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Posted by:
Anonymous on
March 20, 2007 at
12:57PM EST
It’s dark and you’re driving along when suddenly you come upon a runner, barely visible jogging in the road. How annoying and dangerous is that? How can you be expected to see that person? Get on the sidewalk, you freak. Roads are for cars, not runners!!!
Horns are honked, fingers fly, and profanities are spewed.
Here’s the thing, I’m a runner, and I’m one of those stupid people in the road, your road. Much of the year the only time I can run is when it’s dark. It’s dark when I go to work, it’s dark when I come home. But I can’t stop running, just because it’s dark. I'm a runner.
Right now, it’s less than 4 weeks to the Boston Marathon and I, along with several thousand others are trying to get ready for the big race. There are also untold others who run just for the sake of staying fit and in shape. In my 8 miles through Arlington and Winchester this morning I saw a couple dozen runners, all in the road, all in the darkness.
Why are we in the road when there’s a sidewalk right there? Well, today the reason is that not everyone shovels their sidewalk. If one person on your block doesn’t shovel, that makes that entire sidewalk unusable to us runners. We can't weave in and out of driveways, up and down over snow piles. We'd turn an ankle (or worse) if we tried to run on the rutted, unshoveled sidewalks. So we’re in the road and we're very sorry.
We realize it’s dangerous. That’s why we wear reflective gear, and run as close to the edge as we can.
I’m just asking for some sympathy here, we’re not happy that so many people don’t shovel their sidewalks either. It really does no good to honk, swear and wave that finger at us. We've got to get in our miles. We're runners.
(7) Comments
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Posted by: Eileen on March 20, 2007 8:16PM EST
Hi Jeff,
I think it might help if drivers could keep in mind that many runners who are "out there" running on dark, frigid, windy nights and mornings are doing so because they're in training to run for a charity in
the Boston Marathon. I'm sure many, yourself included, would prefer to stay inside when it's cold, icy, below freezing temp's, but they're "out there" for a good cause and I think their discipline and dedication should be applauded. Stay safe.
Eileen
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Posted by: chex on March 21, 2007 12:30AM EST
Hmm, if your running in the middle of roadways to get your jogging done, you must live in a community without such luxuries as 'sidewalks'. I must say I dont have a lot of sympathy for people who want to live close-to-nature in Exburbia, and yet want the trappings of a more urban environment where pedestrians and joggers are valued. I live in downtown Boston, and jog a 3 mile route around the Charles, and the only time I deal with motor vehicles in my path is when I have to cross streets, which I'snt even that often...
I would suggest getting lots of lamps when your run, or drive to a high school/college track and run there..
Urbanically yours, Chex
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Posted by: Allstonian on March 21, 2007 7:24AM EST
Aparently Chex didn't actually read your entire piece, and apparently Chex's downtown Boston neighborhood is a magic one where everyone clears their sidewalks and even the street corners. Lucky, lucky Chex.
I, too, live in the city (in Allston, obviously) and I'm here to tell you that if one person on a block doesn't shovel (or, more likely in my neighborhood, about half of the people on any given block, not to mention neutral-zone patches such as the sides of business blocks or parking lots, pavements in front of vacant lots, pedestrian bridges, and so on) that whole sidewalk is unusable to us walkers as well. I hate walking in the street, but but there's no choice!
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Posted by: John Mc on March 21, 2007 7:57AM EST
To semi-defend Chex - I have a lot of friends who live in the sticks - err burbs - and in many places sidewalks ARE a luxury. Towns don't require them, and developers save money by not putting them in, so please don't assume there are sidewalks everywhere. (of course why any town would let a developer get away with that is another argument...)
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Posted by: Jon on March 21, 2007 5:20PM EST
I can understand why you'd want to run on the street when there's snow on the sidewalks. But I often see joggers on the streets at other times of year, when it's nice and warm and there isn't a hint of snow anywhere. What's the deal with that?
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Posted by: Cate on March 27, 2007 3:58PM EST
Jon, many runners choose to run on the road instead of the sidewalks because the road is paved with asphalt and sidewalks in the city are paved with concrete. Believe it or not, asphalt is a softer surface to run on, and for those who are prone to injuries, running on asphalt is far preferable to running on concrete. I can honestly feel a painful difference in my legs and feet if I've been running on concrete instead of asphalt. Dirt trails are the best, but sometimes options are limited.
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Posted by: Steve on March 28, 2007 3:12PM EST
As a member of Marathon Strides Against MS, I appreciate Eileen's applause. I can also confirm that runners prefer trails first, roads second and concrete sidewalks last.
And in case you consider the marathon insane, I can assure you that practically anyone can run it. Just join a team, build your mileage up slowly over the long, dark, snowy winter and you too can feel the thrill of turning onto Boylston Street.
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