What Kind of Runner Are You?

For some reason, the street was crowded with runners this AM.

You’d think the change of time might have thrown them off – it didn’t at all. In fact, there were more runners this morning than there are normally.

While I ran, I observed these other runners. Isn’t this something that we runners always do? We watch the others as they go by, cursing (yet secretly envious of) the fast ones, while smiling at – and overjoyed we are quicker than – the slow ones.

Yet there is more to a runner than being fast or slow. There is gait, there is determination, there are quirky characteristics that, well, just stick with ya long after you pass them by.

You can learn a lot about a runner depending on his or her type.   We have . . .

1. The Shuffler. I have a shuffling friend. She’s slow but she can go for hours. Her feet make a shh, shh sound as they hit the pavement. Sh sh, sh sh, sh sh. Rhythmic running.
2. The No Waver. In my neighborhood this is Head Lamp guy. We pass each other every single morning without fail. We are feet apart, the only two outdoors sometimes, and yet he still won’t give me a wave! I told myself a few weeks ago I would not wave at Head Lamp Guy again. Promised myself. Then, this morning, there he was. I was watching him. I wanted to know WHO he was. He caught me. So I waved. He didn’t wave back.
3. The Talker. I’ve posted about this one before. How the talker manages to keep up any type of pace with the mouth moving is beyond me. I enjoy the talker, though, as long as I don’t have to respond much. Gives me something to listen to over all of those miles.
4. The Singer. We have one of these in our neighborhood; I passed her this morning, singing as loudly as she could. I don’t know what she listens to, I can never make out the words, but I love her just the same. I love her infectious energy, and how happy running makes her feel. I do this at times, too.  But I’m mostly . . .
5. The Daydreamer. I have my mind all over the place when I run.  I’m considering what we will do for the day, I’m writing the novel in my head until I can get home and pound the keys on my computer. I very rarely think about the run, which may be why I’m not . . .
6. The Sprinter. This one dashes from place to place so fast you barely see him or her fly by. A vision, a blur, and boom they are gone. I understand why this one doesn’t wave; he simply doesn’t notice what else is going around him.  Which leads me to the . . .
7. Observer. This one looks at everything. When I’m not daydreaming, this is me, watching the shooting stars, looking for deer and wildlife, peeking in people’s windows (hey, don’t tell me you night runners don’t do this, too!), checking out the other runners (guess that is obvious by this post?!), and trying not to get hit by the . . .
8. The Snot Shooter. Yes, I run with a girl that does this, blowing snot rockets out of her nose, and it turns my stomach every single time. Funny, wouldn’t bother me quite as much as if it were a man, but for some reason the idea of her blowing snot from her nose turns my belly. I can wipe it off of my kids’ faces with my hands, but blow it past me? Puh-lease, I’d rather run with the . . .
9. Competitor. You are pushing yourself as hard as you can go, winded as hell, and he is trying to do you one up. As soon as you get one millimeter ahead she is there, pushing past you, causing your heart to bang madly against your chest until you feel like joining . . .
10. The Ambler. This one doesn’t look at her clock or care how many miles per hour she is running. She’s there to enjoy, a bit faster than the Shuffler, a lot slower than the Sprinter, taking it all in like the Observer.

So, what kind of runner are you?

And can you add some more to the list?!

Today’s Run Report: Good 6 miles, felt strong.  I had negative splits most of my run with the lowest at 9:10 and the highest at 9:31, my first mile. I saw a shooting star today, and of course all of those runners were out for my enjoyment and social pleasure. Now, need to finish up some work this morning on an article I am writing about women in business – good stuff! – and then heading to the library with the little one for story time.

Hope all of your runs are good ones today! Don’t forget to answer . . . what kind of runner are you?

PS It is 7:13 AM and it is pitch black outside. Weird!