Now, having lived on both coasts, I normally sing the praises of the friendliness (is that even a word?) level of midwesterners*. However, if you ask a Chicagoan, anything south of Joliet is "The South." Having lived in "The South" for four years now, I've now realized that I've grown used to overly friendly and outgoing people...ya know, people who actually make eye contact and don't think you are crazy or out to mug them. So here is a recap of my "rude" awakening....
Day one: No run, just watched longingly as runners in the neighborhood were cruising around the streets that evening. I had about four hours of sleep and sat on a train for 6 hours. I decided to take a rest day.
Day two: Headed out on the trail at 8:00 a.m. It was breezy, cool, and a perfect day for a run! Yipee!!!! The trail was PACKED with people running! I was very excited to be running with so many buddies! I was a little confused why so many people were running and not at work, but I was glad for the company. My excitement ended as I tried to make eye contact with my new runnin' buds. I said "Good morning!" Nothing. Nada. Cricket chirping silence. Unfazed, I kept on running and waving at people, trying to get SOME kind of response. I finished the run, a little disappointed.
Day three: Headed out around the same time as the day before. I see a few of the same people...still no love. Some of them even have a very serious looking scowl on their faces! My niece does a good reenactment of the scowl.
I was beginning to think these people don't even like running! I stopped trying eventually. One notable event was that I saw Hot Runner Vacation Guy. He was waaaay too young for me. Probably some guy home on college summer break...more like a Hot Runner Puppy.
Day four: Headed out early for this run. I had to leave for the train station around 7 a.m. There were less people out at this time, but they were a lot friendlier. Most of them exchanged my morning greeting and I even got a few waves! Yeah for early runners! Maybe that was my problem?!
*Chicagoans have been top on my list of friendly people in the past...this could have been a total fluke, so please don't send me any mean, hateful, "How could you trounce your hometown peeps?!" comments.
6 comments:
I always loved Chicago myself...still friendly (midwest) but still has the BIG CITY feel. Sorry about your experience, I hope to never have that same experience. As for the runs, lucky you....80 degrees, cool and breezy...wish we could get some of that here. As you know, Missouri in th summer - yesterday's run: 93 degrees / 85% humidty - tonights run (at 9:30): 83 degrees / 80% humidity....OUCH. I envy your runs.....
Uuuggghhh that's my pet peeve. Seriously you can't muster the small amount of energy it requires to AT LEAST smile? Jerks!
The non-greeting is a virus that can infect any trail. Once it starts, all of the runners become infected until eventually no one smiles any more. You were a foreign anti-body.
Oh boy! I can't stand when people don't respond! I don't even consider those people real runners. They obviously haven't heard the unwritten running code.
Seriously.
i like the way nitmos puts it though.
Bets, I hate to say this, but I have YET to see Hot Runner Guy! Where is he?? Did he move? Doesn't he know the plans we have for him?? Geez, speaking of rude...
Even in NYC, most runners will smile back if you smile at them (I rarely attempt more than that though). I always think of it as acknowledgement of a shared passion, that no matter who we are or where we come from, for that moment that we're runnning, we're the same - just trying to get to the end as fast as possible.
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