Things That Bother Me on a Run

Some of these things I’ll admit are crazy, but others probably irritate most of us:

1. Shoe Laces Touching my Skin.
   
   Ok…I know this one is crazy, but I can’t stand having the laces touch my ankles.  I’ll actually stop running to adjust the situation.  I’m also one of those people for whom clothing tags are hugely irritating.  So I’m pretty sure these two things must be related on a sensory level

Shoe laces touching my skin

2. Running through spider webs.

Pretty sure this bothers everyone.  One time I had an acquaintance stop me on a run to undrape a spider web from my head.  I had looped by her several times trailing a long thread from the back of my head when she finally took pity on me!

On my weekday morning runs, I squeeze through some bars on a gate.  This area is prime real estate for spider webs.  Normally an earlier runner  clears the spot with a stick.  I never even noticed or appreciated his efforts until I discovered an increase in spider webs  that coincided with his Facebook posts that he was in Italy!

Now I know what this nearby stick is for.

Spider web clearing stick to the left of the stone. I squeeze through to the right of the stone.

3.  Walkers taking up the whole path

I live in the South.  Almost everyone here is polite and friendly.  However there are some walkers that take up the whole path by walking three (or more) abreast.  Most of the time I will be running in the opposite direction, so they can see me coming.  They won’t give up an inch on the path, as if they’re more entitled to the space than me!  Should I veer off the path and into the mud to accommodate them?  Or do I keep running and play ‘chicken’ with them?

Here’s the bad part – and I know I’m going to sound like Archie Bunker* here – But we have had an influx of one particular ethnic group in our community over the past decade.  IT IS ALWAYS FEMALES FROM THIS GROUP who take up the whole path. Ok, rant over.

*A character from a US 70’s TV show who was prejudiced against all ethnic groups and invoked their stereotypes, and slurs against them.

4.  Yappy Dogs

I am SOOOO lucky…I don’t have to deal with ANY loose dogs during my run.  All dogs in my neighborhood are on a leash, or behind electric fences.  I never get pestered by dogs.  But there are 5 leashed dogs that bug the crap out of me.  One dog is no bigger than Toto from the Wizard of Oz.  I encounter it, and its owner when they’re out on their walk.  Whenever any human passes by it, the dog becomes crazed, yapping,  baring its teeth, and straining at its leash to get at the passing human.  It’s annoying, and I always wonder why the owner doesn’t just give a good yank on the leash to train the dog to stop.

Toto from Wizard of Oz

The other 4 leashed dogs walk together every Saturday morning with their 2 owners at MY PARK.  These dogs too become hysterical every time a human passes.    And it totally ruins the ZEN of the run when you have to loop by these cry babies 2-4x in a morning.  I’ve spoken with other park goers and they get bothered too.  One time, I stopped the ladies and told them their dogs were clearly unhappy and didn’t belong in the park.  My advice wasn’t received well. AT ALL.

And that is my list of what bugs me during a run.  What bothers you during a run?