Cars and People

So ... I go for my 5 mile run today (actually 5.4 hilly miles/11.47 pace -- there were still some icy patches slowing the pace). It was raining on and off but then I'm not complaining. The weather this winter has been mild and I don't think I've run once in the rain since November! The temps were mild in the low 40s with very little wind. Typically there is not much traffic on the dirt roads where I run but a wide variety of both vehicles and people. Some are courteous when approaching and passing, some not so, and some downright rude or perhaps just oblivious. And on a day with wet, sloppy roads these distinctions become quite apparent.

I digress a little to the specific vehicle that got me started on this train of thought. It was actually this past Saturday. I always run facing traffic and stay as far to the side of the road as is practical (e.g., not in the ditch next to the road but pretty darn close). This blue truck comes down the road toward me and moves to the opposite side of the road. Then, right as he comes alongside of me, he veers over towards me. Scared the heck out of me and I yelled at him (not that he could hear with his windows up), "you trying to %?!@#!? kill me?" Not like there were any other cars coming from the other direction and absolutely no reason for his behavior. Unless of course he was trying to scare me, or maybe he was trying to change his radio station or something. Idiot!

Which brings me to my ponderings today while running. I think a good personality test might be how drivers respond to runners on the road (or bikers, walkers, take your pick). There are the nice people who slow down as they pass and wave. There are the people who must be late for a really important meeting and barrel down the road. They probably don't even notice what they're passing. These are the people who seem to have no clue that as they barrel by at 40+ mph, crashing through that puddle just alongside me in the middle of the road, that they might as well be aiming a water hose at me. There are the really over-cautious drivers who pretty much stop until I pass. They are young, middle age, old and downright elderly. They drive cars and trucks that look pieced together from parts from the junk yard, the latest Mercedes and Lexus models, big and little trucks, the post man, the propane delivery guy, Fed Ex and UPS vans, tractors with and without trailers of various sorts. A diverse group, a representative sample of my neighbors. I just hope they're aware enough of what they're passing that they always notice my bright neon yellow jacket or vest. And I hope that they are the kind of people who believe in sharing the road.