Most of the time, running barefoot around my area (Maryland/DC), other parts of the country, or races elicits a wide range of remarks, comments, questions etc. I've heard many typical phrases and questions and read plenty more on the boards over the last 20 month. This week though I had 2 completely unique and opposite reactions in as many days.
First the insult: I was coming home from a 6 miler today and a duo of woman in an SUV pulled up the dead end court I was running around and stopped at the top of it, maybe .25 miles away. As I approached the driver rolled down here window and told me angrily, "You won't be able to walk when your 40!" I was so taken aback I just responded that no, I was doing just fine and that if anything, running without shoes will prolong my running life into the late years of my life. She protested and challenged me that my feet were going to burn (90 degrees today) and I was in imminent danger. She said and I quote, "I don't know who to call, your mother or the Police."
Wow, both would have been amazing seeing how this woman of course did NOT know my parents nor would the police waste there time with me. I wonder what she thought, that I would run my feet down to the bones and then only have stumps? Also, for a tip in, by the lady's stature, dress, car she was driving, and attitude I could tell she her longest run to date was to the front of the buffet line. Grrrrrrrrr
Now the inspiration: 2 days ago as I was running back into my same development I heard a voice from the building adjacent to me yelling "Hey You! runner guy." Since the condo buildings and balconies are quite close to the street I stopped and looked up a girl about my age looking down at me in running gear. I have seen her out on her balcony before as I have to run through this one street to get out to my runs in rock creek park and down into DC.
She said, "I just wanted to thank you for inspiring me to pick up running. I've watched you run by here for months now and I finally wanted to get off my ass and do something." As our conversation went on, I found out that she had been a smoker, worked in a restaurant and was in a very dead end routine. She had seen me run barefoot all through the winter and said she remembered seeing me run past, and then come back almost 3 hours later and she couldn't believe I ran that whole time. She's been running a little over a month in VFF's (saw me in them once or twice and did some research online) and she said she's in the best shape of her life, had quite smoking and was loving it.
Hey now! Your boy Bruno just inspired his first person to get more active! So those are my tails of triumph and tragedy. I haven't heard anything that interesting almost ever as a BF runner and I had them both in 2 back to back days.
Just thought I would share. Happy 4th of July everyone. Get those runs in early!
First the insult: I was coming home from a 6 miler today and a duo of woman in an SUV pulled up the dead end court I was running around and stopped at the top of it, maybe .25 miles away. As I approached the driver rolled down here window and told me angrily, "You won't be able to walk when your 40!" I was so taken aback I just responded that no, I was doing just fine and that if anything, running without shoes will prolong my running life into the late years of my life. She protested and challenged me that my feet were going to burn (90 degrees today) and I was in imminent danger. She said and I quote, "I don't know who to call, your mother or the Police."
Wow, both would have been amazing seeing how this woman of course did NOT know my parents nor would the police waste there time with me. I wonder what she thought, that I would run my feet down to the bones and then only have stumps? Also, for a tip in, by the lady's stature, dress, car she was driving, and attitude I could tell she her longest run to date was to the front of the buffet line. Grrrrrrrrr
Now the inspiration: 2 days ago as I was running back into my same development I heard a voice from the building adjacent to me yelling "Hey You! runner guy." Since the condo buildings and balconies are quite close to the street I stopped and looked up a girl about my age looking down at me in running gear. I have seen her out on her balcony before as I have to run through this one street to get out to my runs in rock creek park and down into DC.
She said, "I just wanted to thank you for inspiring me to pick up running. I've watched you run by here for months now and I finally wanted to get off my ass and do something." As our conversation went on, I found out that she had been a smoker, worked in a restaurant and was in a very dead end routine. She had seen me run barefoot all through the winter and said she remembered seeing me run past, and then come back almost 3 hours later and she couldn't believe I ran that whole time. She's been running a little over a month in VFF's (saw me in them once or twice and did some research online) and she said she's in the best shape of her life, had quite smoking and was loving it.
Hey now! Your boy Bruno just inspired his first person to get more active! So those are my tails of triumph and tragedy. I haven't heard anything that interesting almost ever as a BF runner and I had them both in 2 back to back days.
Just thought I would share. Happy 4th of July everyone. Get those runs in early!
