Thursday, January 15, 2009

Bells on my Running Shoes


I was reprimanded while running again today. It is hard to stay motivated to run OR do my weight training and then yoga to try and stretch out everything again on a regular basis. I started keeping an exercise journal at the end of December when I really fell off the wagon and kept putting it off until "tomorrow". So far it has really helped. I always dread the run at the beginning but after the first mile (which is about 80% uphill) I really start to enjoy it. I have a regular route that I run, half of which is on a winding trail through the woods. At least once or twice a week I seem to startle someone as I come up behind and pass them. I always make a point to get as far to the left of them as possible and feel like I'm making plenty of noise. I can hear my breathing and my feet hitting the pavement. I feel much like I imagine a rhinoseros charging through the Serengeti would feel. I've even added a throat clearing or coughing so people will hear me. I've had people complain that their dog didn't even hear me coming and that I had also scared their dog. Today I startled a woman and when I slowed down and turned to apologize, she stated that "runners should wear bells on their running shoes". I thought about that during the rest of my run. I already feel a little self conscious when I run, I wear my iPod and between Courtney Love screaming through my ear buds, my heart pounding and the nice woman on the Nike iPod chip informing me of my distance and pace, I can feel safe in my own world. But would I want to run 15-20 miles a week with bells on my shoes? NO WAY! Why not throw in some green velvet short pants, a ruffled blouse and a little velvet cap that matches. I could look like an elf eternally chasing after an unseen Santa. Maybe I'll just start talking to myself while I come up behind someone, I bet THAT would get their attention, they may even move off the path for me to pass by...

4 comments:

Ellen said...

i think you should try the outfit! ha ha!

sometimes when we're walking and a runner comes up from behind, they've shouted out: "on your left!" (in a nice way)... so that we know they're coming. maybe you could try that!

Good luck!

Margie Oomen said...

I have never come across this problem with running or runners. Now cyclists are a different matter and guess what my husband is a cyclist. The mountain bikers startle me in the forest all the time. I am wondering why i didn't know you already had a blog :)

Linda Summerfield said...

You should wear corduroy pants. Not only would I make noise, I may even produce sparks.
Your Pal,
Linda

vivienne strauss said...

I've gotten a lot of suggestions here and on my blog, thank you everyone! Linda, lots of runners have problems with chafed inner thighs and use lubricants for prevention so I bet your suggestion of using friction as a means of producing noise made some people cringe!