People's reactions when you run

Heard a new one tonight. Was running around the neighborhood streets in just my (black) shorts because of the heat and humidity. As I passed a family walking on the sidewalk, the little girl shouted out behind me "Mommy, he's naked!" The mom's response was something along the lines of "No, he's not naked; he's wearing running shorts," but the little girl was quite insistent that I was "naked" because I wasn't wearing shoes.
 
Running home barefoot last night I was passing a bicycle taxi as the driver was explaining some of the divisions of New York City to his customers:
"On our right" pointing to 5th Avenue "is old money."
"On the left" pointing to the Upper Westside "is new money."
I got a couple of yards past them and heard "And there is no money." :rolleyes:
 
Running home barefoot last night I was passing a bicycle taxi as the driver was explaining some of the divisions of New York City to his customers:
"On our right" pointing to 5th Avenue "is old money."
"On the left" pointing to the Upper Westside "is new money."
I got a couple of yards past them and heard "And there is no money." :rolleyes:
Priceless!...
 
Not running through Home Depot, although I do tend to trot about lightly when I'm shopping barefoot in these big box stores with my husband ... but, the lady helping us noticed I had bare feet and kindly warned me to be careful of nails. Always searching for a concise way to let people know that I AM aware and NOT as much at risk as they think, I piped up with,"It's okay, I run on glass!" My husband rolled his eyes in his understated, engineer way, and clarified, "Not on purpose, though." I laughed and said, "No, not on purpose, but without problem." As we left down the aisle, I asked him if I embarrass him, but he smiled and replied with a very believable, "No."
 
I love reading this thread

Last week a man was inside a crowded bus, across the street, got up, opened the window and shrieked "Força, Guerreiro" (Force, Warrior?).
I confess it was very interesting to see that a lot of people on the bus looking at me ...
 
On some of my runs I had seen a few times and said good morning to this woman running in shoes in the opposite direction. Then I happened to encounter her on a section of the road that had just been repaved and so I said, "Nice new road!" She replied, "Yes, I see you're running," and there was a slight pause as if she didn't know quite how to face up to it but then kind of blurted out, "barefoot!"

Another time a guy was backing out of his driveway and paused to ask, "Barefoot?" I just kind of shrugged and said yeah, well. I tried to say the usual things like you have to gradually build up to it but he just kept questioning, like I was running backwards or something. "Yeah, but barefoot?" He just couldn't wrap his head around it.
 
On Saturday, I decided to take an impromptu run along the lake. An older gentleman saw me coming, looked down at my barefeet, pointed down to them with his left index finger, and gave me an enthusiastic "thumbs-up"!! His tee-shirt had some sort of counter-cultural saying but I can't remember what it said right now. Oh well... I still felt pretty good. Bucking conformity. LOL
 
My latest was, "ah there you're!" like if they missed me or something.
 
Running home barefoot last night I was passing a bicycle taxi as the driver was explaining some of the divisions of New York City to his customers:
"On our right" pointing to 5th Avenue "is old money."
"On the left" pointing to the Upper Westside "is new money."
I got a couple of yards past them and heard "And there is no money." :rolleyes:
ha,ha, ha hilarious-one of my favs.
 
Running around "my" .93 mile pond loop, passed a late 60's couple and a middle aged man who appeared to be related. The older gentleman spoke in loud astonishment, "If I took off my shoes they'd have to call the undertaker!" But it was the next time I passed them that he seemed even more shocked and asked, "Did you go ALL the way around?" I couldn't help but laugh as I answered, "Yes. Several times." I have been laughing about it all day!
 
  • Like
Reactions: happysongbird
Trotting barefoot to work this morning a hipster dude on a bike greeted me with "I like your shoes!"

My response was "They fit great."
You should have said,
Thanks, they're so light and comfortable that it feels like I am not wearing any.
 
For me, the best reaction is no reaction.
Usually run in the early morning, so very few people around and the regulars are accustomed to me.

Ran in the afternoon today, and got a from a guy walking with his girl, "S'up dude. You're cool" in reference to sharing the sidewalk.
Some kids ran alongside me in the street while playing ball. No noticeable response.
A few others.
Maybe I'm creating progress in my neighborhood?