Running on the Road

[Kate]

My running buddy, Gloria, and I set out around 8:30 this morning for our usual "long run Sunday".  It was icy in spots and there were some occasions where I wondered if I would have been farther ahead if I had been wearing my hockey skates. 

We generally do run on the road versus the sidewalks and monitor the traffic, although early Sunday morning, we usually only have to battle the early service church goers and the Tim Horton's traffic.

This morning, we were plugging westbound along Victoria Avenue (east end Belleville, just up the incline West of Herchimer) when I moved over as best I could to let a car go by.  No traffic coming toward it, but it didn't move over for us.  I actually commented to Gloria that, "I could have patted his dog" sitting on the front seat next to him.  Chuckle chuckle.

Well ... apparently he wasn't too pleased as he turned around (somewhere behind us) and returned, only to yell something like "How the hell did I think I had the right to run in the middle of the (Gd) road" and continued to yell long after he was out of earshot.  Hey!  We moved as best we could.  I WASN'T in the middle of the road and the sidewalks were black ice.

So ... if you are running in friendly East end Belleville and are approached by a 30-40 something dark haired fellow driving a silver Impala with a black and white boarder collie sitting beside him ... you might better move!  Or maybe get run over.

[Sandy]

That's unbelieveable!  I was justr reading a story last night about drivers who ignore runners and a number that had actually been hit by cars and killed.  I haven't been yelled at by a driver while running for years.  My most memorable "almost" hit by a driver, also a number of years ago happened one bright, shining, clear summer day while I was running on Hamilton Road.  It was early and about 10k into my run I had only seen two or three cars so like you said...no traffic.  Running on the black top but facing traffic I heard a car coming up behind me and instinct told me to get over as far as possible.  Just as I started to move to the left two cars came from behind and one decided to pass the other at the EXACT moment they were even with me.  Needless to say I was a little more than shaken when I felt the passing cars side mirror hit my shoulder.  I don't think I saw another car for another 20 minutes or so.

You of course did the right thing by carrying on but I would SO like to stop and have a conversation with the "gentleman".  Glad no one was hurt, terrible that it even has to be up for discussion.

[Kate]

That's HORRIBLE, Sandy.  Thank goodness you weren't badly hurt!!

Maybe because I DO run (did run outside and now do again ...  ), when I am driving I am ALWAYS on the lookout for runners and always try and give them as much room as I can.  I have even slowed down to oncoming traffic to give a runner ample space.  Maybe because when I started running in high school, my long runs were mostly along Highway 2 and I knew what it was like running with traffic.

Since I have been running outside again since the beginning of January (almost a year), this is only the second time EVER in both of my running lives that I have been yelled at by a driver.  The only other time was this spring when my daughter was riding her bike with me and I was running on the outside of her (protection?) and the driver rolled down the passenger window and told me that if they ever passed me again, they'd run me down.   

Funny ... again, it was along Victoria Avenue.  Different driver though.  FYI ... teal green Pontiac TransSport.  I really need to start memorizing license plate numbers!!

[Sandy]

I really don't get some people.  What's the big deal about waiting 2 seconds, or passing wide?  Not to be sexist and obviously not in your case but I find women drivers to be the worst.  Jeff had a similar thing happen to him that happened to you but he was biking on a quiet road and the guy didn't want to move over at all so swung back towards him and threw a full pop can at him.

[Neil]

I was yelled at today from a house.  But it was quite complimentary...   :)

[Danny (Diane)]

What the heck are they thinking? I havent been yelled at but someone (male) in a black pick up gave me the finger once. I just smiled and waved lol.

On another note - Kate do you ever run past an older couple walking early in the mornings? A couple I know said they pass a runner and i thought it might be you.

[Glo]

Kate and I do run past a couple early morning.  They also notice when one of us is missing and ask why.  It's always nice to see people on a regular basis - both for the 'good morning's' and the safety factor.  I was always told, make sure you are seen, someone may have to remember you some day.

As for Mr Nasty in the car, I was laughing at him as he was yelling, don't think he liked that too much.   

[Kate]

As Gloria (wannabe) said, yes Diane.  There is at least one morning every week that we run (6:30ish?) where there is an older couple walking down Haig Road. 

I haven't seen them in a couple of weeks, and was wondering if it was just the weather.  A lot of the usual people seem to have disappeared since the weather got colder.

Neil ... we also passed an older man walking the most beautiful husky (on the road versus the sidewalk).  He complimented us on our stamina and wished us a beautiful run on a beautiful morning.  THOSE are the kinds of people I like to meet.  Especially on long run day.

[April]

 So far I still get a five finger wave... knock on wood. I think people like that should be reminded that we pay taxes too, so we just as much right to the road as they do