Runners are a quirky bunch, and we like being a few steps from normal. We think- and talk- about running a lot. We vigilantly log and count runs. When a watch dies on a run we feel the run doesn’t count. We know many who could easily fill an eight hour presentation titled, “everything you need to know about chaffing, but were afraid to ask.” Sound famliar?
In honor of our shared obsession, I put together a list of my favorite quirks. This is just a start, so If you have some you want to share with us, please post them on our Facebook page or email me at lonnie@runningdenver.com! We’ll send you one of our cool Running Denver hats if we publish yours.
And now to the quirks…
1. LEG VANITY
Admit it! Runners love shorts weather because we love looking at our legs. At a mall near a mirror or running passed a window, we flex our legs and marvel at the shape and athleticism. (This isn’t just me, right?)
Have you ever noticed you can spot another runner just by their legs? Or predict their speed and level of running obssession without even meeting them? As the great poet ZZ Top said, “She’s got legs”. We all know how to use them.
2. WHOLE NUMBERS, PLEASE
As runners, we run a 5K, never 3.1 miles. A 5K is a pleasing nice, round number. Fancy tech watches probably play to that need for great feedback, but we won’t complain. If the watch displays that we finished our run on 4.68 miles, we know the only action we can possibly take is to run .32 more miles to get to 5. Not doing so- ending a run at that precarious and uncomfortable 4.86 miles- would certainly result in the distortion of the Earth’s rotation on its axis.
Of course, there is an exception to the whole number rule: when you run an official event but the watch displays an extra .15 miles. In this case, all the experts agree that only option is to do the math to convert that extra distance into additional food to eat as a reward.
3. BUT CAN I STILL RUN?
After one of my injuries, I knew I shouldn’t run. And I knew when I went to the doctor I’d hear, “You should take some time off from running.”
So what did I do before the appointment? I ran.
To be fair, someone who spent many years in medical school had not yet said I shouldn’t run, right?
In order to avoid the “Don’t Run” prescription, we have also conveniently “forget” to ask the doctor if we should run. Or even if we know better, we might be unable to resist asking, “so, this knee dislocation won’t prevent me from running right?” Runners certainly don’t make the best patients all the time, and I have been told more than once that our resourcefullness can be a hindrance to recovery. A cast on a foot? “Hmm, wonder how I can put some tread on it to get a run in.”
Here’s hoping you are cast-free, sporting great legs in the fall sunshine, and ready to head out to rack up more (complete) miles and kilometers. If you have any other quirks to relate, I’d love to hear them.
Quirky is as Quirky runs!
Lonnie
PS. Looking for runs to keep those legs in shape? Check out our Race Calendar.
In honor of our shared obsession, I put together a list of my favorite quirks. This is just a start, so If you have some you want to share with us, please post them on our Facebook page or email me at lonnie@runningdenver.com! We’ll send you one of our cool Running Denver hats if we publish yours.
And now to the quirks…
1. LEG VANITY
Admit it! Runners love shorts weather because we love looking at our legs. At a mall near a mirror or running passed a window, we flex our legs and marvel at the shape and athleticism. (This isn’t just me, right?)
These are not my legs, unfortunately.
Have you ever noticed you can spot another runner just by their legs? Or predict their speed and level of running obssession without even meeting them? As the great poet ZZ Top said, “She’s got legs”. We all know how to use them.
2. WHOLE NUMBERS, PLEASE
As runners, we run a 5K, never 3.1 miles. A 5K is a pleasing nice, round number. Fancy tech watches probably play to that need for great feedback, but we won’t complain. If the watch displays that we finished our run on 4.68 miles, we know the only action we can possibly take is to run .32 more miles to get to 5. Not doing so- ending a run at that precarious and uncomfortable 4.86 miles- would certainly result in the distortion of the Earth’s rotation on its axis.
Not my times, either. Unfortunately.
Of course, there is an exception to the whole number rule: when you run an official event but the watch displays an extra .15 miles. In this case, all the experts agree that only option is to do the math to convert that extra distance into additional food to eat as a reward.
3. BUT CAN I STILL RUN?
After one of my injuries, I knew I shouldn’t run. And I knew when I went to the doctor I’d hear, “You should take some time off from running.”
So what did I do before the appointment? I ran.
To be fair, someone who spent many years in medical school had not yet said I shouldn’t run, right?
This is not me. We don’t know who on the internet to thank for this one, but we love it.
In order to avoid the “Don’t Run” prescription, we have also conveniently “forget” to ask the doctor if we should run. Or even if we know better, we might be unable to resist asking, “so, this knee dislocation won’t prevent me from running right?” Runners certainly don’t make the best patients all the time, and I have been told more than once that our resourcefullness can be a hindrance to recovery. A cast on a foot? “Hmm, wonder how I can put some tread on it to get a run in.”
Here’s hoping you are cast-free, sporting great legs in the fall sunshine, and ready to head out to rack up more (complete) miles and kilometers. If you have any other quirks to relate, I’d love to hear them.
Quirky is as Quirky runs!
Lonnie
PS. Looking for runs to keep those legs in shape? Check out our Race Calendar.