At least they saw me
As I mentioned yesterday, it’s warmed up enough here to melt some of the snow and ice, so I decided to see how clear the trails were for my long run today. I knew there’d be snowy/icy spots where there’s tree coverage (there was) and that it would slow me down (oh, it did), but it was worth it for the change of scenery (there are only so many miles I can take running through my hood) and to get off the roads.
I don’t feel safe running on the roads (and to an extent, sidewalks), especially alone. It may seem counter intuitive that I feel safer on a potentially secluded trail, but you know what’s (usually) not on trails? Vehicles. Distracted drivers. People furious you’re using “their” road.
So I really enjoyed running on the trails and being able to daydream a bit, and not be so super observant, during the run. But there were a few road spots.
So few that I’m surprised this even happened. I was running on the shoulder, in to traffic, on a quiet road, when I see a car pull out of a neighborhood up ahead. They come my way so I make sure I’m far from the road. I notice the passenger has his arm out the window. That seems odd – it’s not that warm out!
Oh. They have their arm out the window so they can flip me off. Nice.
For a split second I was super pissed – “I’m not even in the road! I’m running against traffic! I’m getting off this road soon.”
But then I immediately snapped to “at least they saw me.” And “at least they didn’t try to run me off the road,” “or throw anything at me” (that happened to me and Bobbi once).
If someone needs to flip me off to let me know they’re mad I’m running in the street, it’s certainly better than them texting while driving and not seeing me and hitting me. Or getting close to me and pushing me farther in to the shoulder.
It alarms me how much I notice people not paying attention when they drive (while I am running for the point of this post, but also, when I am driving). So many are looking down (at their phones?), or not looking at all. Do you ever notice how people backing up their cars out of their driveways only tend to look at the direction of traffic coming at them, to see if it’s clear? Apparently “look both ways” (and “use turn signals,” in general, but we won’t get in to that), isn’t a thing for people.
I was running this week when I stopped in the street because a driver was about to back up and come toward me, and never looked my way. I don’t think anything of stopping anymore, but he actually rolled down his window and apologized! Wow!
Anyway. I just wanted to vent. I know this is what this time of year is like, and it’s like this every year (two years ago, it was the ad flyer guy trying to run me off the street). People aren’t gonna change. We just have to continue to be on watch. And to expect to be flipped off from time to time, it seems.
Themocracy
It is scary how few people pay attention, and that some of the people who are paying attention hate runners. I can handle the cold and the snow and the ice, but what made me break down this month was dealing with traffic. I’m glad at the least that all they did was flip you off. I had a car full of teenagers think it was funny to swerve directly at me.
I thought of you IMMEDIATELY when that happened, and was happy I didn’t have to deal with that level of douchery. 🙁 Are you still shaken by it? I would be!
I notice the distracted driving thing ALLLL the TIIIIME. I’ve been ready to dive in a ditch a few times. Thank goodness for the rumble bumps on the road I run on most often. I think they’ve saved me a time or two.
Oh yeah, good point! Maybe ALL the roads should have those now. 🙁
WHAT?!?!?! How dare they flick you off! I am pissed about this. I mean, you make good points and I totally agree about distracted drivers. But seriously. That is rude; they are the ones in power (because of the vehicle alone) and have the nerve to be mad at a runner running off the road? Grrrr. Glad you enjoyed a nice quiet trail, though! Aren’t they the best? I don’t mind running them alone but usually I have a dog with me.
I know, I know. I tried so hard not to be pissed about it and look at the bright side, but after I wrote this, I did find myself annoyed the rest of the day. Ugh.
YES! I love trails! I am very lucky to run them at all in Jan! 🙂
Seriously? Do they shovel their sidewalk? Because a lot of people don’t around here! I’m glad you found a silver lining in this encounter. That would have given me enough fuel to run a PR, I think!
Ha ha, you know what is funny about the sidewalks? I have been running in my hood long enough that I know which houses do and which don’t, so it’s sidewalk for a bit, then road, then back on. LOL!
Sounds like that guy was a total doucheroni. I hope you gave him the bird right back!! 😉
I really, really, wanted to 🙂 I should have smiled and waved! But honestly, I didn’t get what was going on until right before they got close to me, then it was too late.
I can’t believe people are so rude to runners – I have never encountered this – why would they even do something like that? And as for the driving, well, I always told my kids to assume that car drivers don’t see them, and behave accordingly. It’s a dangerous world out there, on the roads.
Does it seem to be better in Europe? That would be an interesting study, if it could be done in any legit way – where drivers are the rudest to runners.
Yes. Always be on the defense when you are driving!
That is so rude! No need for them to do that. But I agree that at least they saw you instead of running you off the road.
Luckily I have yet to be flipped off while biking in Chicago, but maybe it’s only a matter of time. I’m pretty sure I’ve been honked at a few times, but often it’s hard to tell who exactly someone is honking at.
I almost got run over twice yesterday because people DO NOT look for pedestrians when they are at a stop sign. I don’t think it’s distracted driving, it’s careless driving. I actually wrote a post about this for next week, haha. Also, people are assholes!
It feels good to get that rant out, right? Stop signs SCARE me. A few weeks ago, I was at an intersection that had them on two sides but the other road didn’t have to stop, and a driver stopped and waved me forward (very nice) but there were tons of other cars. Dude, I can’t trust that. I try to stand back so they don’t feel the need to do that; so I can go when it’s clear!
My favorite rude driver moment was when I was on a “holiday run” with a group of people, and we weren’t being jerks (you know, just running), but obviously this one person found us to be really annoying and yelled “F-ing assholes” out his window.
Anyway, that’s why I do not run with headphones – the drivers really scare me.
Be safe out there!
LOL! The last time this happened to me, I was in a big group too! We were running in the street, in a single file row, and the guy, again, rolled down the window to flip us off. What is the deal?
Yeah, headphones are a bad idea, for this reason!
Makes my blood boil!! I run on a roads that are pretty wide and not the heavily traveled, so a car can easily pass me, yet I’ve had some lovely folks buzz me with their 3,ooo lb. of steel. I guess some folks just feel like you shouldn’t be there…since we’ve had the super publicized tragedy here that Meg Menzies passed away in, I guess I just expect people to realize they could actually hurt you.
Oh man, isn’t that scary when they speed by so closely! Eeek! That always spooks me for awhile.
Sigh. Meg’s story is so sad. I wish that would make people think and slow down!
That is soooooo rude, and I would be so mad at that guy! But GOOD FOR YOU for realizing that at least he saw you, that’s such a good point. And you’re right, it is better than him running you off the road or running you over while texting. But still, fdjaksl;feiwoajdksl;afjdksa! I’m so mad on your behalf!!!
I’m also going to look at the positive side of this and say at least they just flipped you off and didn’t drive unnecessarily close to you. That drives me crazy when I am on my bike. You can be angry at me but there is seriously no reason to endanger mine or anyone’s life.