Tonight a quick 5 mile run got the usual, "he's barefoot" type response from some high school aged kids. Also got the old, "your feet must tough" remark.
At the end of my run while walking by a local store I got a lovely comment from a fine and obviously upstanding member of society... "Walking barefoot, you got to be F*&^ing kidding me, really!" said loud enough to bring attention to himself. Another walker across the street and one on the same side as I heard him loud and clear. My reply was simply, "What does it matter to you!" - Silence, no reply as he drove past and down the road. I may have uttered a few other things as well but I won't repeat them.
He obviously failed to learn the lesson in life, "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all." Maybe something clicked after the comment came out of his mouth and he realized, "do I really want to mess with the person that walks and runs barefoot?" - Doubt it, but maybe.
Oh well, I'm certain Karma will kick this gentleman square in the face with a barefoot one day. Maybe I should have replied, "You've got to be kidding me, really you're allowed to breath and be part of society."
Hopefully during tomorrows 11 mile run I won't run into any D-bags like that guy.