Running, in many ways, can be viewed as a very simple process. It's practically like walking except with faster turnover. You just have to put one foot in front of the other right? Well, I'm here to tell you that running isn't that easy. No, no, I'm not talking about the physical difficulties of running. We all know about them. The soreness, the cramps, and of course, the discomfort felt when you have to do a onesie or twosie while running. These burdens are well known to the common man/woman who might not have run in their entire life (heaven forbid).
What I really would like to shed some light on are the unknown complications while running. Now, experts claim that for a real good workout, you should run for 30 minutes straight no matter what the pace. This sounds easy enough. A thirty minute time span of continuous motion…how hard could that be? Harder than you might think. The first obstacle you might come across is the walker talker. This type of person could be possibly detrimental to your run. This could be someone that you know or actually don't know. The vast majority of walker talkers will be people you know. The walker talker is a person who is walking down the sidewalk, street, etc. directly towards you and forces you to stop to talk to them. Fortunately, when the walker talker is walking in the same direction as the runner, the runner can avoid them by proceeding directly back directly past them without making eye contact. However, most of the time the walker talker approaches head-on. The problem lies here. Now most of the time the runner is taken by surprise. The runner thinks omg it's Johnny, for lack of a better name. Therefore, they throw Johnny a smile and create eye contact. Eye contact is the key, because then Johnny knows you're there and then he says hey, and Johnny's eyes follow you even after you pass. Now, the runner can still escape if he/she does not make eye contact. However, most people turn and see if the walker talker, Johnny, is still looking. Eye contact is made again and there is a very awkward situation. The runner slows their run and the moment of truth approaches. The thoughts going through the runner's head include....Shit/I should stop/just keep going he's a loser/etc etc...Most of the time the runner stops and a conversation ensues, ultimately ruining the run.
The previous point was really for all runners in general. It could be applied to the city, suburb, or rural runner. The next point will be focused upon the city runner. I'll have to admit, the city runner probably has the hardest time completing these 30 minutes without getting thrown off course. I don't know what to talk about first. Probably the most frustrating obstacle city runners face are people on the sidewalks block their paths. Not only do these people take up the sidewalk, but they don't move out of the way when you run towards them, as if their walking is that much more important to them or difficult for them to do. I have no idea. When you see someone running, sweating, breathing heavily, why not move to the side two steps to allow them to keep their running path? These people are just ridiculous and sometimes I just continue on and run right into them. Yes, it sounds selfish, but how else am I going to spread the word to get the heck out of the way?
Elaborating on the people on the sidewalk, there exists the person with apparent eyes in the back of their head. I know these people are laughing on the inside when they do what they do. Even though the runner approachs them from the back and they "can't see you", they seem to gravitate towards whichever side the runner wants to pass them on. This creates a very awkward and potentionally devastating situation for you as the runner. A, you get around the person but your rythm is hampered as is your focus. A possible lousy run will follow. Or B, you actually hit them. This might be actually good because the person will be more careful. However, a walker talker situation could result from this and you will be forced to stop, apologize, and possibly chat.
Finally, I would like to take a moment to discuss something that seems minor, but really isn't. Now we all know that smoking is bad…if you don't, ask your mom or dad. Furthermore, we know that smoking hinders an individual's running abilities. Nonetheless, did you realize that smoking also hurts a runner's ability who doesn't even smoke? Let me explain. As you run down the street in the city (another city runner obstacle, sorry), you are already breathing absolutely horrible air. Then, you run up next to a seemingly nice human being. La la la, you're running you're running, then wow this human being emits what can only be described as death to a runner. I don't even know how to describe it but it is the worse sight for a runner. A smoke cloud!!! You can A stop and ruin your continuous motion that way, or B, plow throught the smoke cloud and proceed to cough heavily or pass out (I've heard this has happened to someone but they had weak lungs to begin with so don't worry, it wont happen to you). Inevitably, either result, will cause you to slow and destroy your run.
I feel as though you have learned a valuable lesson on the unknown difficulties of running. Runners must deal with physical obstacles as well as the obstacles discussed above. It's a cruel world out there for runners. Next time you see a runner on the street or sidewalk, you can now relate and help them in their endeavor by getting the heck out of the way.
