The Bronco egg and the runner.

[SNOWRUNNER]

Not so sure if this is the right place to put this as it isn`t much of a rant.. cuz it doesn`t surprise me..

  As most runners can contest to , the public act of running has a diverse affect on some citizens.
Not sure why, maybe it`s due to the fact that we are doing something that they should be doing, but are to lazy to do. Or we just make running look easy.. and that angers them.Or , as it has been suggested to me that we make them feel bad about themselves... HA.. wow.. doesn`t take much does it!.
So this may account for the geers and cat calls and the verbal abuse given out on an almost evry run i`ve ever had in this town.Not to say that Belleville is the root of running evil, cuz it`s not. I know in Peterborough they had a problem with runners being physically attacked and hurt.. all because they choose to run... how dare they!!.. but i no longer live in Peterborough.. i live here.So this is where my focus is.
  So along with the whoo hoo`s and they calling of names.. if i get called Forrest Gump one more time  i`m gonna go insane... but not this year but a couple ago i got egged.  HAHAHAHA.. i laugh now as i did at the time..
I was running north on Sidney st in Belleville, on a warm August night. A Thursday at that.. not that egg throwing is restricted to any particular night, but it seemed different on a Thursday.
 My first reaction was '' What in the *ell was that?".. so i felt around back to stick my fingers into a splotch of gooey stuff.. an egg.. all over my water bottle holster... not a bad shot comming from a 4x4 Bronco speeding up the street.
 So then i laughed and thought.. who in heck keeps eggs in the truck  destined for the act of throwing? or was it grocery day?.. " hey.. look a silly runner in tight shorts.. egg the *astard!! .. so this is the story of the egg and the abuse we must endure in order to perpatrate the lonely solo act of running on public road ways..
                                   no wonder i love trail running!!!!!!!.
         have a nice day.. Dave Storey.

[ShoppinShannon]

I totally understand where your coming from Dave.  When I was in North bay last month, I was running along a road much like Stockdale, with my dog Izzy attached to me.  We were of course facing traffic and she was to my right a bit, but no where near the center line.  This truck came from behind us, and crossed the centerline (speeding) aimed at Izzy.  When I looked over my shoulder, I yanked her hard, thank god.  I had no problem letting them know how I felt and gave them the double visual signal.  Dare them to show there face to me, I was steaming mad...(no fear, I carry mace).  How could they aim at the dog?  You could hear them, yelling and laughing.  I just don't understand people.????  How is that funny?
Now, I have to say, I am really impressed with the drivers of Stockdale Road.  I notice that the majority move over and wave as they go by.  I always wave back and mouth thank you to them.  I have seen a few around town usually with a cigerette in their hand, give me the dirty look.  Yup even had a few, creepy call outs. 
People are weird!

[tire guy]

I have never had anything other than cigarette butt  thrown at me (Jeff took a full coke bottle to the ribs on the bike).Stockdale road is a lot better than it was years ago,I have hurdled the guard rails many times.I have a come back to the "run forest run" cat call I yell back "eat Homer eat" never once has someone replied with more than a "o ya".Remember that Confuses say "young grasshopper never get between a minivan & a Walmart as you will die!"

[SNOWRUNNER]

A bottle of coke to the ribs??.. or any other body part.. oh man, that had to hurt... sorry Jeff..
  But really what are we to do? .. retaliate? how?.. give them the finger or maybe get close enough to squirt them with water?.. we runners/bikers/walkers are at a definate disadvantage. One on one?. sure anytime.. i was raised a scrapper as a kid.But this will never happen. These people have a arsenal of objects at their disposal.. garbage, food, whatever they feel like throwing. Or driving at you til you have to hurdle the guard rails.
  One of these days as they propell their trash , or veer off of the road in attempts to make you dance, they will lose control and land in the ditch... then a million evil thoughts would more than likely cross my mind.. ha.. but this isn`t 1974 and im no longer a kid.. so i would just run over to them, squirt them in the kisser with my bottle and run away... laughing like a fool, but feeling good all the same.

[Cathy]

I was biking home last summer and had this car sort of cut me off and just make it difficult to continue without hitting the gravel.  I had seen them coming and was wondering why there was no attempt to give me a bit any room on the road.  After all the road was all ours.  I started for the gravel just in case we were closer than I prefer to be and kept him in my sights.   Next thing I knew I was getting really wet.  Now first thing I thought of was that they had turned on the windshield wipers for some reason.  After all it was a nice, bright, sunny day.  Maybe they just wanted to see better.  But that thought vanished fast as the next thing I saw was a water bottle hitting the road right on front of my bike.  Maybe they thought that I was thirsty or something.  I am not sure why, but they somehow felt the need to give me a bottle of water.  Now how thoughtful is that.

[SNOWRUNNER]

Well that just figures little lady!!
  the guys get the eggs, cigarettes and cola thrown at them and the girls get the free water bottles...
   probably cuz you iz a cutie!!

[Sandy]

Apparently if you get the ENTIRE licence plate you can have them charged.