It happened to me all the time when I lived in Connecticut and it happens to me in Folsom, CA as well. I will say that in 1993 when I lived in Saratoga, CA and ran there and Palo Alto and Los Altos I never once got yelled at. I suspect that's the exception, not the rule. I've heard from people who live in the south that it can occasionally even get dangerous with cars actively trying to drive as close to runners as they can while screaiming at them.
It's mostly younger kids, although there's also the standard 16-22 year old a-hole in the car who creeps up behind you and honks their horn at full steam when they are right next to you. The "run forest run" was more common 5 or 6 years ago and my experience is that it is meant in the same vein as "go faggot". It's generally not meant to be threatening - just making fun of runners. Of course, now that I'm primarily race walking, I hear it all the time, but I can't help but laugh - after all, I know how silly I look. I think that gh is accurate that the whole thing is further evidence of a breakdown in civility, but perhaps it's even more accurate to say that individuals are feeling less and less secure about themselves and compensate by making fun of others in far more stupid ways than past generations did. - Ed Parrot ----- Original Message ----- From: "ghill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "track list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 4:23 PM Subject: t-and-f: yelling at runners (was: favortie sport...) > > > > From: "nad wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Reply-To: "nad wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 20:17:11 +0000 > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: Re: t-and-f: My favortie sport to pick on > > > > But why is it > > that most people hate running so much? it seems like the only people that > > run, or even respect the sport (besides 30+ year olds trying to get into > > shape) are other track and field people or former t&fers. everybody else > > HATES track and field. How many times have i heard "70 miles in a week??? i > > don't even drive that far." i seriously doubt that one. > > On Christmas Eve I was doing a hill workout where i ran by a group of kids 8 > > times. They yelled stuff at me every time i ran by. On the last repeat a > > middle aged woman screamed something too. What is the deal? If i were > > walking down the street with a basketball this wouldnt have happened. > > I could understand if I were wearing short shorts or tights, but i was > > wearing normal running pants, a long sleeve, hat and gloves. > > The kids, who were really creative, alternated between chants of "run > > forrest run" and "faggot". The only positive from all this was hearing 4 or > > 5 eight year olds yelling. They sounded like little girls yelling at me. > > pretty funny.>> > > Sciatica has kept me from running for 20-odd years, but in all the years of > roadwork that I did, I don't recall ever once having anybody yell at me. > > Is Dan's experience a regional thing, or just another sign of modern > society's breakdown in civility? (although I'm not sure "run forrest run" > isn't meant in good taste) > > gh > >
