Sunlight. Clouds. Wind. Flora. Fauna.
All lost on you.
You don’t notice any of it… You don’t appreciate it a lick.
Instead, your head is down, oblivious to everything, gearing up for your power song – Survivor, by Destiny’s Child.
Now, I get it. I really do. Despite my preference for two wheels, I still run. I understand and appreciate that zone of focus, concentration and oblivion. I too find that slipping in some earbuds and having the beat drop helps turn my feet over and keep me moving. The problem is that this isn’t a race and you’re not alone. So open your goddamned eyes and ears and pay attention.
Children? Dogs? Rollerbladers? A gaggle of women running 5 abreast? They all receive a wide berth… Who knows what the hell they’re going to do. But a single runner, cruising down the pathway? I’d like to assume they aren’t going to haphazardly dash across the grass into my path without any indication of where they’re headed.
This has proven to be a foolish assumption.
To be fair, I do feel that I’m referencing the minority – But as the Albertan spring finally unfolds and the elusive recreational runner emerges from their treadmills and winter dormancy it’s a minority on the rise.
I’ve discovered that it’s not about everybody having their own place, but rather about simply understanding and being aware that you exist in an ever evolving ecosystem. Ultimately I’m not too fussed that you’re wearing earbuds, nor that your monopolizing the path by running 5-up… All I ask, if you’re going to cross the street, change lanes, or move across an intersection, is that you be aware of your surroundings and translate your intent – It’s as easy as a glance over your shoulder.
It’s not hard. It’s called courtesy. Understanding the pathway doesn’t exist for you and you alone. And although it’s a two-way street, I’m disappointed it’s such a rarity.
Although I’ve locked the crosshairs on runners here, there are plenty of cyclists just as bad… Just last week I saw some pathlete cruising through a packed noon-hour pathway tucked onto her aerobars…
Srsly. Get it together people.
I’m fine with joggers for the most part. My biggest beef lately on the paths is people with dogs (leashed and not) that are clueless about their surroundings.
The last thing I want to do is hit a dog, or have a dog take me out.
On the paths (and roads) cyclists are the enemy.
Yeah, I’ve been pretty lucky with dogs, but I would imagine the potential trouble… Way more unpredictable and way faster than a runner.
I guess what mainly frustrates me is that everybody just seems to have such a sense of entitlement wherever they are… Runners, dog walkers, couples, rollerbladers, cyclists, whoever… It seems they all think the paths are made just for them. Why can’t we all just get along ;-)
Good call on getting along.
I find that older people are really grateful for the heads up on being passed and will wave or actually say thank you. Quite rare outside that demographic.
I line them up with my mini roo bar or start yelling at the them in my heavy Aussie accent and they dive into the bushed scare shitless… Totally agree with you, I have cleaned up riders, runners and the odd dog on a leash, everybody needs to get aware…
Mothers with strollers. Even worse, mothers with strollers walking club. Talk about monopolizing pathways……..
Dog owners are the absolute worst in my experience.
I love the term "pathlete"