WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO The Friendliness of the Long Distance Runner? I know Ive already declared that I am an old git, and started running back in the days before technology, and have been away from the running scene here in Dublin for a few years, living abroad between 2009 and last year, but something has been bugging me. In the past, whenever I was out on a run on the streets, or in the park, I would come across fellow runners out for their run, be they fast guys or girls, or the slow plodders, but whenever we passed each other, a smile, a nod, and often a Morning, or Hiya would be exchanged, with the acknowledgment of a fellow runner uppermost. Ive noticed over recent months that there does seem to be a huge upsurge in the number of people running. Maybe I live in a particulary athletic part of town, but on most runs I will come across many other runners out for their training session. Some fast, some slow, but all running. It struck me this morning, as I ran down to the Liffey from Ballsbridge, then over the East Link and along the North Wall, before crossing back up river and along the Grand Canal to home. I must have met over a dozen fellow runners, and not one of them acknowledged my greeting as we passed. Is it me? I asked myself. Do I strike fear in others as I run along at my lightning pace of 5:30 per kilometre? I doubt it.... Are this new breed of runners less friendly? Are they engrossed in their training plans that they are oblivious to other runners? Is the music on their headphones so mind-blowing that they shut out everyone else around them and dont even notice me? Am I invisible? Even eye contact and a nod of appreciation is missing. I do find this strange, and wonder if other runners have noticed this, or perhaps have an explanation. Maybe there are just so many runners out these days that its not worth even a nod... What do you think ? Do you greet fellow runners ? And if you live around D4 and the Grand Canal and you see a slow, grey haired, bespectacled runner out for his morning training run, say hi, and bring back a smile to someone who always thought that runners were the friendliest of all :)
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 10:19:17 +0000
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