Friday, May 24, 2013

15 Weird Things Runners Do (Or, Maybe It’s Just Me)

It’s true that every sport, hobby, activity carries its unique set of odd or ritualistic behaviors. Running is no exception. In the few years I’ve been running, I’ve adopted some interesting habits that might make some think I’ve become slightly obsessed by sport…here are some weird things I do, but I bet some of you do them as well:

1. Run 40 miles per week, but still need to find the parking space closest to the door at the grocery store.

2. Talk out loud to yourself while running.

3. Hold up your Garmin to the sky because you swear you get satellites faster that way.

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4. Sleep in your running clothes so you don’t have to change clothes for an early morning run.

5. Assume when someone passes you while you’re running that they are going a shorter distance than you are.

6. See the word “marathon” on the TV guide and get all excited before you realize it’s not related to running, but is related to a consecutive showing of episodes in a TV series.

7. Look at the clock and get a rush of excitement when your PR time comes up.

IF ONLY!!

8. Keep checking behind yourself while running alone – either for the boogeyman or someone who you are leaving in the dust even though you didn’t pass anyone for miles.

9. Apologize to the nail tech every single time you get a pedicure (I know my feet or gross, I’m so sorry, I run a lot…) – like he/she really cares. You know they’ve seen worse. Maybe.

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The don’t call me “ol’ finger toes” for nothin’

10. Carry an odd assortment of things in your fuel belt: jelly beans, toilet paper, body glide and a dollar bill (in case you need in emergency Gatorade or quick visit to the strip joint).

11. Talk in acronyms: I got a PR at the RNR. I didn’t BQ but at least it wasn’t a DNF.

12. Fart in front of others on a regular basis (mostly this is done in running groups and is typically beyond one’s control)

13. Blow your nose in your running shirt because you suck at snot rockets and forgot Kleenex.

14. Race the person next to you on the treadmill even though they don’t know it.

15. Get insanely excited when a surprise porta potty appears on your run.

porto

Any other odd habits you’ve acquired as a runner?

SUAR

87 comments:

  1. Always #5. That's what keeps me going...

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  2. Haha. I have continually put on my left sock, left shoe, make sure it's tied right. Then repeat with the right. Re-tie the left, loosen it, re-tie it, loosen the right, re-tie it.
    I also have a habit of pulling my shorts out of my crotch, which happens a lot when I run, especially the shorts with the little panties built in. No one seems to think this a weird practice at the gym or a race, but when it spills over in my "regular" non-running life, like at work, people look at me a little funny.
    I also check my GPS constantly to see how far and how fast. It never seems to change my pace, but it makes me feel better to know I am actually getting somewhere.
    I talk outloud to myself as well. If I am on the treadmill at the gym, I pretend I am singing along with my music as I mouth words so the gym people don't think it's the voices in my head.
    Amy P. Philly Runner.

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  3. I just apologized to the nail tech on Tuesday for my post-half-marathon pedicure. She said, "Oh honey, this is nothing." heh

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  4. ALL.OF.THESE.

    But especially 5, 9, and 12. :)

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  5. PS - I'm a new reader but I see we both have the same little runner icon. I just randomly picked it - is it yours? I now feel completely awkward and like I need to change it!

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  6. Haha. I do the opposite of number 1. I like to pass people waiting for someone to back out of close parking spots then park and get out as fast as I can so that I can walk by them before they get to park a whopping 20 ft closer than I did.

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  7. I've done #3 so many times!

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  8. I always hold my arm out while waiting for the satellites to find me.
    While driving I notice port o potties and think, "Is this a good place for my next run?"
    I run intervals and count my running steps then compare them to my next running interval to see if I get more or less. I know, you would think that the timing on my watch would tell me by my speed, but I'm a little crazy...or obsessive. (I don't do it on all my intervals though, mostly when I get tired)

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  9. I sing out loud and talk quite a bit to wildlife, especially red-winged black birds, who have a tendency to dive-bomb my head during the springtime (my bird conversations are not quite as friendly as say, the comments I make to bunnies or deer). #15 is always a high point for me, too!

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    1. I like to say hello to the wildlife too

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  10. Get really confused when the local news starts reporting on "race weekend" events (what race? did I forget to sign up for something??) only to realize that they are talking about NASCAR... not running.

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  11. Don't forget tell everyone in your neighborhood and at work "they turned the water fountain back on at east lake " and continue on about how thrilled you (I) was for that drink of water on my 7 mile run.

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  12. I'd hafta replace #12 with burping, I just can't risk #12 in fear of a #2, not #2, but A #2!

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  13. I absolutely love #5! I have thought this many times, especially since I run on a military base and the guys passing me are 20 year old men. I always think - "They're just practicing for their 1.5 mile PRT!

    Also, every time someone whips past me on a training run I internally yell - "I'm a GRANDMA!" They can't hear me, but it sure makes me feel better :)

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  14. I just died, these are spot on!

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  15. I especially love #5! I think that every time:)

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  16. Constantly comparing the distance to get somewhere to whether or not I could run it and how long it would. Oh, we are going to ballpark. That is 6 miles. Could TOTALLY run that.

    The Kidless Kronicles

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    1. I now drive around the town I just moved too Six months ago and go hey with my running group we just ran that area, that area. I now know spots in this town that locals have never been thanks to the half marathon training group I am in lol.

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  17. after 40+ years of running -none of those...but I am awesome at snot rockets.

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    1. You've never tried to get a close parking space at the mall, theater, etc? I don't believe you.

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  18. Funny. Just funny. My kids will ask me to get something for them and I'll yell, "I just ran 10 miles while you sat around watching TV and you want ME to get something for you!"

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    1. Priceless! I've said the same thing several times along with "unless you want to run with me next time, get up and get it yourself"!

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  20. Do you really sleep in your running clothes?

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    Replies
    1. No. I don't. But, I know many people who do!

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    2. lol I thought about it for a minute, but I think I'll pass!

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    3. Yes ... better to put on clean running clothes at night then fall asleep with the post-run clothing .:) Don't do it on race days -everything needs to be fresh.

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  21. #5, without a doubt.

    You have prehensile toes. But at least they're covered by your shoes. My wife likes to bring attention to my "freakishly long" arms (her words, not mine). Kind of hard to disguise a body trait most similar to an orangutan.

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  22. Love this list. I'm a #4-er, or at least I try to be. It's all about efficiency, people!

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    1. I am too! I get off work at midnight and to get up at 4:45 for races, is too hard. So I get dressed at 12:30 and sleep to 5:10. It's all fresh enough!

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  23. I do #13 a little too often. And I don't know when I started it, but it just happens now. lol

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  24. So funny! All are true- even if you're just an every day short distance runner. I fart in the first mile. Always! Haha!

    Sarah
    www.thinfluenced.com

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  25. Guilty on so many counts . . . ;)

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  26. Yes, I hold my Garmin up. I'm sure it helps!

    If I'm at the end of a work out and walking my cool-down laps at the track alone and someone else arrives to start running, I will run a couple fast laps. I guess I want them to see I'm a runner and not someone on a leisurely walk.

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  27. I'm guilty of a few...1,2, 8, 12 and 15. As far as #9 goes, I skip that place all together and just attempt to make my toenails as presentable as possible on my own. Great list and always good for a chuckle!

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  28. I would do 4 but can't stand the constraint of elastic on my tummy. So my clothes sleep next to me in the bed - and come under the covers when it's cold in the bedroom. I gotta start doing 5! 12 is outta my control. 13, you gotta do what you gotta do. 6, yes. 8, yes. 2, yes. I'll have to try 7. :) I'm sure I've got my own weirdnesses - I look at everyone's running shoes to see what they're wearing and try to figure out if I could run in them. Can't pass a running store without going in.

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  29. #3 and #15
    Other than those, I have no weird habits.
    Unless you count Saturday morning runs that last 2 hours and followed by 2 more hours of talking to the same people over coffee.
    Spending most of the week after Christmas plotting my race calendar and training plan for the upcoming year, complete with detailed plans on an excel spreadsheet. That I usually don't fully follow.
    Spend more for running shoes or a running skirt than I do for work shoes or work clothes.

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  30. 2, 3, 6, 7 (although it's my current race pace I see)

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  31. Since I started running I also started walking faster, and noticing slower walkers. Not in a good way. We don't have dollar bills anymore, but I tucked a five into my bike saddle bag. The only time I've used it was when I got a huge gash in a tire riding over some chunk of metal.
    All those other habits of your seem straight forward though, except sleeping in your run clothes. Calling bullshit there. You haven't been married THAT long.

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  32. Love 'em all.
    I haven't been able to run for a few months (surgery) but reading these made me Ready to hit the Road and start running again.

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  33. OK. This isn't on the list. I sometimes see someone with a 26.2 sticker on their car...and I make sure I pass them. On the highway, I don't care if I have to do 80+ and they then pass ME, I just HAVE to do it. I just do. So, yeah, I'm weirder.

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  34. #5 every single time it happens :)

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  35. Love the list - especially the one about racing the person on the next treadmill and the one that if someone passes me they are not running nearly as far as I am!!! (I might be a bit competitive!!)

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  36. Have fun at Bolder Boulder. I am in CO this weekend and I was going to join in on the fun but decided I didn't want to die due to altitude difference. Love, love Heidi. She looks so much like my Tucker. I trained Tucker as a therapy dog so we visit hospitals and nursing homes, schools and libraries. He LOVES it! Maybe an idea for Heidi, too? Thank you for taking her in to your home.

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    1. YES!! I was thinking I wanted to train Heidi to do the same thing. How did you do it?? Do I need special therapy training? She would be perfect. Enjoy your time in CO!

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  37. I will even move my rain gear off my garmin because I want it to find the signal faster.

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  38. I wear the same necklace when I race.

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  39. #2, #3 and #5 for me. You can also add Take the elevator to the gym because too lazy to walk up the 3 flights of stairs (quite similar to number 1).

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  40. my husband gets annoyed because I park in the first spot i see which is usually no where near the door. I'm too lazy to drive around, ha!

    Many of the others though...oh YESSSS! We are a strange bunch

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  41. This is hilarious! I do so many of these! How about running around in circles so you hit an even number on your Garmin? Or not wanting to do a hard workout/ run around with the kids/ etc. because you want to run longer the next day? Or getting super annoyed when people say "are you going JOGGING?" (No, I'm not, I'm going RUNNING!) :)

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  42. I love your list. It was pretty funny, because I do many of the same things. I wont even get pedicures, because my toes are so bad. Even more so in the summer when I am running even more.

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  43. This is a great list. My addition would be that I sometimes run closer to parked cars, buildings, or bus stops, so I can check my "running form" in the reflection. LOL

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  45. Wow, people do #4? Closest I've been is the extremely neat line of clothes to 'fall' into in the morning!

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  46. L.O.L. !!! So true!!! Awesome article; so happy I'm not the only one who does those things hehe. Spot on!!!

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  47. #5, especially if they look less sweaty than me lol.

    Related to #7, I also get excited when my car shows that my average mpg is 26.2. It's like the powers that be are telling my a marathon is in my future!

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  48. LOL all true and yes sometimes I sleep in my running clothes :-)

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  49. LOL all true and yes sometimes I sleep in my running clothes :-)

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  50. Plan vacations to start with packet pickup, race day, then the vacation so you can drink more wine.

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  51. Yep. I do all of these. Every single one. HAHA! Great list, Beth!

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  52. Okay, I may or may not have just peed a little from laughing through this post. This was just too funny, because it's nothing but the absolute truth.
    I either assume other people are running a shorter distance, or simply look like a Nike ad because they'd just started their run and I've been out for a very long and grueling 15 minutes, so of course I look like a hawt stinking mess while they're still the picture of perfection, I've been working out longer!
    And the looking behind me is either for kidnappers/coyotes/potential witnesses to the fart I need to release.
    We're a classy bunch, runners, eh? :)

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  53. My daughter said she was tired from a weekend atthe lake so I replied, "I just ran an entire full marathon!" She was less than impressed and said, "How long are you going to use that excuse? A week." Damn right. That's my "Get out of everything free card".

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  54. I freeze my handheld (SoCal) and at the end I check my feet- make sure they are dirty enough!

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  55. I blew my nose into my sweater during a meeting once. I didn't even think twice until it was too late :(

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  56. These are great! While driving i'm constantly on the lookout for and then rubber-neck every street that "looks like it would be a great road to run down!!!!" Mortified getting a pedi, sleep in my race clothes, and have specific "running panties" that my husband thinks are absolutely hideous. Oh, and the surprise porta potty!? Divine intervention!

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  57. 2 (singing), 4, 8 (mostly checking for rabid animals!), 11, and 13

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  59. Does anyone else have any "weird" rituals for running? 1: One last trip to the potty right before I leave - whether I really have to go or not; 2: Put on lip balm - regardless of the weather; 3: THREE pieces of gum - but I don't start chewing it until I actually start running....then I stuff it down between my cheek and gums until I'm finished with my run; 4: Try to match my foot-strikes to the cadence of my music (This is easier on the treadmill...I've almost fallen on my face trying it on the road!)

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  60. I agree with all of these, except surprise porta-potties. I don't trust them... But I'm always apologzing to nail techs and pull the strangest things out of my fuel belt!

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  61. I have amazing feet and have had very few blisters in 40 years of running! However, most of the rest apply! I also try not to step on cracks in the sidewalks on runs just prior to a race, wear socks that match my shorts and shoes, wear a hair tie to match, and many more foibles!

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