Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthOfTheBorder
Hello OMT,
I would like to preface my response by mentioning that I run 30-35 miles a week here in TV.
Anticipating the question of why am I running in the diamond lane when there are sidewalks? For me it comes down to the surface.... concrete is much harder on joints than blacktop. There are only two choices, concrete or blacktop in surfaces here in TV for more dedicated, long distance runners. Been running seriously for 35+ years, and now approaching 76 years old, I find I need to do what I can to extend my favorite pastime.
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I'm also a runner who has been running for over 30 years and run about 20 miles a week now. I also do my best to NOT run on the sidewalks for the same reason you mentioned. On occasion I get drivers in the golf carts yelling at me to "get on the sidewalk" but they have no idea what they're demanding. What's interesting is usually these golf carts are going by me at a very high rate of speed that I'm estimating is well over the 19 mph limit.
I also run against traffic unless there is a blind corner ahead of me and then I'll switch to run WITH traffic until I get past it usually around the tunnels. People have no idea how hard, hot, and difficult it may be running but yet sometimes they'll demand you move out of their way while they sit comfortably in their golf cart going by you. I really sometimes just want to say....Seriously?
I do my utmost best to be a considerate runner as an approaching cart comes my way. If there is a car falling fairly close behind them, I jump on the sidewalk so they don't have to worry about me and the car behind them. Then I jump back down. That can be hard on the knees so I try only to do it for these times. Outside of that I run close to the curb as possible to give them as much room as possible as they go by. When I do this, I'm actually not even on the blacktop but on the cement lip below the sidewalk. Sometimes that's not enough and I get choice words sent my way as they pass me. Most of the time I have to chuckle because there's nobody on the road but me and this person.