As many of you already know, I am training for the Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando Florida on January 7, 2007. Just a mere 6 weeks away and I am getting to the height of my training meaning weekly runs that last 17-20 miles. If you know where I live, you know the roads are not conducive to safe running. For this reason, I run at times that are not busy traffic wise and I take extreme caution and maintain the highest level of alert while I run the streets.
All I ask in return is for oncoming cars to slow down and maybe go around me just a bit- a request that will only delay the driver 5-7 seconds. I know this may seem like a big sacrifice and before you think I am wearing my princess tiara in making this request, let me tell you what I do to make it easier on drivers.
Here's how:
1. I run against traffic so I am easier to see. When a curve in the road makes it difficult to see me, I often cross the road in order to be more visible.
2. I wear light, bright colors like white, pink, bright blue, so that I am more visible.
3. I run as far to the left of the shoulder as I possibly can. Keep in mind this often forces me to balance on precarious edges of decaying roads, millimeters away from drainage ditches, or closer than ideal encounters with sticker bushes, questionable garbage and roadkill.
4. Admittedly, I do wear my ipod but I am running 3-4 hours out there, I need something. I keep it on a low volume and am able to hear cars, bikes, etc that are around me.
5. I run during times that are not busy traffic-wise. Typically, I run between 9 and 11am and 1 and 3pm, avoiding the rush hour as well as the lunch hour when many are out and about running errands.
So my requests are not outrageous. I don't expect people to stop driving on the road during the hours that I run or to get out of the car and bow to the running goddess that I am. Just simple actions that you can take when you see someone running to make it safer and a little easier on them:
1. SLOW DOWN. Most people are speeding anyway. I know, it may delay you a few seconds but slowing down makes a huge difference.
2. Don't stare at me.. my driving teacher Norm always told me, ..Whatever you look at, you hit... For the most part I know my close encounters are not a result of the driver not seeing me because so many of them are staring RIGHT AT ME!! Its not all that crazy to be outside running- it's called exercise.
3. Go around me. If there is no oncoming traffic, just cruise over into the other lane and give me some space. I'm not a big girl but that extra foot or two does ease my concern a little bit, and keeps my heart rate down in a manageable range. If there is a car in the other lane, WAIT FOR IT TO PASS, and then go around.
4. Don't BEEP AT ME or YELL AT ME. First of all, it's RUDE. I know you are there and I'm not doing anything wrong. If you yell something like "You're HOT" or "Need a ride" chances are my response can be summed up in one finger and on top of that, you'll startle me and my heart rate will jump to a scary level.
Besides, after mile 6 or 7, if you yell that I look hot, I know you are lying.
I have had too many close encounters with people's side view mirrors and hoods and I'd like to make it through the next 6 weeks, board my plane to Orlando and kick that marathon's ass.
You don't get an ass like this from sitting on it and I'd rather be out there shaking it than in a hospital bed because some asshole didn't have the patience or awareness to make the road a little safer for my fellow runners and myself.
I am training for a MARATHON. I'm not out there running for half hour and calling it quits for the day. I've made a huge commitment to this goal and its important to me. But I guess it isn't as important as the driver's commitment to get to their destination 7 seconds earlier..
