really helped me with endurance.
Frog Pond, out by Flemming Park (Dingle) is a great place to run outdoors.
Qwerty, I bet you would be motivated to run if I were chasing you…
i find i have a hard time running outside. i get bored and discouraged when i run far in one direction because then i think.. ugh i have to run all the way back.. Ive also had other runners almost run me off of the road/sidewalk trying to go by me because i guess i wasnt goign fast enoughthe gym works the best for me. Ipod and a treadmill works well!
I run 4-5 days a week outside and always make a point to say hi or smile to other runners , sometimes they don’t respond but normally I get some kind of a greeting . What I don’t like is the people who are walking together side by side and see me coming , but dont give me any room to run through and I end up on the grass . Heaven forbid they shove over for a second and share the sidewalk .
The only thing I do not like about these pretentious cock-suckers, runners/joggers that is, are those stupid fucking jackets they wear. I have no idea why those jackets drive me insane.
What the fuck is it with runners and those bandoliers of mini-water bottles? I see some of you running with 8 of those ridiculous things strapped around your bodies. Do some fucking research, a 40 minute jog around town does not require 8 mini-jugs of ‘go juice’, especially in this climate. What happens in february? do those suckers freeze solid or what.Its ok though, I understand. Its that there aren’t a whole lot of accessories for runners, and these days buying stuff is important. After you get the shoes, shorts, funny jacket, and stupid mesh hat you’re pretty much done. Oh wait, heres a new thing. Triathletes use them for marathon distances, I’ll buy one too so I can look like a guy who looks like a girl(or vice versa), you have to look at a tri-mag to see what I mean.
Goddam runners… a few years ago I was walking to work on a warm summer day in a nice light-colored suit when a runner blew past me and showered me with his sweat like a dog shaking off water. Had nothing but contempt for them ever since, epsecially the idiots who run in their undies during -20 days in the winter. Now in a few weeks we have to endure that stupid marathon screwing up our streets again. Plus lots of those so-called healthy runners are going to stick us with the costs of knee replacements down the road. Grrrr…I propose to hold a cigar-smoking contest on a convenient street corner during the marathon — we’ll see how they like that. Anyone want to join me?
“Goddam drivers… a few years ago I was walking to work on a warm summer day in a nice light-colored suit when a driver blew past me and showered me with muddy puddle water like a dog shaking off water. Had nothing but contempt for them ever since, epsecially the idiots who drive with their windows down during -20 days in the winter. Now in a few hours we have to endure that stupid rush hour screwing up our streets again…”Relax, Keith. It’s a beautiful spring day. Get in your car, roll up the windows, turn on the AC, and have a smoke. I’m sure it’ll make you feel better.
Cranky, if you were a runner yourself, you would understand that one large water bottle bounces around uncomfortably, causing chaffing by the strap around one’s waist. Tie a one kilogram weight to your belt and go jog around town, then get back to us with your observations. Several small bottles distribute the weight more evenly. Much more comfortable. And you clearly have no idea how much water it actually takes to keep hydrated. I can easily drink over a litre of water on a 10K run, which incidentally takes me a little over 40 minutes. So in a nutshell, Cranky, stfu.
Exactly my point, if you need 1l (whether in 8 mini bottles or 1 big bottle, which would be larger than a bike bottle if it was an actual liter, which would mean pretty fucking big to lug around) of water for a 40 minute workout you aren’t properly hydrated in the first fucking place and all that water is doing is replenishing stores that should have been filled in the first place. Do some fucking research yourself on hydration and short to mid distance running and get back to me on that. Pabst Blue Ribbon! makes an excellent source of liquid.
Exactly my point, if you need 1l (whether in 8 mini bottles or 1 big bottle, which would be larger than a bike bottle if it was an actual liter, which would mean pretty fucking big to lug around) of water for a 40 minute workout you aren’t properly hydrated in the first fucking place and all that water is doing is replenishing stores that should have been filled in the first place. Do some fucking research yourself on hydration and short to mid distance running and get back to me on that. Pabst Blue Ribbon! makes an excellent source of liquid.
You’re right, Miranda, that it is best to use experience and paying attention to your body when guaging what you require for athletic expenditures.I will partially take back what I said. MOST of the people who have those 8 bottle belts are posers, not ALL.
Does thirty years of competitive and recreational running count as research, Cranky? Or does research have to be filtered through the internet to be valid? One thing my research has taught me is that what MY body tells ME about what I need trumps any opinions the “experts” might have about what I SHOULD need. MY point was that your suggestion that anyone who uses these gadgets is some kind of poser is insulting.